TOPEKA (KSNT) – As the University of Kansas men’s basketball program enters March Madness in its tournament game on Friday, KU alumni continue to support the Jayhawks across the state.
The KU men’s basketball program is one of the most prestigious programs in college basketball— holding six national championships under its helm, with its last win in 2022 beating University of North Carolina, 72-69 in the NCAA national championship. Kansas alumni, including the Jayhawk Club in Topeka, will be hosting watch parties to support the team in another tournament run in hopes of getting its seventh championship.
“All these years being a true Jayhawk fan and having graduated from there, and it really just is exciting and kind of really touches your heart,” Topeka Jayhawk Club President Margo Leonard said.
Some members of the KU Alumni Association who have been hosting March Madness watch parties throughout the country, say that it is a good way to connect with fellow Jayhawks while supporting the team.
“The winning tradition that we have here, the people who have been amazing stewards of our basketball program, we just have a long legacy that’s created a really special environment, and it brings jocks together like nothing else that we do,” KU Alumni President Heath Peterson said.
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According to the university, nearly 200,000 Jayhawks live in Kansas and 70% of graduates stay in the Midwest region overall while bringing in roughly $2.5 billion for the Sunflower state annually.
“It really does pump us up for the tournament, but also just the camaraderie of all of us. You know, being Jayhawk fans and trying to help the team move forward and so forth, and it’s really a fun time,” Leonard said.
The Topeka Jayhawk Club will host an event at Ichabod Grill on Friday, March 20, as the Jayhawks enter the first round of March Madness to take on California Baptist at 8:45 p.m. tip-off.
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