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Bill Self / James Kruse


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I saw Bill Self at the Thunder game last night talking to some press folks and Cole Aldridge. I said hi told him I was an ORU grad and thanked him for turning ORU around and for hiring Scott Sutton. He talked to me for about a minute and was very nice. He mentioned that he is still in contact with Earl McClellan and James Kruse. I had just heard earlier that day that James Kruse is the new youth pastor at Church on the Move so I was able to share that with Bill and now with those of you who had not heard. Apparently, the ministry is what James really wanted to do. Last I checked, his brother Matt was a pastor in the Boston area.

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Nice job, OKC....did you ask Billy if KU has any plans to play ORU again in the near future?....I guess that would likely be a no go..... ;-)

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That's interesting, OKCE. I met Bill Self once while he was still at ORU - he spoke at a prayer breakfast at a friend's church that I attended. Very nice guy, at that point he spoke of rededicating his life to Christ during his time at ORU. I visited briefly with him after the meeting, I've really liked him ever since. Hope he's stuck with his decision.

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During the Mid-Continent basketball tournament a few years ago, I was the host for the Chicago State women's basketball team. Part of my responsibilities was to help find a gym for the women to practice. I contacted James Kruse at Church on the Move (he wwas the Athletic Director) and he was kind enough to let us use the facility. I was surprised when he was actually the person who let us in - and then stayed during the whole practice. I spent the hour or so visiting with him about his playing time at ORU. One of the most interesting things was that the most talented player on that team was not Earl McClelland, Tim Gill or Rocky Walls - it was Clifford Crenshaw. He also said that Bill Self was still close with the players on that team - calling them and visiting when possible.

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During the Mid-Continent basketball tournament a few years ago, I was the host for the Chicago State women's basketball team. Part of my responsibilities was to help find a gym for the women to practice. I contacted James Kruse at Church on the Move (he wwas the Athletic Director) and he was kind enough to let us use the facility. I was surprised when he was actually the person who let us in - and then stayed during the whole practice. I spent the hour or so visiting with him about his playing time at ORU. One of the most interesting things was that the most talented player on that team was not Earl McClelland, Tim Gill or Rocky Walls - it was Clifford Crenshaw. He also said that Bill Self was still close with the players on that team - calling them and visiting when possible.

Clifford Crenshaw was a very solid player. He had a nice mid-range jumper that he shot with confidence. He rebounded well, defended well and didn't usually get into foul trouble. There was nothing spectacular about his game but he was consistent and reliable. I wouldn't say he was the best player on that team but he was a key contributor.

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Kruse said ever player on that team would tell you Crenshaw was the best player on the court for ORU. He said Clifford was very unselfish and could play almost any position. I need to check on his shooting stats.

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Kruse said ever player on that team would tell you Crenshaw was the best player on the court for ORU. He said Clifford was very unselfish and could play almost any position. I need to check on his shooting stats.

We had some very talented players on those teams! Crenshaw was really good and could do many things well. But the best player on those teams was Tim Gill! Tim had a relentless work ethic and was fantastic at getting the most out of his talent. I totally agree with Kruse that Crenshaw was super talented and probably our unsung hero.

How about this... 1997 ORU team - Most Talented- Kevin Scruggs Best all-around- Cliff Crenshaw Best player- Tim Gill Most Clutch- Earl McClellan Toughest- James Kruse Skinniest- Chad Wilkerson

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We had some very talented players on those teams! Crenshaw was really good and could do many things well. But the best player on those teams was Tim Gill! Tim had a relentless work ethic and was fantastic at getting the most out of his talent. I totally agree with Kruse that Crenshaw was super talented and probably our unsung hero.

How about this... 1997 ORU team - Most Talented- Kevin Scruggs Best all-around- Cliff Crenshaw Best player- Tim Gill Most Clutch- Earl McClellan Toughest- James Kruse Skinniest- Chad Wilkerson

ORUSlim!! And I loved the socks!! I remember hearing Coach Hinson talk at a coaches' luncheon or something, when you were going through a bit of a shooting slump, and he said he wasn't going to let you wear your socks pulled up until you started shooting better!! Any truth to that story??

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ORUSlim!! And I loved the socks!! I remember hearing Coach Hinson talk at a coaches' luncheon or something, when you were going through a bit of a shooting slump, and he said he wasn't going to let you wear your socks pulled up until you started shooting better!! Any truth to that story??

I remember Coach Hinson telling me I could not wear the Navy Blue long socks because it was bringing attention to me and not the team.

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I remember Coach Hinson telling me I could not wear the Navy Blue long socks because it was bringing attention to me and not the team.

...kinda like stomping on the floor while trying to coach, i guess

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I have always felt a bit sorry for Tim Gill and Rocky Walls. They were great players for ORU and helped the basketball program climb back into relavancy and respectability. But they are basically forgotten because of their brief attempt to transfer to Arkansas during the summer between their junior & senior years. The story I remember is that they were listening to some advisor (a fellow student no less) who told them they could get noticed more by NBA scouts if they were at Arkansas. They announced their transfer and then Nolan Richardson (after a strong plea for loyalty by Bill Self) said that there were no scholarships open for them with the Hogs. The result was that they came limping back to ORU. And the irony was that just a few weeks later Bill Self jumped to TU.

Chad Wilkerson's last year at ORU was fun to watch. He dominated the league; he could play almost any position and shoot lights out from the perimeter. My oldest daughter and her friend were HUGE Chad Wilkerson fans. They had made "Chad" dolls, made signs, etc. and had a picture taken with him that season.

Just think what Chad could have done if Bill Self had not pulled his red-shirt off earlier in his career and Wilkerson returned for another year.

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I have always felt a bit sorry for Tim Gill and Rocky Walls. They were great players for ORU and helped the basketball program climb back into relavancy and respectability. But they are basically forgotten because of their brief attempt to transfer to Arkansas during the summer between their junior & senior years. The story I remember is that they were listening to some advisor (a fellow student no less) who told them they could get noticed more by NBA scouts if they were at Arkansas. They announced their transfer and then Nolan Richardson (after a strong plea for loyalty by Bill Self) said that there were no scholarships open for them with the Hogs. The result was that they came limping back to ORU. And the irony was that just a few weeks later Bill Self jumped to TU.

Chad Wilkerson's last year at ORU was fun to watch. He dominated the league; he could play almost any position and shoot lights out from the perimeter. My oldest daughter and her friend were HUGE Chad Wilkerson fans. They had made "Chad" dolls, made signs, etc. and had a picture taken with him that season.

Just think what Chad could have done if Bill Self had not pulled his red-shirt off earlier in his career and Wilkerson returned for another year.

I still have that doll! I love ORU basketball so much! 4 years of pure joy!

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I still have that doll! I love ORU basketball so much! 4 years of pure joy!

And we still love you at ORU, Chad!!

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That is great! My daughter lives in China (teaches English at a university). I will tell her you have kept that doll the next time we speak to her on Skype.

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TheEagleman loved watching Chad Wilkerson play...only got to see him on TV a few times but remember one Mid-Con Championship game on ESPN where we lost to Valpo.....the kid with the floppy socks loved to shoot the basketball.... :ugeek:

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Don't get me started about that Mid-Con championship game against Valpo. It was absolutely the worst/biased officiating I have ever seen. The refs literally took Wilkerson out of the game with two phantom fouls late in the game. I have the game on tape and watched it a few years ago to see if I had just exaggerated the situation..... it was worse than I remembered. A travesty.

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Don't get me started about that Mid-Con championship game against Valpo. It was absolutely the worst/biased officiating I have ever seen. The refs literally took Wilkerson out of the game with two phantom fouls late in the game. I have the game on tape and watched it a few years ago to see if I had just exaggerated the situation..... it was worse than I remembered. A travesty.

Lots of home cooking back then when I think the brother of the league commissioner was Valpo's athletic director (or something like that). I know there was some kind of in-bred tie-in like that.

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