LAWRENCE, Kan. — The spotlight stays pretty much on the men’s basketball teams at the University of Kansas, but the men are sharing the limelight with the women’s team after their surprising win that sent them to the sweet 16.
Andi Witczak bought her Sweet 16 gear today. Merchandise that hasn’t been available for the KU women’s team in years.
“They have had such a tough time the last few years and then they didn’t think they were going to get in and now they’ve won two and they look great,” says Witczak.
“Everyone expected the men’s team to go this far but the women. That’s been a pleasant surprised and being a number 11 seed,” said Richard Westlund.
KU junior Natalie Becker agrees.
“That is equally as important we want our women to get through everyone should be as excited for them as they are for the guys,” said Becker.
James Rourke with the KU Book Store says the men’s merchandise always sells, but that doesn’t mean the support is lacking for the women.
“I think KU gets the rap ‘We are only men’s basketball fans,’ but you know the amount of interest from students, alumni and the general public on the women’s sweet 16 run has been really really huge,” said Rourke.
The women’s sweet 16 surprise could be just the start for the program.
“The men are so fantastic so if you are not winning and winning and winning then it is kind of hard but I think now we are seeing that if they can win and the men can win then hopefully we’ll get some more publicity and some good press,” said Witczak.
KU fans hope both teams make it past this weekend and if they do all this merchandise will change from a 16 to a 4 and that merchandise should be here at the KU Bookstore as soon as Monday.
