New Jayhawk Network tradition we launched this week... We’ll dedicate each broadcast to a different KU fan fighting cancer. We’ll have their name on our headsets & their story in our hearts. @ me if you have a friend you’d like to feature. God bless, stay strong and Rock Chalk!

A standing ovation for Coach Roy Williams in his return to Allen Fieldhouse. Welcome back, Coach! 👏👏❤️💙

Today’s KUCancerFighter hero is Garrett Barr, a 14-year-old from Belvue, KS battling T-cell leukemia. Garrett’s cancer was discovered on Thanksgiving Day of 2025 and he began treatment right away at Children’s Mercy in KC, showing encouraging results before a relapse on New Years Eve. The setback proved devastating when doctors discovered Garrett was not fighting an ordinary leukemia, he was facing an extremely rare and aggressive myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm driven by a PDGFRA gene fusion, a diagnosis so rare there was little precedent for how to treat it. This courageous young man has since endured months of intensive treatment, including targeted therapy, which brought his disease under control and cleared the cancer cells from his spinal fluid. His doctors recommended a bone marrow transplant, and his big sister, Eileen, turned out to be a perfect 10-out-of-10 match. Something his family described as, “an incredible blessing.” This spring, Garrett went through radiation, intensive chemotherapy, and finally his bone marrow transplant on April 16. The road was not easy. There were serious complications, frightening setbacks, painful procedures, and days when his blood counts were dangerously low. His family spent countless nights at Children's Mercy, taking each day as it came. Through it all, Garrett kept fighting, and his family and community kept praying and believing. Today, his family are so grateful to share that Garrett has no evidence of disease and is on the road to recovery! 🙌 He is still immunocompromised and will be for several more months, so his family continues to make regular trips back to Children's Mercy for checkups and takes lots of precautions. Garrett's family says his journey is, “a testament to his incredible courage and perseverance, and to the power of prayer, family, friends, and a community that refused to stop believing in him.” Jayhawk Nation is so impressed by you, Garrett. Today’s call is for you! 💙❤️

Hard to believe it’s been over 38 years since Duke last visited Allen Fieldhouse. On that day, February 20th, 1988, one of the most famous pieces of Fieldhouse lore made its debut - the iconic “Beware of The Phog” banner. Today it proudly hangs in the Booth Hall of Athletics entrance and is a must-see for any hoops fan visiting the greatest venue in all of College Basketball. 🙌

A ton of respect between these two coaches and programs. Last night was a blast. Today’s energy in The Phog should be truly special. Rock Chalk!

Today’s #KUCancerFighter is Chet Kueffer, a 46-year-old from Lawrence who recently won his battle with prostate cancer. Chet was diagnosed at KU Med last November, but remained determined and positive in the months that followed.  He attacked his diagnosis head-on and thankfully had successful surgery in June at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and was declared cancer-free later in the summer. This loving husband is a 2002 KU grad who graduated with a Communications Degree and was once a DJ at the student station, KJHK 90.7 FM.  He now serves the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Lawrence and Topeka. Chet is a huge Jayhawk fan, and lists his favorite Jayhawk of all-time as his father Steve, who was an assistant track coach at KU from 1979-1988.  His younger brother Chip is also a Jayhawk who worked with Coach Self as a KU Men’s Basketball student manager. Congratulations on your victory over cancer, Chet and thanks for all you do for area athletes through FCA!  We celebrate you today and today’s victorious call is for you!

“BLOCK” HEROLD has a nice ring to it.

This marks year #19 for this legend and his booming pipes over the Allen Fieldhouse PA… and you know Eric’s gonna have The Phog jumpin’ on Sunday. 🗣️ Give this a listen to learn about his passion for KU Hoops and process on gamedays!

What a proud day for @KUHoops as Coach Owens takes his rightful place in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Congrats Coach and Rock Chalk! 🏀

Gotta love it! Right after being honored by the Allen Fieldhouse crowd, Hall of Famer Ted Owens immediately rejoins the Kansas huddle for one last huddle up on James Naismith Court. What a moment for the 19-year legendary Jayhawk coach.

Tonight’s #KUCancerFighter tribute is for Kalvin Lynch of Wabaunsee, Kansas. Back in March, we first introduced you to Kalvin, then 16 years old, as he battled DIPG, an aggressive and devastating tumor on his brain stem. We talked about a young man facing unimaginable circumstances with remarkable courage — a person of great faith, who could still smile, laugh and joke through the hardest days, and who seemed just as concerned about comforting his family as he was about himself. We also described Kalvin’s impressive drumming skills & since that original update he’s gotten to collaborate with Kid Rock on a music video through Make A Wish. Tonight, we salute the now 17-year-old Kalvin and his family, as their journey has reached a profoundly difficult moment. His parents shared that Kalvin is being moved to hospice care in Topeka, where they are praying for peace & comfort as they prepare for the days ahead. They know the time is growing short, and while their hearts are breaking, they find comfort in knowing that Kalvin will no longer have to suffer. Kalvin, we want you to know that you are surrounded by love. Your family, your friends, your church, and so many people across Jayhawk Nation are holding you close in their hearts. Thank you for reminding us what courage looks like, what faith can carry us through, and how one young man’s spirit can touch so many lives. Tonight’s call is for you, Kalvin. You are tonight and will forever be a #KUCancerFighter hero. 💙❤️

Today’s #KUCancerFighter tribute features an incredible couple from Lenexa, Matt & Chrissy Stewart. Perhaps, you’ve seen Matt’s work as an emmy award-winning TV reporter & anchor for FOX 4. Chrissy has been helping fight cancer long before her own battle, serving a clinical nutrition specialist, helping kids at Children’s Mercy. They’re both impressive individually, but absolutely amazing as a couple. Sadly, both are battling Stage IV cancer and yet their strength, resolve and bold determination to battle while also living life to its fullest is truly inspiring. Chrissy, now 47, has been battling angiosarcoma since 2021. Angiosarcoma is a rare cancer of the blood vessel lining that occurred her in ovary. Three years after Chrissy’s fight began, Matt was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It started with the discovery of a tumor in his brain, then lungs and spine. Recently a second brain tumor developed that Matt, now 51, will receive radiation on next week, with a clinical drug trial to follow. Chrissy’s cancer also recently returned after being in remission for a year. She’s had to endure chemotherapy 3 times and yet, continues to be such a warrior in the face of everything she faces, as does her husband. Chrissy and Matt’s resolve to “live life louder, bolder and without limits” is a mindset and mission that you can read all about in their collective memoir, “All The Things”… one of several books Matt has now worked on, something that’s certainly helped with medical expenses created by their respective cancer battles. Matt even has a KU Basketball book set to be released in the Spring that chronicles KU’s all-time greats from all generations. The couple are also proud parents of three terrific kids, one of which Jackson, is here today as a senior business major in Manhattan. We celebrate this tremendous couple, the way they embrace & celebrate each of day of life as the gift that it is, continue to be great parents and pillars in the KC community all while juggling their own cancer battles. Today’s call is for you, Stewart Family. We salute you & marvel at all you continue to do with every day you’re given. Jayhawk Nation is pulling for you! 💙❤️

Tonight’s #KUCancerFighter hero is Harleigh Pierce, a 26-year-old from Eldorado Springs, MO, who has been battling Myeloid Leukemia for over a year.   This wonderful mother of 3 has already endured a bone marrow transplant (with her sister as the donor) and had to quarantine for 100 days at the Hope Lodge in Kansas City. She remains in treatment, which means she still has to commute back and forth between Eldorado Springs and KC.  To help with those travel expenses, she’s created home bakery and sells her baked goods on the days when she’s feeling up to leaving the house.   Her grandmother Jannette describes Harleigh as, “A beautiful soul and the strongest woman I know. She will never give up and will continue to fight the fight for her children and the people she loves. Cancer to her is an inconvenience, not a death sentence.”   We applaud that mindset and determination and we’re all cheering you on, Harleigh. Tonight’s call is for you! 💙❤️