COLLEGE BASKETBALL : NCAA MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME : NOTES : Kansas’ Randall Can Put His Finger on Why He Wants to Win Tonight

Kansas forward Mark Randall makes his second visit to the NCAA championship game, but this time he does so in uniform rather than in street clothes.

Randall was on the 1988 Kansas team that won the national title, but because of his redshirt status, he was unable to play in any regular or postseason games. He collected his championship rings, visited the White House and shook hands with then President Reagan, rode in a parade honoring the team and then promptly tried forgetting about the whole season--except for the Reagan handshake, which he described as “awesome.”

“I did not feel part of that team,” said Randall, who averages 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. “I was more on the outside looking in.”

Randall practiced with the 1988 Kansas team and played about four minutes in a preseason exhibition game against the Italian National team. After that, he decided on medical redshirt status and underwent surgery to correct jaw and sinus problems. When he later received his NCAA and Kansas rings, he placed them in a safety deposit box.

“They’ll never touch my hand because I never touched the floor,” he said.

No such problems this season. Randall averages more minutes on the court than any other starter except point guard Adonis Jordan. Randall isn’t especially exciting to watch, but he is strikingly efficient and the perfect type of player in Kansas’ system.

During the summer, Randall was selected to the U.S. National team that played at the Goodwill Games and World Championships. His teammates included Duke center Christian Laettner and guard Bobby Hurley.

In fact, Randall almost signed with Duke as a high school senior in Englewood, Colo. He chose Kansas simply because his family would be in better position to attend his games in Lawrence, rather than in Durham, N.C.

“I came so close to going to Duke,” he said.

Randall isn’t the only player to have almost ended up in an opposing uniform. Duke guard Thomas Hill, a sophomore, nearly accepted a scholarship offer from Kansas Coach Roy Williams. And when Williams was an assistant coach at North Carolina, he tried to persuade Laettner to sign with the Tar Heels.

Also, Duke’s Hurley once attended a North Carolina basketball camp while Williams was an assistant there.

If the Jayhawks have a glaring weakness, it is their free-throw shooting. Their 62.3% conversion rate has prompted letters and suggestions from concerned Kansas followers, including some faculty members.

One person went so far to blame the potassium, calcium and magnesium levels in the water used in Lawrence. Another person blamed the team’s foul-shooting difficulties on tight neck muscles.

“I answered every letter, especially those by the faculty,” Williams said.

Keep an eye on Kansas forward Alonzo Jamison in tonight’s championship game. Jamison is almost always assigned to guard the opposition’s best scorer, which, in Duke’s case would be Laettner.

In Kansas’ five tournament games, Jamison has faced Ervin Johnson of New Orleans, Brian Shorter of Pittsburgh, Calbert Cheaney of Indiana, Todd Day of Arkansas and Rick Fox of North Carolina. The five opponents made only 28 of 69 field-goal attempts (40%) and only Cheaney scored more than 13 points against Jamison. In the past two games, Jamison has held opponents to 13 baskets in 41 attempts (31%).

“He’s guarded the point guards, the big players and anybody in-between,” Williams said.

Hurley said earlier this season that he was haunted by last year’s loss to UNLV in the championship game. At one point, he said he dreamed that he was being pursued by sharks--the unofficial Vegas mascot.

One person who isn’t buying the fish story is Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“I told him that was a bunch of b.s.,” Krzyzewski said. “I can’t believe a kid dreams about sharks. At 18, you dream about a hell of a lot of things other than sharks.”

Among those attending Easter services at Martinsville (Ind.) First Christian church was hometown hero John Wooden, who was joined by former UCLA players and colleagues including Bill Walton, Denny Crum, Swen Nater and Gary Cunningham. “They’re my children,” said Wooden, who also ate Sunday supper at a favorite establishment of his youth, Poe’s Cafeteria.

With Nevada Las Vegas gone, Wooden’s place remains secure as the last coach to win national championships back-to-back.

Walton was asked before Saturday’s games if his UCLA teams could beat UNLV.

“No,” Walton said. “None of us can walk anymore.”

Times staff writer Mike Downey contributed to this story.