College Hoops

As war escalates half a world away, Ukrainian college basketball players share their shock, pride and fears

As war escalates half a world away, Ukrainian college basketball players share their shock, pride and fears

Tulsa’s Nikita Konstantynovskyi knew something was up when he was pulled aside during warmups before the Golden Hurricane’s game at SMU on Wednesday. Someone wanted to talk to him.

It was the former President of the United States.

George W. Bush, who frequently attends SMU games, endeavored through bad weather to watch a little basketball. But first, he wanted to express his support for Ukraine, directly, to Tulsa’s 6-foot-10, 21-year-old backup center.

“I knew his face but I still couldn’t believe what was happening at first,” Konstantynovskyi told CBS Sports.

How Bush came to learn the visiting team had a Ukrainian on the roster is still a mystery to everyone in Tulsa’s program, but that’s what traveling with a Secret Service detail will get you.

Before that game, Russia’s invasion was viewed as inevitable. By the time the game was over, the first shots in Ukraine had been fired….

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