In new book, former KU Jayhawk Jeff Gueldner shares good times, bad: SportsBeat podcast

Jeff Gueldner started on a Kansas Jayhawks NCAA championship men’s basketball team, and these days you can hear his insights on KU’s pre- and post-game broadcasts. In between? Enough to fill a book about life experiences that required strength and perseverance through difficult times.

In “Without You: A Story About Thanks and Appreciation,” Gueldner writes about the challenges he’s faced in the years after his playing career ended, including battling back from Stage IV carcinoma cancer at age 41.

“I was asked by my doctors at the time if I would be willing to counsel others who had a similar type of cancer, and I did,” Gueldner says on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. “That kind of got the wheels turning. Can I help other people? Can I share my story?”

He does, and Gueldner also shares his approach to confronting other life obstacles, like divorce and failed business ventures, along the way.

Of course, there’s plenty of basketball, too. As a sophomore, Gueldner became a starter for the Danny Manning-led 1988 team 20 games into a season that was headed nowhere. KU was being asked about NIT dates for Allen Fieldhouse. But fortunes soon changed for the team coached by Larry Brown.

A few weeks later, the Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma at Kemper Arena to win the national title.

“People started to find their role and assume their role,” Gueldner said. “I was able to guard people and not screw up.”

The program’s fourth NCAA championship, the second for Coach Bill Self, was captured in April as Kansas overcame the largest halftime deficit to win a title game. Gueldner was part of this run as well as a broadcaster who could relate. Few know more about battling back.

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