First stop: Hilton

By Gary Bedore     Jan 6, 2003

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kirk Hinrich launches one of his seven successful three-point shots against UMKC.

? Kansas University’s Drew Gooden treated the basketball like a football last Jan. 23 at Hilton Coliseum, spiking the sphere as the clock ran out on the Jayhawks’ 88-81 victory over Iowa State.

The act of basketball abuse was amusing to many at the time, but not to the fans in Hilton Coliseum, who booed the Jayhawks as they exited the court after snapping a five-game losing streak versus the Cyclones.

“That was kind of … we probably should have expected something from Drew,” KU senior Kirk Hinrich joked. “If we win Monday, we’ll just get out of there and be happy with the win,” added Hinrich, referring to tonight’s Big 12 Conference opener against the 10-1 Cyclones. Tipoff is 8:05 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

Gooden, who is now in the NBA, said he spiked the ball to get even with former Cyclones Jamaal Tinsley and Marcus Fizer, who allegedly pulled the same stunt after winning at Allen Fieldhouse.

Gooden also said he was happy for KU Iowans Hinrich and Nick Collison, who won for the first time in three tries in Ames. Hinrich and Collison also lost to the University of Iowa in Iowa City during their rookie seasons.

“The best thing was when ‘Bosch’ hit that three and finally winning up there,” Hinrich said of former shooting guard Jeff Boschee’s three-pointer with 36 seconds left to bust an 81-all tie. “I hadn’t done that before. It was a great feeling.”

Collison and Hinrich combined for 30 points in one of KU’s narrowest victories of an undefeated Big 12 season. Why did it take them so long to win in Ames?

“They call it ‘Hilton Magic,'” Hinrich said of an atmosphere that has helped Iowa State claim 65 wins in 75 home games in Larry Eustachy’s five years at ISU. “I don’t know what it is, but the place does get really loud. It’s a tough place to play. It’s a fun college atmosphere.”

Fun even though Hinrich and Collison generally hear it from the fans while playing close to their hometowns of Sioux City and Iowa Falls, respectively.

“I’ve not seen too many signs,” Hinrich said. “As far as people yelling at me, I probably don’t hear too much of the stuff anyway.

“I think it’s just another game, but it’s a big-time game. It’s nice to go back to my homestate. I have a few extra friends and family there than I usually do. Iowa State is an exciting place to play.”

Collison agrees.

“Yes, it’s a big game for me,” he said. “It’s one of the games I want more than any other. They are a tough team this year. They will be right up there at the top of the league. It could be as tough a game as we play all season.”

Especially considering the fact that Kansas (9-3) limps into Ames as a beat-up basketball team.

KU sophomore power forward Wayne Simien is out an undetermined period of time with a dislocated right shoulder. Forward Moulaye Niang also is unavailable, having returned to Senegal for his father’s funeral.

The Jayhawks hope junior forward Jeff Graves — he’s averaging 2.8 points and 4.0 boards a game compared to Simien’s 17.0 points and 9.4 rebounds — is up to the task against the Cyclones, who have four starters averaging double-digit scoring.

ISU guard Jake Sullivan leads the way at 18.7 points a game, followed by forward Jackson Vroman (13.8), guard Adam Haluska (12.4) and guard Tim Barnes (11.8).

When: 8:05 tonight.Where: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa.Television: ESPN (cable channel 48).Records: Jayhawks 9-3 overall, 0-0 Big 12; Cyclones 10-1, 0-0.

“He’s been getting rebounds for us all season,” sophomore guard Keith Langford said of Graves. “I think he’ll continue to do that and he’ll step up. Guys have been stepping up all season.”

Added Graves, “I am up to the challenge.”

But can KU stop a 10-1 Iowa State team that has won at Iowa and Northern Iowa and tripped Drake at home, losing only to Boston College?

“Iowa State won the state championship of Iowa,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “Jake gives them a guard in the backcourt that really appears to be doing a nice job. I just love his toughness. They have a great deal of size (6-10 Vroman, 6-9 Jared Homan and 7-1 Chris Alexander). I’ve said it before in the preseason and I’ll say it again now — this year, regardless of where you play, you still have to really play to win.”

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