Wolfpack can’t cage Manning

By Chuck Woodling     Dec 21, 1987

Enough already of Danny Manning, says Jim Valvano.

“We’re 0-4 against Danny,” North Carolina State’s glib coach said. “It seems like the timing is always against us when we play him…Of course, he’s a great player, too. That might have something to do with our bad timing.”

Manning gave the folks in North Carolina something to talk about, all right, with his 32-point performance Saturday afternoon in Raleigh.

And yet it wasn’t only his scoring, rebounding and defefnse that carried Kansas to a 74-67 victory over the Wolfpack.

More than anything, in retrospect, it may have been the mere presence on the court, his status as an experienced senior who has been in similar situations so many times before.

“His coolness showed at the end,” remarked NC State guard Vinny Del Negro. “He was very relaxed. That comes with playing, and playing big games.”

Early on, though, Manning didn’t appear cool. He appeared hyped, perhaps overhyped, ostensibly anxious to eradicate the memory of his unimpressive outing against the ‘Pack two years ago in Greensboro, his former hometown.

“I was so happy to be going back to Greensboro,” he said in recalling that so-so eight-point performance. “I thought I’d get a few boos, but not like what happened. I let it get to me.”

Booed again on Saturday, Manning was clearly determined not to be intimidated this time. So he came out firing. Not three minutes after tipoff, for instance, he launched an uncharacteristic three-point attempt, and swished it.

A couple of minutes later, Manning unleashed still another three-pointer that bounced off. This definitely was not vintage Manning, but coach Larry Brown wasn’t fretting about his All-American’s artillery shots.

“I don’t mind three-pointers off the break,” Brown said afterward, “but I didn’t think he was doing the other things. Like he had only one rebound in the first half.”

If Manning hadn’t realized he had played a one-dimensional first half, Brown apparently made sure he was aware of it in the locker room during intermission.

“Yeah, Danny had a little help noting that,” smiled teammate Chris Piper. “But he knew he had to do more than score. In fact, I’ve always told Danny that when he plays defense and rebounds, he scores more.”

Curiously, Manning posted the same point total (16) in each half, but he had five rebounds in the second half, three blocked shots and numerous other subtleties – like intimidating shooters, slapping passes away, etc.

Thus, Mannings last game in North Carolina as a collegian became one he’ll always remember.

“I know it was my last go-round,” Manning said. “I just wanted to make it my best.”

At the same time, no player has ever won a basketball game all by himself, and Manning had plenty of help Saturday.

“The whole team was good,” Brown pointed out. “We competed. I thought we competed in the second half. I didn’t think in the first half we thought we could win.”

Manning, of course, wasn’t the only returnee to North Carolina. Brown played collegiately for the Tar Heels and once coached the old Carolina Cougars of the old ABA.

With Brown back in familiar territory, those recurring rumors about him taking over the Charlotte NBA expansion team were inevitably resurrected by the large media corps that jammed press row.

Brown was plain-spoken in his denials, too. “There’s no truth to the rumor,” he stressed. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Brown’s players have already gone somewhere, though. They’re off until Christmas Eve when they’ll return to practice. The Jayhawks will leave for New York City on Saturday to participate in the four-team ECAC Holiday Festival.

KU will meet Memphis State at 6 p.m. a week from tonight. The other first-round game matches Marist against St. John’s. The championship game is a week from Wednesday.

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