Some termed Danny Manning’s performance against the Italian National Team just plain “magnifico.”
“Manning is another world,” said guard Sandro Dell’Agnello, after watching Kansas’ 6-10 center score 41 points on 16 of 20 shooting in the Jayhawks’ 88-82 exhibition basketball win on Saturday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
“He’s not a normal player,” added Dell’Agnello, who scored 12 points.
“He can do everything the dream player can do,” gushed coach Allessandro Gamba.
Seems everybody but Manning and KU coach Larry Borwn were amazed with the 6-10 senior’s effort. His totals of five rebounds and six turnovers proved somewhat depressing.
“Offensively, he was sensational,” said Brown, aware of Manning’s six assists. “But he’ll have to defend better. He had to play a lot of minutes. We can’t have Danny playing 35 minutes with five rebounds and six turnovers.”
Not that Brown was bagging on Manning.
“Offensively, he was phenomenal,” said Brown. “But in a game like this, he needs 10 rebounds and two turnovers.”
Manning scored four straight points to open the second half and bust a 41-41 tie. In all, he cashed 14 points in a 22-10 run that opened the half and upped KU’s lead to a game-high 12 at 63-51.
Also, he hit a short hook shot – one that broke a 74-74 deadlock with 5:27 left. Kansas never trailed the comeback-minded Italians again.
“I was very unhappy with my rebounds. I need to cut down on turnovers,” said the hard-to-please Manning.
He did, however, admit to wanting the ball during crunch-time.
“I just tried to post up strong. My teammates did a good job of getting me the ball,” Manning said.
Manning appeared to hold his own fending off the physical Italian team, one that lost to Duke, 98-79, on Thursday in the opening game of its U.S. tour.
“I was glad to see Danny muscle ’em inside,” said point guard Scooter Barry, who scored six points and had three assists while playing 14 minutes. Fellow poing guard candidates Kevin Pritchard and Otis Livingston had eight points and two points respectively, while surprise starter Jeff Gueldner (who also played off-guard) did not score. “You can tell Danny is bigger and more physical this year,” added Barry.
KU’s Brown was indeed pleased the Jayhawks were able to pound with the Italians. Off-guard Lincoln Minor snatched eight boards to lead KU. In all, Italy outrebounded Kansas 26 to 25.
“They’re rough as hell,” said Brown. “Kevin’s (Pritchard) fourth foul was unbelievable. A guy hits Kevin with an elbow to the head (and KU was called).
“They were very physical, even more than the Russians,” added Brown, whose Jayhawks beat the USSR 84-78 in last year’s exhibition opener at Allen. “I like the fact we can compete in a game that physical. We have some toughness this year.
“We did some good things, but when we had a chance to blow the game open, we got prosperous. The second half, we did better on the boards.
“The bottom line is I was really impressed with their team. I told our kids they’d be as good a team as we’ll play. That’s the best defense I’ve seen an international team play in terms of overplaying. They came out hard and pressured hard.”
Both teams committed 24 turnovers. KU did total 20 assists to the Italians’ 15. Guards Barry and Livingston, plus forward Archie Marshall, had three assists apiece.
“We don’t need greatness. Just a solid kid,” said Brown of the point guard slot.
“We did not look good in the backcourt when Kevin was out,” he explained, referring to Pritchard.
Notes
Every Jayhawk played except Mike Maddox, Sean Alvarado and Keith Harris. Brown said Alvarado would definitely be redshirted, while Harris would not play until he “shows the team and everybody he’ll be responsible about the right things.” Maddox has been “struggling physically, but will be a terrific player,” Brown noted…
Box Score
Italian Nat’ls: Magnifico 8-11 2-2 18, Dell’Agnello 4-10 4-6 12, Costa 0-1 0-0 0, Riva 9-18 8-8 31, Brunamonti 1-5 0-1 3, Bosa 0-0 0-1 0, Iacopini 2-2 0-0 5, Vescovi 1-1 0-0 2, Morandotti 0-1 0-0 0, Carera 2-2 2-2 6, Della Valle 0-1 0-0 0, Bargana 0-1 0-2 0, Rusconi 2-5 1-1 5, Team 29-58 17-23 82.
Three-point goals: 7-14 (Dell’Agnello 0-1, Riva 5-10, Burnamonti 1-2, Lacopini 1-1). Assists: 15 (Magnifico, Dell’Agnello 2, Riva 10, Morandotti, Della Valle). Turnovers: 24 (Magnifico 2, Dell’Agnello 4, Costa Riva 2, Bunamonti 4, Lacopini 2, Vescovi, Carera, Della Valle 2, Rusconi 5). Blocked shots: 4 (Dell’Agnello, Brunamonti, Rusconi 2). Steals: 9 (Magnifico, Dell’Agnello 5, Riva, Della Valle, Rusconi).
Kansas: Marshall 1-8 0-0 2, Piper 2-6 0-0 4, Manning 16-20 8-9 41, Pritchard 2-4 4-4 8, Gueldner 0-2 0-0 0, Barry 2-3 2-2 6, Minor 4-4 1-2 9, Livingston 1-1 0-0 2, Randall 0-2 2-2 2, Masucci 1-1 2-2 4, Branch 5-7 0-2 10, Team 36-58 19-23 88.
Three-point goals: 1-3 (Marshall 0-2, Manning 1-1). Assists: 20 (Marshall 3, Piper, Manning 6, Gueldner 2, Barry 3, Minor 2, Livingston 3). Turnovers: 24 (Marshall, Piper 4, Manning 6, Pritchard 2, Gueldner, Barry 2, Minor 4, Livingston, Masucci 2, Branch). Blocked Shots: 4 (Piper 1, Manning 2, Livingston). Steals: 11 (Piper 2, Manning 5, Gueldner, Barry, Minor, Livingston).
Technical Fouls: Rusconi.
Officials: Rich Eischorst, Jim Murphy, Hank Nichols.
Attendance: 15,800.
