His best game ever?
Nah…merely another of the many headling-grabbers in Danny Manning’s record-breaking career at Kansas.
“I think I had a good game, but not an excellent one,” said Manning, who scored 39 points in the Jayhawks’ 82-72 win over Iowa State on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“I need to rebound better and play better defense.”
Oh well…if the senior All-American wants to nit-pick, that’s his business.
He was flawless in the eyes of 15,500 fieldhouse fans, who watched Manning sink 13 of 18 floor shots and 12 of 13 free throws, register six steals, seven assists and seven rebounds.
Reminiscent of last year’s 42-point effort against Southwest Missouri State and 40-point salvo versus Notre Dame.
“It was just one of his regulars. Just another day at the office for him,” said a grinning KU guard Clint Normore, who might have had his best game, scoring seven points with two assists in 23 minutes.
“When he gets hot like that, he’s unstoppable,” added forward Chris Piper, who had eight points with four steals and seven rebounds.
“I was a victim out there. I was just watching him,” noted guard Kevin Pritchard, also mesmerized by Manning’s play. “Finally I said, ‘I’m out here, too, I can’t just watch. I’ve gotta do something.’
“He was great. Nobody can guard him man-to-man. He’s the best in the nation.”
On Saturday, Manning seemingly -are you reading closely cliche-lovers? – did it all. He even made a fashion statement, wearing a bright blue mouthpiece for the first time in his career.
Actually the mouthpiece was unveiled to protect a bad tooth Manning had drilled at the dentist’s office Friday.
“He’s gonna wear it again,” said KU coach Larry Brown, known for his superstitions. “Everybody might wear one and they’ll all be blue.”
Manning might need to wear a splint during Tuesday’s home battle against Nebraska. He sprained the index finger on his left hand and was to have precautionary X-rays taken today.
Low-key as usual, he shrugged off injury-talk after the game and preferred to deflect the personal questions.
“I was in a position to do a lot of things. They played man-to-man,” said Manning. “I had a chance to get out and play. The credit goes to my teammates for getting me the ball.”
Manning’s teammates flipped him the ball behind the three-point line for one possible, last-ditch bucket. The fans yelled “Shoot” but Manning instead passed away with about 45 ticks left and KU leading comfortably by 10.
“That probably would have gotten me in trouble,” shrugged Manning.
Perhaps.
“I appreciate the fact he wouldn’t take it,” said Brown. “We don’t need to rub it in. I think the fans were appreciative. They only get to see him a few more times here. I hope they realize what an opportunity to have watched him four years.
“It’s remarkable to me to see some empty seats now. But hell, everybody knows what he’s done the last four years.”
Manning’s 19 points helped Kansas to a 44-34 halftime advantage. ISU’s Lafester Rhodes (14 points, six of 17) scored 12 points and Manning 10 in the first seven minutes of the second half – KU holding onto a 58-49 advantage with 13:15 left.
Manning then stepped forward and keyed a 10-0 run that gave the Jayhawks an insurmountable 19-point lead with 11:08 left.
First Manning stole a pass from Rhodes, was fouled intentionally and swished two free throws. He then banked in a short jumper after demanding the ball.
Manning, following two Jeff Gueldner free throws, found the sophomore twice, feeding Gueldner for easy layups.
“He gave us what we needed. That was a key run,” said Gueldner, who celebrated his second straight start by scoring 10 points on four of six shooting. “It’s a lot of fun playing with him. He makes it so much easier for us.
“That’s one of the most complete games he’s played,” Gueldner added. “He had steals, assists, gave up the ball when double-teamed. He did what he needs to do.”
While the obvious star was Manning, who outshined ISU’s Jeff Grayer’s solid 30-point performance, the runnerup might have been KU guard Normore – the junior football player who’s earned additional playing time of late.
“It was a great performance by Clint. He’s got courage, doesn’t pout, wants to compete. He’s made it easier for Kevin (Pritchard, 10 points, four assists),” Brown said.
“I’m getting my confidence back and getting into basketball shape finally,” said Normore, who has played in some JV games recently. “It’s only been the last two weeks I’ve felt comfortable. I still need to know my players better and their movements.”
Notes
KU, 15-8, 4-4 in the league, has now won three straight games. Iowa State, 16-9, 2-7, has dropped seven straight…Mike Masucci played for the first time since suffering a mild concussion versus Oklahoma on Feb. 3. He did not score in a three-minute stint…Manning’s previous scoring high this season was 32 versus N.C. State and Iowa State in Ames…Manning has cashed 52 of 59 free throws in conference games…JV players Brad Wahl and Marvin Mattox played for the first time this season but did not score…Pritchard has reached double figures in his last four games…
Box Score
ISU3438-72
KU4438-82
Iowa State: Jeff Grayer 11-17 8-12 30, Lafester Rhodes 6-17 2-2 14, Paul Doerrfeld 0-3 0-0 0, Marc Urquhart 2-3 4-4 8, Terry Woods 0-5 2-2 2, Mike Born 1-3 2-2 5, Elmer Robinson 1-3 0-0 2, Victor Alexander 4-7 0-0 8, Mark Baugh 0-4 3-4 3, Robert Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Team 25-62 21-26 72.
Three-point goals: 1-6 (Born 1-2, Baugh 0-2, Rhodes 0-1, Robinson 0-1). Assists: 13 (Born 5, Woods 3, Grayer 2, Urquhart 2, Woods 2, Born 2, Robinson 2, Doerrfeld). Blocked shots: 4 (Robinson 2, Grayer, Rhodes). Steals: 8 (Doerrfeld 2, Woods 2, Grayer, Rhodes, Urquhart, Baugh).
Kansas: Milt Newton 1-7 0-3 2, Chris Piper 3-7 2-2 8, Danny Manning 13-18 12-13 39, Kevin Pritchard 5-10 0-0 10, Jeff Gueldner 4-6 2-4 10, Keith Harris 1-1 0-0 2, Clint Normore 2-3 2-3 7, Scooter Barry 0-1 2-2 2, Mike Maddox 1-2 0-0 2, Mike Masucci 0-0 0-0 0, Otis Livingston 0-0 0-0 0, Marvin Mattox 0-0 0-0 0, Brad Wahl 0-0 0-0 0, Team 30-55 20-27 82.
Three-point goals: 2-6 (Manning 1-1, Normore 1-1, Gueldner 0-1, Newton 0-3). Assists: 18 (Manning 7, Pritchard 4, Newton 2, Normore 2, Piper, Gueldner, Barry). Turnovers: 20 (Manning 4, Gueldner 3, Normore 3, Harris 3, Piper 2, Barry 2, Maddox, Livingston). Blocked shots: 2 (Piper, Harris). Steals: 11 (Manning 6, Piper 4, Pritchard).
