NORMAN, Okla. – Seems ESPN’s motormouth from the Motor City – Dick Vitale – put the whammy on Oklahoma’s Stacey King early Wednesday night.
The animated cable-television basketball analyst lassoed the 6-10 junior during pre-game warmups.
“He put some pressure on me,” explained King, who scored five points the first half, then erupted for 17 during the second half in Oklahoma’s 95-87 win over Kansas. “He said, ‘Big guy, we’re expecting a big game outta you.’ I came out a little tight. The second half, I was relaxed. I said I wasn’t gonna worry about what anybody said.”
King and the Sooners had a lot to say about KU’s Danny Manning who broke the Big Eight career scoring record with a 30-point performance.
“We cherish things like that,” King said of records. “We didn’t want him to get it. We tried to play tough defense. We were trying too hard to stop him. That’s why he got 20 the first half. If we played our game, he wouldn’t have gotten it.”
The Sooners believe Manning gets preferential treatment from league officials, an unusual assessment considering Manning attempted just four free throws Wednesday night.
“I heard Harvey (Grant) say, ‘If the refs aren’t treating Danny Manning like he’s Jesus Christ, it’s close to it,'” said guard Ricky Grace. “But he’s a great player and has earned every break he gets.”
King, who cashed nine of 19 shots, was asked what Manning does that the refs don’t call.
“I don’t want to be crybaby,” said King. “He’s a great player. But he comes over the back on tips. He does it throughout the game and no fouls are called until the end.
“I’m really surprised he fouled out (with 1:48 left). The refs would say things like ‘Piper get off of ’em, Danny get off of ’em,’ but they wouldn’t call the foul. We’d do the same thing and get called.
“Again, I don’t want to complain,” he continued. “I feel fortunate to play against Danny Manning.”
OU coach Billy Tubbs also praised the Kansas All-American.
“Congratulations to Danny Manning on breaking Wayman Tisdale’s record,” said Tubbs. “He is a great player and he can really be proud of the record because Wayman is a great player.”
The OU public address announcer reported the feat just as his 12-footer dropped through the hoop with 4:42 left. Somebody tossed Manning the ball after the game.
“It was something that Danny broke the record here, where Wayman played,” said KU forward Keith Harris. “If he couldn’t do it at home, it was nice to see Danny do it here. I’m so happy for him. He’s a great player.”
OU has more on its mind than records. The Sooners can clinch a tie for the league title with a win over Colorado this weekend. KU is 6-5 in the league; OU 10-1.
