BOULDER, Colo. – Lost amid the brouhaha here Wednesday night was THE salient fact.
“This was a great win for us,” stressed Kansas guard Kevin Pritchard. “I mean, Colorado may not have that good a record, but they’re competitors.”
Kansas All-American Danny Manning was ejected with 3:54 remaining for throwing a punch at CU’s Brian Robinson, but the loss of Manning had no effect, as it could have.
Traditionally, Kansas has not performed well here at the foot of the Flatirons, but Wednesday night the Jayhawks romped, 85-64.
It was the most lopsided win for a Kansas team here since 1961 and it assured the Jayhawks the No. 3 seed in the Big Eight Tournament. They’ll play the 8:30 p.m. game a week from Friday at Kansas City’s Kemper Arena against the No. 6 seed, undetermined so far.
But first they’ll wrap up the regular season against Oklahoma State on Saturday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
That’ll be Manning’s last game in Lawrence, and his first since his first career fight.
Almost overlooked by Manning’s ejection was his 25-point, 11-rebound performance.
“Danny had his normal great game,” said KU coach Larry Brown.
Manning also had a message for his teammates after he was thrown out.
“Play hard,” he reported. “I didn’t have to tell them that. Just play hard.”
They did, too…and Colorado coach Tom Miller was impressed.
“I think Larry Brown has done a great job with his team down the stretch,” Miller said. “He’s overcome a lot of obstacles.”
Colorado had won three straight here and the Buffs obviously wanted to make it four in their home finale.
“Both teams went after it,” Miller commented. “It was our last home game and we really wanted to win. I thought it was pretty intense throughout, but they just outplayed us.”
Notes
Freshman Mike Masucci didn’t make the trip because of academic reasons. “He was struggling in school, but he’ll practice on Thursday,” Brown said…Manning was playing in his 138th college game…CU’s Scott Wilke had 17 points and scored in double figures for the 46th straight game. Manning’s double figure streak is at 45.