They’ll be talking about this one for a long time. Weeks, months, years. OK, maybe even decades.
“We’ll have 600,000 people saying they were here,” said Kansas coach Larry Brown after the Jayhawks’ festive 75-57 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday night at packed-to-the-rafters Allen Fieldhouse.
The 15,800 in attendance – there were plenty of folks outside the gates trying to find a way, any way, in – had to feel fortunate to have landed tickets for this one.
For they saw Danny Manning score 31 points, grab 10 rebounds, dish six assists and block a shot in his final home game.
For good measure, they watched fellow senior Chris Piper pop in 10 points and grab seven rebounds in his home swan-song.
And they witnessed one of the wilder moments in KU basketball history, viewing the return of Archie Marshall, the injured Jayhawk who played seven seconds, time enough to horse up and miss a 40-foot, three-point try.
Marshall, of course, is still in early stages of rehabilitation of his left knee – one he ripped apart in the finals of the ECAC tournament on Dec. 30 in New York.
“I just wish Archie would have made the three-pointer,” said Brown, who inserted the 6-7 forward with 1:33 left and KU up, 69-53. After receiving an inbounds pass, Manning flipped a pass to Marshall, who limped a step and jacked up a shot that clanged badly.
“That was so long it was floating,” Brown said, laughing. “He wasn’t gonna shoot (in original plan). We were gonna throw him the ball and call a time out. But he was so wide open, we figured why not shoot it?
“I thought I even heard Leonard (Hamilton, OSU coach) tell (William) Woods to get off of him. I’m so appreciative of the way their players acted when Archie came in. That showed me a lot.”
Marshall, given a thunderous ovation upon entering, also noticed the fact Okie State let him fire a memorable missile.
“I didn’t expect to shoot, but when I got the ball, I had nothing but ‘Shoot’ in my mind. I was so wide open,” said Marshall. “It was way off to the side. I hadn’t taken a shot in a game in about 2 1/2 months.”
Marshall was simply tickled to receive the opportunity to “play.” Brown approached Marshall about the idea on Friday.
“I said I’d love to,” Marshall said. “It was the seniors’ last home game. I wanted to be a part of it. The way the fans reacted, it’s something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
Brown too.
“I didn’t think Archie would even want to dress,” said Brown. “He was happy about playing, thrilled, which was phenomenal. Now he probably thinks he can play. It was neat,” Brown added.
Brown was deliriously happy after the victory. The party-like atmosphere of the evening – coupled with the lopsided rout (KU led by 10 at halftime and put it away by scoring six straight to open the second half) – made him a content man.
“Danny was phenomenal by golly,” Brown said. “Sitting there watching a game like that makes you realize how great Danny is. Pipe was in double figures – his arms are probably tired.
“The crowd was phenomenal. When the kids think back to what they’ll remember, it’ll be the crowd. I know that’s what I’ll remember as a coach. I hope the people realize what an opportunity they’ve had to see Danny play four years.”
Brown was so pleased with the happenings, he’s given the Jayhawks, now 20-10, some time off.
“I told ’em they might get Sunday and Monday,” said Brown, smiling. “I thought we defended about as well as we possibly can. That’s been a constant thing with us. That’s what we’re doing well.”
Milt Newton scored 13, while Jeff Gueldner, like Piper, tallied 10 points. Okie State was led by Richard Dumas and John Starks, who had 21 and 16 respectively.
Dumas, the freshman sensation, not only was OSU’s top scorer, but a good sport, hugging KU’s Marshall when the Tulsa native left the game. Starks was also touched by the moment.
“Archie and I have been friends for a long time,” said Starks. “Ever since we were kids. It was a real touching moment for me. It was great for coach Brown to put him in and give him a shot. Archie’s had a great career at Kansas and is a great player.”
Hamilton elected to laud the incredible Manning.
“Obviously Manning’s a great player. Great players play great,” said Hamilton. “He has a lot of class and represented Kansas well. I know how Kansas will miss him, but I can’t say I will.”
Notes
Manning’s 31 point-effort marked the seventh time this season he’s scored 30 or more in a game…KU will again face Okie State next Friday night in a first-round Big Eight tournament game in Kemper Arena…
Box Score
OSU2037-57
KU3045-75
Oklahoma State: Richard Dumas 9-15 3-5 21, William Woods 0-3 2-2 2, S. Kincheon 3-6 4-4 10, John Starks 6-15 3-5 16, Derrick Davis 1-1 0-0 2, Royce Jeffries 1-6 2-2 4, Robert Smith 1-2 0-0 2, Chuck Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Chris Gafney 0-1 0-0 0, Bryan Fowler 0-0 0-0 0, Team 21-50 14-18 57.
Three-point goals: 1-7 (Starks 1-5, Woods 0-1, Gafney 0-1). Assists: 11 (Starks 4, D. Davis 4, Kincheon, Smith, Gafney). Turnovers: 20 (Dumas 8, D. Davis 4, Starks 3, Woods 2, Jeffries, Smith, Fowler). Blocked shots: 1 (Gafney). Steals: 6 (Dumas 2, Starks 2, Woods, Kincheon).
Kansas: Milt Newton 6-11 1-3 13, Chris Piper 5-7 0-2 10, Danny Manning 14-20 3-4 31, Kevin Pritchard 0-3 2-2 2, Jeff Gueldner 4-8 2-2 10, Scooter Barry 1-2 0-0 2, Keith Harris 2-3 1-2 5, Mike Masucci 0-3 0-0 0, Clint Normore 0-0 2-2 2, Otis Livingston 0-0 0-0 0, Archie Marshall 0-1 0-0 0, Mike Maddox 0-1 0-0 0, Marvin Mattox 0-2 0-0 0.
Three-point goals: 0-4 (Newton 0-1, Gueldner 0-1, Marshall 0-1, Maddox 0-1). Assists: 23 (Manning 6, Gueldner 5, Newton 2, Piper 2, Pritchard 2, Harris 2, Masucci 2, Barry, Normore). Turnovers: 15 (Manning 4, Newton 2, Pritchard 2, Barry 2, Normore 2, Piper, Masucci, Livingston). Blocked shots: 2 (Piper, Manning). Steals: 10 (Manning 4, Newton 2, Gueldner 2, Piper, Barry).
