Chris Piper figured something was up when Danny Manning seemed to be passing the ball more than usual, especially to him.
“When he passes up shots like that…well, I think he wanted me to get some points,” said Piper after he and Manning had performed for the last time in Allen Fieldhouse. “I think he wanted a triple-double.”
Sure enough, Manning admitted – half-jokingly – he did indeed want double figures in points, rebounds and assists.
The Kansas All-American settled, however, for still another double-double – 31 points and 10 rebounds. That Manning had “only” six assists mattered little, if at all, to the shoe-horned crowd that watched the Jayhawks subdue Oklahoma State, 75-57.
They came to bid farewell to Manning on Saturday night. They tossed roses on the floor when he was introduced before the game – “I got a couple. I gave ’em to my little sister,” he smiled – and many of the fans stayed around to watch through the windows his post-game press conference at Parrott Complex.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Manning said of his feelings on this emotional night. “It’s tough to leave the University of Kansas, but it’s good that I’m moving forward to new challenges ahead.”
After the Jayhawks play in the Big Eight Tournament next weekend and the NCAA Tournament the following weekend – and perhaps thereafter – Manning will, of course, be playing in the National Basketbal Assn.
That’s a long way off, though, and the memory of Saturday night’s pre-game ceremony is fresher.
“It was kind of hard to hold back the emotions,” he said about the pre-game ceremony that honored seniors Manning, Piper, Archie Marshall and team manager Bill Pope.
Speaking of Marshall, Manning said coach Larry Brown’s insertion of the 6-6 senior, who’s been out since Dec. 30 with a knee injury, with 1:33 remaining is the moment he’ll most remember about his final game in Allen Fieldhouse.
“He’s been talking about that for a long time,” said Manning about Marshall. “He said all he wanted was to get in, stand over in a corner and try a three-point shot. Well, we did it, and he missed the shot, but it was a great feeling to see him play.”
Piper felt the same way, calling Marshall’s appearance the “highlight of the evening. That’s what we all wanted. I just wish he’d made the shot. He came close.”
Not that close, actually, but teammate Clint Normore rebounded and was fouled. Moments later, Marshall left the floor, his college career officially over.
A lot of people thought this game might have been officially over before it began because Okie State figured to have not chance to knock the Jayhawks off in what promised to be an emotion-charged atmosphere.
Yet the Cowboys grabbed an early 5-2 lead when the Jayhawks missed six shots in a row after Jeff Gueldner’s driving basket after only 40 ticks had expired.
“I thought we’d come out slow because our emotions were so high,” Piper said. “I really tried to put the ceremonies out of my mind. I just wanted to win the game.”
Manning missed his first two shots, then made eight of nine the rest of the half.
“I think I wanted to do too much too fast,” Manning reflected. “I think I took some shots I shouldn’t have taken.”
Now the Danny Manning Adoration Society – at least the members who have tickets – moves to Kansas City for the Big Eight Tournament to watch his homestretch run.
“I feel very good about my career,” Manning said. “It’s felt great playing under coach Brown…”
Then he paused momentarily and grinned: “Although I don’t feel like that all the time.”
