PONTIAC, Mich. – Chris Piper stuck the proverbial needle into Danny Manning on Friday night in a jubilant winner’s dressing room.
“Geez, Danny,” said a grinning Piper, staring at the stat sheet he’d been handed following Kansas’ 77-64 Midwest Regional semifinal win over Vanderbilt at the Silverdome.
“What’s with all the shots?”
“Hey, you all kept giving me the ball,” chuckled Manning, who cashed 16 of 29 attempts, good for a whopping 38 points.
The Jayhawks’ All-American sure came out firing Friday. He cashed a long three-pointer to open the scoring, tallied 11 points to help KU to a 19-6 lead, and didn’t let up until the game’s waning moments.
His 25 first-half points – most he’s ever scored in a session – staked KU to a 41-29 advantage. At one point, Manning had 21 points while Vandy as a team had 20.
“I felt it tonight,” said Manning. “It felt like every shot I took, I hit. I was backing ’em in, bouncing ’em in. I had this feeling.
“The second half, when I cooled off, coach Brown said, ‘Danny, why are you taking those long jumpers?’ I said, ‘Coach, I’ve got the feeling.’ He said, ‘Danny get rid of the feeling and get back in the paint.'”
Manning said KU’s first-half effort is the main reason the Jayhawks have advanced into Sunday’s 12:58 p.m. regional final against rival Kansas State.
“We came out and got a lot of things going,” said Manning. “Will (Perdue, 16 points on seven of 13 shooting) missed his first few shots and that gave us a lift.
“He was getting the ball seven feed from the basket and missing. He usually hits those shots. He’s a great player. Seeing Will miss, it lifted our intensity up.
“It felt so good to be out there. I think all our guys felt that way.
“The second half, my legs left me,” continued Manning, who hit 12 of 17 shots the first half and four of 12 the final 20 minutes.
“My jumper left me. I got a little tired.”
Manning, believe it or not, was not completely satisfied with his play. He figures he can pick it up a notch Sunday.
“Tonight I was fortunate because offensively I was going good,” said Manning. “Defensively I made Will earn his points, but I didn’t rebound the way I should (five). At halftime, coach was on me about that. I’ve got to rebound better and not make so many crazy passes.”
Manning figures he and the Jayhawks are in a no-lose situation Sunday.
“That’s why it’s so rewarding to make it this far in the tournament. Nobody expected us to get this far. If we have as much fun as we did tonight, play with the same intensity, we might make it to Kemper (Arena, Final Four site).
“It’s ‘Go for it time'” continued Manning, coining a motto. “We’ve gotta do all we can to make it.”
About KU opponent K-State, Manning said: “It’s good for the conference, but we can’t worry about the opponent, just play the way we can.
“It’s an honor to be one of the eight teams left.”
