LEXINGTON, KY. ? Nobody threw ice at Roy Williams.
Nobody tossed a punch the Kansas coach’s way.
“I didn’t think I’d need a bodyguard tonight,” Williams said after the Jayhawks’ 88-71 loss Saturday night to Kentucky at jam-packed Rupp Arena.
UK fans and players were fairly well behaved, considering the talk of revenge in the Kentucky media all week.
“I’ve heard chants before,” said Williams, noting there were some verbal jabs but nothing else directed at him as punishment for last year’s 150-95 Jayhawk win.
Banners that read “Payback Is Necessary,” “No Sympathy,” and “Judgment Day Is Here” were harmless enough.
Kentucky’s players, who busted open a 63-62 game by outscoring KU a whopping 19-0 in a seven-minute second-half stretch, say, banners notwithstanding, revenge was not on their minds.
“It was blown up by the media all week. We didn’t talk about it once. Personally I wish Kansas well. They have a great team,” said forward Reggie Hanson, who had 15 points and six boards.
“Last year didn’t fire me up,” said guard Sean Woods, who burned KU for a career-high 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.
“We tried to not talk about last year’s game, but we have pride. I think this was a good enough win.”
Woods surpassed his previous career-high point total of 20.
“It was my best game by far,” said Woods. “Tonight our threes weren’t falling (UK hit three of 16, its lowest total of the Rick Pitino era), so I kept going to the bucket.”
KU guard Adonis Jordan picked up three early fouls trying to slow Woods, who hit 11 of 15 shots.
Jordan finished with seven points and three assists while playing 29 minutes.
“He’s right up there,” Jordan said, rating the 6-3 junior. “I knew he’d do a lot of penetrating. Tonight was his night.”
Notes:
“I would like for the series to continue, but I understand Rick’s reasoning,” said Williams. “These two schools have great tradition. It’s a great college basketball atmosphere, even when they uell at the coach,” he said, grinning.
