Simien relishes reputation for dunks

By Gary Bedore     Dec 20, 2002

Powerful Wayne Simien has yet to shatter a backboard at Allen Fieldhouse.

But the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Kansas University sophomore forward, who is known for his vicious slams — like one off an alley oop feed from Aaron Miles in last Saturday’s victory over Emporia State — has brought down a goal or two in his hometown of Leavenworth.

“I went through a lot of nerf hoop rims you hang on the door,” Simien said Thursday at KU coach Roy Williams’ weekly news conference. “I remember going down to watch NBA games and trying to do what they do, break the goals. I went through a couple in high school on the court outside my house. It’s a demeanor that I came up with. If you are a big guy you are supposed to finish strong, be strong.”

His dunks don’t come without consequences. Guys that dunk hard wind up banging their wrists — a lot.

“You get bruises on your forearms and wrists, on your hands,” Simien said. “It’s worth it when guys start moving out of your way and ducking and you see yourself on ESPN. Guys joke and tease me about that, but it’s something I like to do.”

Simien wields such an intimidating presence on the court, it appears he intimidated the refs working the KU-Emporia State game. Simien was called for a foul after grabbing a board and ripping it away from a player with his arms flailing across his body.

It was as if the ref envisioned a Hornet getting clipped with Simien’s elbows. Simien appeared to make no contact with the player.

“It’s a man’s game out there,” Simien said. “If you choose to grab on somebody’s elbow or an arm, you take what will come with that. I am not trying to intentionally hurt anybody. When I am out there I play hard and physical. That’s the way the game has to be.”

As far as his own personal health, Simien, who has tendinitis in his right foot, says he’s been feeling better. So much so, he recently discarded the walking cast he has been wearing on campus to protect the foot.

“Not by doctor’s orders, though. I got tired of it,” Simien said. “I didn’t think it was necessary. I chucked it out the window. I try to listen to the doctors, but nobody knows how I feel but me. I try to make some decisions myself.”

Of his ankle, he said: “It still swells up after every game. Once the adrenaline gets going it doesn’t bother me unless I tweak it. It’s OK.”

  • The Jayhawks practiced Thursday as final exam week continues.

KU will practice today, then meet UCLA at 4 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We have six players who still have exams tomorrow. Everybody will be finished tomorrow,” Williams said. “We need a good workout tonight and again Friday and Saturday be able to focus on UCLA, have that other stuff on the periphery like wanting to go home (for break).”

The players will leave for Christmas break after Saturday’s game.

  • Simien on Williams being named an Olympic assistant coach: “He seems pretty excited about it in his low-key mannerism. It’s a great honor to represent the country, especially in the Olympics. It’s a huge deal especially the way things went in the World Games this summer. It will definitely add to his hectic schedule with recruiting. I’m happy for him.

“You’ve got the best coaches in the world now with the best players in the world. I don’t know how the professional players will react to him, but it’s great. He’ll be representing the university as well.”

  • Former Kansas University guard Jacque Vaughn will have his jersey retired in a ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s KU-UCLA game.

In addition to Vaughn, the jerseys of Tus Ackerman, Gale Gordon, Fred Pralle, Al Peterson, Drew Gooden, Paul Pierce, Jo Jo White, Raef LaFrentz and Howard Engleman will be retired at yet-to-be-determined dates.

Vaughn was a four-year starter at point guard for the Jayhawks from 1994-97 and ranks 28th on KU’s all-time scoring list with 1,207 points and first on Kansas’ all-time career assists list with 804. He was a two-time GTE Academic All-American, and he was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 1997.

Simien relishes reputation for dunks

By Jim Baker     Dec 20, 2002

Powerful Wayne Simien has yet to shatter a backboard at Allen Fieldhouse.

But the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Kansas University sophomore forward, who is known for his vicious slams — like one off an alley oop feed from Aaron Miles in last Saturday’s victory over Emporia State — has brought down a goal or two in his hometown of Leavenworth.

advertisement

“I went through a lot of nerf hoop rims you hang on the door,” Simien said Thursday at KU coach Roy Williams’ weekly news conference. “I remember going down to watch NBA games and trying to do what they do, break the goals. I went through a couple in high school on the court outside my house. It’s a demeanor that I came up with. If you are a big guy you are supposed to finish strong, be strong.”

His dunks don’t come without consequences. Guys that dunk hard wind up banging their wrists — a lot.

“You get bruises on your forearms and wrists, on your hands,” Simien said. “It’s worth it when guys start moving out of your way and ducking and you see yourself on ESPN. Guys joke and tease me about that, but it’s something I like to do.”

Simien wields such an intimidating presence on the court, it appears he intimidated the refs working the KU-Emporia State game. Simien was called for a foul after grabbing a board and ripping it away from a player with his arms flailing across his body.

It was as if the ref envisioned a Hornet getting clipped with Simien’s elbows. Simien appeared to make no contact with the player.

“It’s a man’s game out there,” Simien said. “If you choose to grab on somebody’s elbow or an arm, you take what will come with that. I am not trying to intentionally hurt anybody. When I am out there I play hard and physical. That’s the way the game has to be.”

As far as his own personal health, Simien, who has tendinitis in his right foot, says he’s been feeling better. So much so, he recently discarded the walking cast he has been wearing on campus to protect the foot.

“Not by doctor’s orders, though. I got tired of it,” Simien said. “I didn’t think it was necessary. I chucked it out the window. I try to listen to the doctors, but nobody knows how I feel but me. I try to make some decisions myself.”

Of his ankle, he said: “It still swells up after every game. Once the adrenaline gets going it doesn’t bother me unless I tweak it. It’s OK.”

  • The Jayhawks practiced Thursday as final exam week continues.

KU will practice today, then meet UCLA at 4 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We have six players who still have exams tomorrow. Everybody will be finished tomorrow,” Williams said. “We need a good workout tonight and again Friday and Saturday be able to focus on UCLA, have that other stuff on the periphery like wanting to go home (for break).”

The players will leave for Christmas break after Saturday’s game.

  • Simien on Williams being named an Olympic assistant coach: “He seems pretty excited about it in his low-key mannerism. It’s a great honor to represent the country, especially in the Olympics. It’s a huge deal especially the way things went in the World Games this summer. It will definitely add to his hectic schedule with recruiting. I’m happy for him.

“You’ve got the best coaches in the world now with the best players in the world. I don’t know how the professional players will react to him, but it’s great. He’ll be representing the university as well.”

  • Former Kansas University guard Jacque Vaughn will have his jersey retired in a ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s KU-UCLA game.

In addition to Vaughn, the jerseys of Tus Ackerman, Gale Gordon, Fred Pralle, Al Peterson, Drew Gooden, Paul Pierce, Jo Jo White, Raef LaFrentz and Howard Engleman will be retired at yet-to-be-determined dates.

Vaughn was a four-year starter at point guard for the Jayhawks from 1994-97 and ranks 28th on KU’s all-time scoring list with 1,207 points and first on Kansas’ all-time career assists list with 804. He was a two-time GTE Academic All-American, and he was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 1997.

Simien relishes reputation for dunks

By Jim Baker     Dec 20, 2002

Powerful Wayne Simien has yet to shatter a backboard at Allen Fieldhouse.

But the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Kansas University sophomore forward, who is known for his vicious slams — like one off an alley oop feed from Aaron Miles in last Saturday’s victory over Emporia State — has brought down a goal or two in his hometown of Leavenworth.

advertisement

“I went through a lot of nerf hoop rims you hang on the door,” Simien said Thursday at KU coach Roy Williams’ weekly news conference. “I remember going down to watch NBA games and trying to do what they do, break the goals. I went through a couple in high school on the court outside my house. It’s a demeanor that I came up with. If you are a big guy you are supposed to finish strong, be strong.”

His dunks don’t come without consequences. Guys that dunk hard wind up banging their wrists — a lot.

“You get bruises on your forearms and wrists, on your hands,” Simien said. “It’s worth it when guys start moving out of your way and ducking and you see yourself on ESPN. Guys joke and tease me about that, but it’s something I like to do.”

Simien wields such an intimidating presence on the court, it appears he intimidated the refs working the KU-Emporia State game. Simien was called for a foul after grabbing a board and ripping it away from a player with his arms flailing across his body.

It was as if the ref envisioned a Hornet getting clipped with Simien’s elbows. Simien appeared to make no contact with the player.

“It’s a man’s game out there,” Simien said. “If you choose to grab on somebody’s elbow or an arm, you take what will come with that. I am not trying to intentionally hurt anybody. When I am out there I play hard and physical. That’s the way the game has to be.”

As far as his own personal health, Simien, who has tendinitis in his right foot, says he’s been feeling better. So much so, he recently discarded the walking cast he has been wearing on campus to protect the foot.

“Not by doctor’s orders, though. I got tired of it,” Simien said. “I didn’t think it was necessary. I chucked it out the window. I try to listen to the doctors, but nobody knows how I feel but me. I try to make some decisions myself.”

Of his ankle, he said: “It still swells up after every game. Once the adrenaline gets going it doesn’t bother me unless I tweak it. It’s OK.”

  • The Jayhawks practiced Thursday as final exam week continues.

KU will practice today, then meet UCLA at 4 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We have six players who still have exams tomorrow. Everybody will be finished tomorrow,” Williams said. “We need a good workout tonight and again Friday and Saturday be able to focus on UCLA, have that other stuff on the periphery like wanting to go home (for break).”

The players will leave for Christmas break after Saturday’s game.

  • Simien on Williams being named an Olympic assistant coach: “He seems pretty excited about it in his low-key mannerism. It’s a great honor to represent the country, especially in the Olympics. It’s a huge deal especially the way things went in the World Games this summer. It will definitely add to his hectic schedule with recruiting. I’m happy for him.

“You’ve got the best coaches in the world now with the best players in the world. I don’t know how the professional players will react to him, but it’s great. He’ll be representing the university as well.”

  • Former Kansas University guard Jacque Vaughn will have his jersey retired in a ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s KU-UCLA game.

In addition to Vaughn, the jerseys of Tus Ackerman, Gale Gordon, Fred Pralle, Al Peterson, Drew Gooden, Paul Pierce, Jo Jo White, Raef LaFrentz and Howard Engleman will be retired at yet-to-be-determined dates.

Vaughn was a four-year starter at point guard for the Jayhawks from 1994-97 and ranks 28th on KU’s all-time scoring list with 1,207 points and first on Kansas’ all-time career assists list with 804. He was a two-time GTE Academic All-American, and he was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 1997.

Simien relishes reputation for dunks

By Jim Baker     Dec 20, 2002

Powerful Wayne Simien has yet to shatter a backboard at Allen Fieldhouse.

But the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Kansas University sophomore forward, who is known for his vicious slams — like one off an alley oop feed from Aaron Miles in last Saturday’s victory over Emporia State — has brought down a goal or two in his hometown of Leavenworth.

advertisement

“I went through a lot of nerf hoop rims you hang on the door,” Simien said Thursday at KU coach Roy Williams’ weekly news conference. “I remember going down to watch NBA games and trying to do what they do, break the goals. I went through a couple in high school on the court outside my house. It’s a demeanor that I came up with. If you are a big guy you are supposed to finish strong, be strong.”

His dunks don’t come without consequences. Guys that dunk hard wind up banging their wrists — a lot.

“You get bruises on your forearms and wrists, on your hands,” Simien said. “It’s worth it when guys start moving out of your way and ducking and you see yourself on ESPN. Guys joke and tease me about that, but it’s something I like to do.”

Simien wields such an intimidating presence on the court, it appears he intimidated the refs working the KU-Emporia State game. Simien was called for a foul after grabbing a board and ripping it away from a player with his arms flailing across his body.

It was as if the ref envisioned a Hornet getting clipped with Simien’s elbows. Simien appeared to make no contact with the player.

“It’s a man’s game out there,” Simien said. “If you choose to grab on somebody’s elbow or an arm, you take what will come with that. I am not trying to intentionally hurt anybody. When I am out there I play hard and physical. That’s the way the game has to be.”

As far as his own personal health, Simien, who has tendinitis in his right foot, says he’s been feeling better. So much so, he recently discarded the walking cast he has been wearing on campus to protect the foot.

“Not by doctor’s orders, though. I got tired of it,” Simien said. “I didn’t think it was necessary. I chucked it out the window. I try to listen to the doctors, but nobody knows how I feel but me. I try to make some decisions myself.”

Of his ankle, he said: “It still swells up after every game. Once the adrenaline gets going it doesn’t bother me unless I tweak it. It’s OK.”

  • The Jayhawks practiced Thursday as final exam week continues.

KU will practice today, then meet UCLA at 4 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We have six players who still have exams tomorrow. Everybody will be finished tomorrow,” Williams said. “We need a good workout tonight and again Friday and Saturday be able to focus on UCLA, have that other stuff on the periphery like wanting to go home (for break).”

The players will leave for Christmas break after Saturday’s game.

  • Simien on Williams being named an Olympic assistant coach: “He seems pretty excited about it in his low-key mannerism. It’s a great honor to represent the country, especially in the Olympics. It’s a huge deal especially the way things went in the World Games this summer. It will definitely add to his hectic schedule with recruiting. I’m happy for him.

“You’ve got the best coaches in the world now with the best players in the world. I don’t know how the professional players will react to him, but it’s great. He’ll be representing the university as well.”

  • Former Kansas University guard Jacque Vaughn will have his jersey retired in a ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s KU-UCLA game.

In addition to Vaughn, the jerseys of Tus Ackerman, Gale Gordon, Fred Pralle, Al Peterson, Drew Gooden, Paul Pierce, Jo Jo White, Raef LaFrentz and Howard Engleman will be retired at yet-to-be-determined dates.

Vaughn was a four-year starter at point guard for the Jayhawks from 1994-97 and ranks 28th on KU’s all-time scoring list with 1,207 points and first on Kansas’ all-time career assists list with 804. He was a two-time GTE Academic All-American, and he was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 1997.

PREV POST

KU to retire Vaughn's jersey at halftime of UCLA game

NEXT POST

2372Simien relishes reputation for dunks