Kirk Hinrich didn’t need a doctor to tell him he’d sustained a serious ankle injury.
He could see for himself.
“I looked down and the swelling was up higher than the tape,” Hinrich said.
Kansas University’s 6-foot-3 guard referred to the injury as the scariest, most painful moment of his junior season. He twisted his left ankle right before halftime of the KU-Holy Cross NCAA Tournament first-round game in St. Louis.
“I thought I broke it,” said Hinrich, relegated to the bench for the final 20 minutes of KU’s narrow 70-59 victory.
The injury nearly broke the hearts of the Jayhawks, who trailed the Crusaders by two points at the break. They are the same Crusaders who will visit KU for an 8 p.m. Preseason NIT showdown Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“When Kirk went down, I thought, ‘This is not good. We just lost our best perimeter player and we’re down,'” KU sophomore guard Keith Langford said. “But there was nothing we could do about it. We had to pull together.”
First the Jayhawks had to get out of a daze caused by an injury to perhaps the team’s steadiest player.
“It was a lot different, quiet,” red-shirt frosh guard Jeff Hawkins said of the KU locker room at halftime with the Jayhawks trailing, 37-35. “A lot of people were not saying anything. I was hoping we didn’t lose. I didn’t want to go home because I was having so much fun.
“I honestly didn’t think Kirk would come back that game, but I knew if we got that win, he’d play the next game.”
KU coach Roy Williams wasn’t so sure, but he did not focus on Hinrich’s injury with the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks having their hands full against the No. 16 seed.
“During that time period you are concerned with what you are trying to do. We still had a game to play,” Williams said. “I felt really bad for Kirk, felt bad for our team because he’s so important to us. I didn’t get carried away with what-ifs. At that point we were just trying to survive.”
KU did survive and advanced to a second-round meeting with Stanford in which Hinrich played and played well. KU clamped down on defense and held the Crusaders to 22 second-half points.
Holy Cross’ season ended at 18-15. The Crusaders have been regrouping since then for Tuesday’s rematch. Only recently did Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard watch tape of that game, though.
“I’ve seen it happen over and over again : teams seem to rally when one of their star players goes down,” Willard said. “Obviously, Roy would rather have had Kirk Hinrich in the game, so would his teammates. But sometimes a team gets a sense of urgency when its star player is lost.
“I know it didn’t help Kansas when he went down, but we were playing well when he was playing. I don’t know if that affected the outcome of the game or not.”
Drew Gooden ultimately saved the day, scoring 19 points overall and four in KU’s game-ending 10-2 run.
As far as Hinrich, he miraculously returned to score 15 points versus Stanford.
“Kirk came in and probably was more effective that game than any in the tournament,” Williams marveled.
How’d he do it?
“The doctors and trainers did a great job getting me ready to go,” Hinrich shrugged.
Now Hinrich gears for KU’s season-opener against a Holy Cross team that returns four starters from that game in St. Louis.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to finish the game this time,” Hinrich said, with a grin.
Kirk Hinrich didn’t need a doctor to tell him he’d sustained a serious ankle injury.
He could see for himself.
“I looked down and the swelling was up higher than the tape,” Hinrich said.
Kansas University’s 6-foot-3 guard referred to the injury as the scariest, most painful moment of his junior season. He twisted his left ankle right before halftime of the KU-Holy Cross NCAA Tournament first-round game in St. Louis.
“I thought I broke it,” said Hinrich, relegated to the bench for the final 20 minutes of KU’s narrow 70-59 victory.
The injury nearly broke the hearts of the Jayhawks, who trailed the Crusaders by two points at the break. They are the same Crusaders who will visit KU for an 8 p.m. Preseason NIT showdown Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“When Kirk went down, I thought, ‘This is not good. We just lost our best perimeter player and we’re down,'” KU sophomore guard Keith Langford said. “But there was nothing we could do about it. We had to pull together.”
First the Jayhawks had to get out of a daze caused by an injury to perhaps the team’s steadiest player.
“It was a lot different, quiet,” red-shirt frosh guard Jeff Hawkins said of the KU locker room at halftime with the Jayhawks trailing, 37-35. “A lot of people were not saying anything. I was hoping we didn’t lose. I didn’t want to go home because I was having so much fun.
“I honestly didn’t think Kirk would come back that game, but I knew if we got that win, he’d play the next game.”
KU coach Roy Williams wasn’t so sure, but he did not focus on Hinrich’s injury with the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks having their hands full against the No. 16 seed.
“During that time period you are concerned with what you are trying to do. We still had a game to play,” Williams said. “I felt really bad for Kirk, felt bad for our team because he’s so important to us. I didn’t get carried away with what-ifs. At that point we were just trying to survive.”
KU did survive and advanced to a second-round meeting with Stanford in which Hinrich played and played well. KU clamped down on defense and held the Crusaders to 22 second-half points.
Holy Cross’ season ended at 18-15. The Crusaders have been regrouping since then for Tuesday’s rematch. Only recently did Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard watch tape of that game, though.
“I’ve seen it happen over and over again : teams seem to rally when one of their star players goes down,” Willard said. “Obviously, Roy would rather have had Kirk Hinrich in the game, so would his teammates. But sometimes a team gets a sense of urgency when its star player is lost.
“I know it didn’t help Kansas when he went down, but we were playing well when he was playing. I don’t know if that affected the outcome of the game or not.”
Drew Gooden ultimately saved the day, scoring 19 points overall and four in KU’s game-ending 10-2 run.
As far as Hinrich, he miraculously returned to score 15 points versus Stanford.
“Kirk came in and probably was more effective that game than any in the tournament,” Williams marveled.
How’d he do it?
“The doctors and trainers did a great job getting me ready to go,” Hinrich shrugged.
Now Hinrich gears for KU’s season-opener against a Holy Cross team that returns four starters from that game in St. Louis.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to finish the game this time,” Hinrich said, with a grin.
Kirk Hinrich didn’t need a doctor to tell him he’d sustained a serious ankle injury.
He could see for himself.
“I looked down and the swelling was up higher than the tape,” Hinrich said.
Kansas University’s 6-foot-3 guard referred to the injury as the scariest, most painful moment of his junior season. He twisted his left ankle right before halftime of the KU-Holy Cross NCAA Tournament first-round game in St. Louis.
“I thought I broke it,” said Hinrich, relegated to the bench for the final 20 minutes of KU’s narrow 70-59 victory.
The injury nearly broke the hearts of the Jayhawks, who trailed the Crusaders by two points at the break. They are the same Crusaders who will visit KU for an 8 p.m. Preseason NIT showdown Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“When Kirk went down, I thought, ‘This is not good. We just lost our best perimeter player and we’re down,'” KU sophomore guard Keith Langford said. “But there was nothing we could do about it. We had to pull together.”
First the Jayhawks had to get out of a daze caused by an injury to perhaps the team’s steadiest player.
“It was a lot different, quiet,” red-shirt frosh guard Jeff Hawkins said of the KU locker room at halftime with the Jayhawks trailing, 37-35. “A lot of people were not saying anything. I was hoping we didn’t lose. I didn’t want to go home because I was having so much fun.
“I honestly didn’t think Kirk would come back that game, but I knew if we got that win, he’d play the next game.”
KU coach Roy Williams wasn’t so sure, but he did not focus on Hinrich’s injury with the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks having their hands full against the No. 16 seed.
“During that time period you are concerned with what you are trying to do. We still had a game to play,” Williams said. “I felt really bad for Kirk, felt bad for our team because he’s so important to us. I didn’t get carried away with what-ifs. At that point we were just trying to survive.”
KU did survive and advanced to a second-round meeting with Stanford in which Hinrich played and played well. KU clamped down on defense and held the Crusaders to 22 second-half points.
Holy Cross’ season ended at 18-15. The Crusaders have been regrouping since then for Tuesday’s rematch. Only recently did Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard watch tape of that game, though.
“I’ve seen it happen over and over again : teams seem to rally when one of their star players goes down,” Willard said. “Obviously, Roy would rather have had Kirk Hinrich in the game, so would his teammates. But sometimes a team gets a sense of urgency when its star player is lost.
“I know it didn’t help Kansas when he went down, but we were playing well when he was playing. I don’t know if that affected the outcome of the game or not.”
Drew Gooden ultimately saved the day, scoring 19 points overall and four in KU’s game-ending 10-2 run.
As far as Hinrich, he miraculously returned to score 15 points versus Stanford.
“Kirk came in and probably was more effective that game than any in the tournament,” Williams marveled.
How’d he do it?
“The doctors and trainers did a great job getting me ready to go,” Hinrich shrugged.
Now Hinrich gears for KU’s season-opener against a Holy Cross team that returns four starters from that game in St. Louis.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to finish the game this time,” Hinrich said, with a grin.
Kirk Hinrich didn’t need a doctor to tell him he’d sustained a serious ankle injury.
He could see for himself.
“I looked down and the swelling was up higher than the tape,” Hinrich said.
Kansas University’s 6-foot-3 guard referred to the injury as the scariest, most painful moment of his junior season. He twisted his left ankle right before halftime of the KU-Holy Cross NCAA Tournament first-round game in St. Louis.
“I thought I broke it,” said Hinrich, relegated to the bench for the final 20 minutes of KU’s narrow 70-59 victory.
The injury nearly broke the hearts of the Jayhawks, who trailed the Crusaders by two points at the break. They are the same Crusaders who will visit KU for an 8 p.m. Preseason NIT showdown Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“When Kirk went down, I thought, ‘This is not good. We just lost our best perimeter player and we’re down,'” KU sophomore guard Keith Langford said. “But there was nothing we could do about it. We had to pull together.”
First the Jayhawks had to get out of a daze caused by an injury to perhaps the team’s steadiest player.
“It was a lot different, quiet,” red-shirt frosh guard Jeff Hawkins said of the KU locker room at halftime with the Jayhawks trailing, 37-35. “A lot of people were not saying anything. I was hoping we didn’t lose. I didn’t want to go home because I was having so much fun.
“I honestly didn’t think Kirk would come back that game, but I knew if we got that win, he’d play the next game.”
KU coach Roy Williams wasn’t so sure, but he did not focus on Hinrich’s injury with the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks having their hands full against the No. 16 seed.
“During that time period you are concerned with what you are trying to do. We still had a game to play,” Williams said. “I felt really bad for Kirk, felt bad for our team because he’s so important to us. I didn’t get carried away with what-ifs. At that point we were just trying to survive.”
KU did survive and advanced to a second-round meeting with Stanford in which Hinrich played and played well. KU clamped down on defense and held the Crusaders to 22 second-half points.
Holy Cross’ season ended at 18-15. The Crusaders have been regrouping since then for Tuesday’s rematch. Only recently did Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard watch tape of that game, though.
“I’ve seen it happen over and over again : teams seem to rally when one of their star players goes down,” Willard said. “Obviously, Roy would rather have had Kirk Hinrich in the game, so would his teammates. But sometimes a team gets a sense of urgency when its star player is lost.
“I know it didn’t help Kansas when he went down, but we were playing well when he was playing. I don’t know if that affected the outcome of the game or not.”
Drew Gooden ultimately saved the day, scoring 19 points overall and four in KU’s game-ending 10-2 run.
As far as Hinrich, he miraculously returned to score 15 points versus Stanford.
“Kirk came in and probably was more effective that game than any in the tournament,” Williams marveled.
How’d he do it?
“The doctors and trainers did a great job getting me ready to go,” Hinrich shrugged.
Now Hinrich gears for KU’s season-opener against a Holy Cross team that returns four starters from that game in St. Louis.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to finish the game this time,” Hinrich said, with a grin.
