Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoAnaheim, Calif. ? Stanford’s sagging defense certainly deserves credit for holding Wayne Simien to six shots and 10 points Saturday.
But not all the credit, says Kansas University point guard Aaron Miles, who believes the Jayhawks need to feed their junior big man more often.
“He doesn’t get enough touches,” Miles said of the 6-foot-9 All-America candidate, who was 2-of-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line in KU’s 64-58 loss at The Pond.
“I think it’s all my fault. I’ve got to find ways to get him the ball,” added Miles, who had four assists on a day KU totaled six against 19 turnovers.
Miles and his teammates also had problems getting Simien the ball Monday at TCU when the 250-pounder hit one of four shots in an 85-66 victory.
“We probably need to just throw it. It’s open. We just have to get it to him,” Miles said of Simien, who hit nine of 12 shots against Michigan State and seven of 12 versus UT Chattanooga.
While Miles said Simien might be getting aggravated at his lack of involvement in the offense, Simien expressed no displeasure.
“There are things I can do on offense to help free myself and get better touches,” Simien said with a shrug. “I do draw a lot of attention (from defenses), but I am not the only guy out there. There’s four other guys out there with me who are capable of stepping up and handling things offensively.”
Simien discussed the offense after the loss, KU’s first in four games.
“We were not moving the ball well,” Simien said. “We kind of got out of our offensive schemes. The things we work on every day we did not execute well. Turning the ball over a lot and not getting shots and missing shots … it’s hard to win that way.”
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A foul most foul: KU’s Jeff Hawkins was called for a controversial foul right before halftime. Stanford’s Chris Hernandez crossed the center line and hoisted a half-court shot, and Hawkins was whistled for fouling.
Hernandez made three free throws, hiking a four-point lead to seven at the break.
“There was no reason to explain it. (The officials) called it, and they shoot free throws because it’s a foul. I think he probably fouled him,” Self said. “It’s not a real good play.”
KU’s Bryant Nash was called for setting a moving screen when KU had the ball down 33-29 with :04 left in the half.
“There’s no way you can’t get the last shot. They are in a zone. We set a moving screen. The worst you can do is go down four, two or one. We go down seven. That is the difference between winning and losing right there, those kind of plays,” Self said.
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Minutes: Perimeter players J.R. Giddens and Jeff Hawkins played 17 and 24 minutes, respectively.
Hawkins missed seven of nine shots; Giddens was 0-for-4.
“J.R. to me didn’t look very aggressive. Still, he played 17 minutes,” Self said, asked specifically about Giddens’ playing time compared to Hawkins. “Jeff … I thought we’d be better defensively if he was out there. We probably were. They shot 26 percent in the second half.”
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Travel plans: The Jayhawks were to return this morning via commercial flight.
“I was going to go recruiting. I don’t know if I’ll do that now,” Self said, asked about his Saturday night plans after the depressing loss.
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Stats, facts: KU is 3-1 for the first time since the 2001-02 season. … KU leads the all-time series with Stanford, 8-2, last losing to the Cardinal in 1963. … Giddens had a career-high six rebounds. … KU’s three assists in the first half were KU’s fewest in a half since recording two in the second half against Missouri at last year’s Big 12 tournament.
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Faces in the crowd: Former Jayhawks Bill Bridges, Eric Chenowith and former assistant coach Bob Hill were on hand, along with former KU football player David Jaynes and former Lakers and Miami Heat coach Pat Riley. … Omar Wilkes’ dad, Jamaal, an ex-UCLA great, and Wilkes’ brother, Jordan, attended. Jordan Wilkes, a 6-9 junior from Los Angeles Loyola High, wore a No. 2 KU jersey in honor of his brother.
Cardinal ends KU’s No. 1 run
See the photos: KU-Stanford photo gallery
Hear Bill: KU-Stanford postgame comments