Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoKansas University junior Wayne Simien isn’t satisfied as a career 71-percent free-throw shooter.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward from Leavenworth has made 16 of 16 free throws entering Monday’s game at Texas Christian.
“I had a lot of time to shoot over the summer,” said the much-improved foul shooter, who has made 23 straight dating to last season and needs 10 more to tie Calvin Thompson’s KU record of 33 charities without a miss.
“Guys were out there playing pick-up, but I couldn’t play. So I’d be standing on the sidelines shooting. It’s definitely something I wanted to work on in the offseason.”
Simien, who had shoulder surgery March 29 and wasn’t cleared for contact drills until Aug. 23, figured improved prowess from the stripe could improve the Jayhawks’ chances this season.
“Sitting on the sideline in the championship game … seeing us miss free throws … you’ve got to knock ’em down,” said Simien, bothered by KU’s 12-of-30 from the line in last year’s 81-78 NCAA title-game loss to Syracuse.
The Jayhawks have made 38 of 46 free throws this season, thanks in large part to Simien, who is sizzling from the field as well as the stripe. Simien has made 16 of 24 shots, good for 66 percent.
He scored 28 points off 9-of-12 shooting and nine of nine from the line in Tuesday’s 81-74 win over Michigan State.
“I got in pretty good rhythm early in the game when Keith (Langford) was out with foul trouble,” Simien said. “The guys gave me some good looks, kept feeding me. I felt comfortable out there.”
He was dominant out there, scoring 18 points off 5-of-7 shooting in the first half.
“I told Wayne at one of the time outs, ‘You’ve got to carry it right now.’ He was like, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it,'” said Langford, who played three minutes the first half.
“I swear, if we get the ball to him like that, when he gets position … he’s the best big man in the country without a doubt.”
“Wayne was consistent all the way through,” marveled junior guard Michael Lee.
“He pounded it out the first half and had some good baskets the second half and stepped out and hit a three the first half that was big. I won’t say it surprised me. He’s done that a lot of times before.”
KU coach Bill Self realizes Simien can be invaluable in KU’s new high/low offense this season.
“To score 28 points on 12 shots and playing 38 minutes, and he’s defending Anderson (Alan, 6-foot-6 junior) part of the game in a tough matchup … Wayne was awesome,” Self said. “He was great, as good as any player in America.”
Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoKansas University junior Wayne Simien isn’t satisfied as a career 71-percent free-throw shooter.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward from Leavenworth has made 16 of 16 free throws entering Monday’s game at Texas Christian.
“I had a lot of time to shoot over the summer,” said the much-improved foul shooter, who has made 23 straight dating to last season and needs 10 more to tie Calvin Thompson’s KU record of 33 charities without a miss.
“Guys were out there playing pick-up, but I couldn’t play. So I’d be standing on the sidelines shooting. It’s definitely something I wanted to work on in the offseason.”
Simien, who had shoulder surgery March 29 and wasn’t cleared for contact drills until Aug. 23, figured improved prowess from the stripe could improve the Jayhawks’ chances this season.
“Sitting on the sideline in the championship game … seeing us miss free throws … you’ve got to knock ’em down,” said Simien, bothered by KU’s 12-of-30 from the line in last year’s 81-78 NCAA title-game loss to Syracuse.
The Jayhawks have made 38 of 46 free throws this season, thanks in large part to Simien, who is sizzling from the field as well as the stripe. Simien has made 16 of 24 shots, good for 66 percent.
He scored 28 points off 9-of-12 shooting and nine of nine from the line in Tuesday’s 81-74 win over Michigan State.
“I got in pretty good rhythm early in the game when Keith (Langford) was out with foul trouble,” Simien said. “The guys gave me some good looks, kept feeding me. I felt comfortable out there.”
He was dominant out there, scoring 18 points off 5-of-7 shooting in the first half.
“I told Wayne at one of the time outs, ‘You’ve got to carry it right now.’ He was like, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it,'” said Langford, who played three minutes the first half.
“I swear, if we get the ball to him like that, when he gets position … he’s the best big man in the country without a doubt.”
“Wayne was consistent all the way through,” marveled junior guard Michael Lee.
“He pounded it out the first half and had some good baskets the second half and stepped out and hit a three the first half that was big. I won’t say it surprised me. He’s done that a lot of times before.”
KU coach Bill Self realizes Simien can be invaluable in KU’s new high/low offense this season.
“To score 28 points on 12 shots and playing 38 minutes, and he’s defending Anderson (Alan, 6-foot-6 junior) part of the game in a tough matchup … Wayne was awesome,” Self said. “He was great, as good as any player in America.”
6Sports video: Langford takes over in second half