“We told our guys this would be as fun a game as we’d play this year because there’d be more possessions,” Self said after watching his five starters each score in double figures in an entertaining 93-74 victory over the quick, athletic Horned Frogs at Allen Fieldhouse. “They pushed it and shot quick. We pushed it and shot quick.”

The No. 2-ranked Jayhawks shrugged off a slow start — TCU led 27-23 after 121/2 minutes — then motored the rest of the way, hitting 56.1 percent of their shots and totaling 19 assists on 37 baskets.

“There were a lot of good things that came from this game tonight. I am getting more excited about this team as we go,” Self said.

For the fifth time this season, both he and the Jayhawk fans were excited about a player recording a double-double.

Thad Allender/Journal-World Photo

“It wasn’t me,” senior power forward Simien said with a grin after collecting 20 points and nine rebounds, missing his fifth double-double of the year by just one board.

This time the double-double went to walk-on Christian Moody, who burned former KU assistant coach Neil Dougherty’s Frogs with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his career.

Moody had two assists in 27 minutes, including perhaps one of the greatest passes in fieldhouse history.

Moody accepted a pass in the low post from Simien, then immediately swatted the ball behind his head to J.R. Giddens, who swished a three, giving KU a 77-61 lead with 5:11 left.

“He was tickled inside when he made that play. He’ll be watching SportsCenter tonight,” Simien said of Moody, a player Simien calls “Maddog.”

Thad Allender/Journal-World Photo

“He’s a mad dog when he gets life in him like tonight,” Simien said.

Simien played 36 minutes and Moody 27 on a night only one freshman big man played a role.

C.J. Giles scored four points with five boards in 13 minutes, while Sasha Kaun played just two minutes. Darnell Jackson ran through warmups, but missed the contest after suffering a concussion after taking an elbow in practice Monday. It’s expected he’ll be available for Saturday’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette.

“It was fun getting up and down all night, and it was good for us, too,” Simien said.

Keith Langford scored 17 points off 6-of-9 shooting against the team situated in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, while Aaron Miles had 10 points and seven assists and Giddens 13 points off 3-of-8 three-point shooting.

Giddens’ favorite three came off the assist from Moody.

“I was real surprised the ball came back to me. I figured you’ve got to finish a beautiful play like that,” Giddens said.

Perhaps the Jayhawks’ most beautiful offensive stretch of the season came in the final 7:35 of the first half when KU hit 10 of 13 shots in a 24-10 run that closed the half and gave the home team a 47-37 lead.

Simien had six points, and Giddens had a vicious slam and a three in the run.

“Tonight looked like the J.R. of old,” Self said. “He played with a lot of energy. He is such a big part of our team, and it is great when he plays with that much energy.”

KU led just 59-54 with 11:54 left when Miles, Simien and Langford each scored two points apiece, opening a 65-54 lead at 9:54.

Giddens, Langford and Simien scored again as KU opened a 71-56 lead with seven minutes to play.

The Jayhawks hit 56.1 percent of their shots, but just five of 15 threes.

TCU coach Dougherty hugged several Jayhawks after the final horn, the longest embrace saved for Simien, a fellow Leavenworth native.

“He said he misses us. He said we played great and (to) keep playing great,” Simien said. “He’s a great guy. He has the Kansas bloodline. His tenure here is much appreciated, and the fans showed it. There’s a lot of love there. We all want to see him do well, plus him being a Leavenworth guy, I expected him to be a great coach.”

KU (5-0) will meet Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

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