Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoCollege Station, Texas ? Keith Langford’s second game in Reed Arena proved better than his first.
“I didn’t play well my freshman year. I stunk … so I had some redeeming to do,” Langford, Kansas University’s junior guard from nearby Fort Worth, said Saturday after scoring 21 points in KU’s 71-65 victory over Texas A&M.
That’s 17 more points than he had as a freshman, when he missed five of six shots and suffered five turnovers while playing 23 minutes in the Jayhawks’ 86-74 victory over the Aggies.
“It always is fun to come to Texas. My family can watch me play,” noted Langford, who had over 20 relatives and friends in the stands. His mother and grandmother sat right behind KU’s bench.
Langford scored 10 straight points late in the first half, helping the Jayhawks shake a slow start and grab a 27-26 lead with 2:06 remaining before break.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoHe was happy he was in the game at the time. Langford had picked up two fouls in the first five minutes, which in some games has meant a spot on the bench the rest of the half.
“Coach said, ‘Go back in and play smart.’ I jumped at the opportunity,” said Langford, who finished the first half with 12 points in 12 minutes.
Overall, Langford iced seven of eight shots, including two threes in two tries.
Another successful trip home — he had 23 points earlier this year in a victory at TCU — even seemed to help his lingering flu-like symptoms.
“It did,” Langford said. “It did me a lot of good seeing a lot of family members in the stands. I’ve taken medicine, too. I felt a lot better.”
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Padgett sits out second game: KU freshman David Padgett, who had been resting the past week because of early signs of a stress fracture in his left foot, could have played Saturday if necessary, Self said.
“He was pain-free today. We’ll see how he practices Wednesday and decide if he can go against Richmond,” Self said of Thursday’s 8 p.m. game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Padgett said he had experienced no pain in the foot the past several days.
“I would have played if we’d had foul trouble,” he said. “It was X-rayed yesterday and everything looked fine. I have no pain. I think today they just didn’t want me to hurt it again. I’ll be back this week.”
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Nash taped: KU senior Bryant Nash had his sprained left ankle taped, with the tape extending high up his shin.
“It’s a bad bruise on my shin, and I hurt my ankle last game,” Nash said of Wednesday’s K-State game. “We keep it taped so I don’t sprain it again.”
Nash had two points and no boards in four minutes Saturday.
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Andy dandy: A&M forward Andy Slocum had 14 boards and three points in 32 minutes.
“I love Slocum. I’d love to have him. He’s their No. 5 guy, and he gets 14 rebounds, and our No. 5 guy gets zero,” Self said.
Senior Jeff Graves went rebound-less in 30 minutes.
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Bottom line: “Any road win is precious, regardless of the margin,” Self said of KU’s third league win in three tries.
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Wright excels: Texas A&M standout Antoine Wright scored 25 points off 10-of-22 shooting. He scored 13 of A&M’s last 14 points, being guarded by Langford, J.R. Giddens and Michael Lee.
“Not great,” Self said of KU’s defensive job on Wright. “We had some possessions we defended him well. He was comfortable enough to get off 22 shots.”
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KU rowing team on hand: A few dozen Kansas University rowers, wearing either crimson or blue T-shirts, sat in the west end zone and cheered the Jayhawks. Coach Rob Catloth and his team have been training in Texas prior to this week’s start of the spring semester.
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Max misses game: Former KU guard Brett Ballard worked as color announcer with play-by-play man Bob Davis Saturday on the Jayhawk Radio Network. Veteran announcer Max Falkenstien didn’t make the trip because of illness. Falkenstien has missed just three games because of sickness in his long career.
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This, that: KU had eight points off the bench to A&M’s 13. … KU has won a five straight games and seven straight in league play. … KU is 9-0 all-time against A&M. … Jeff Graves made his second start of the year and scored 11 points. He had 11 coming off the bench Wednesday against K-State. … Sophomore walk-on Christian Moody contributed four points in seven minutes, tying a career-high. … Giddens tied a career-high with four threes in five tries. … Aaron Miles had 12 assists and passed Adonis Jordan for sole possession of fifth place on KU’s career assist list. … KU is 11-0 when scoring 70 points or more.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoCollege Station, Texas ? Keith Langford’s second game in Reed Arena proved better than his first.
“I didn’t play well my freshman year. I stunk … so I had some redeeming to do,” Langford, Kansas University’s junior guard from nearby Fort Worth, said Saturday after scoring 21 points in KU’s 71-65 victory over Texas A&M.
That’s 17 more points than he had as a freshman, when he missed five of six shots and suffered five turnovers while playing 23 minutes in the Jayhawks’ 86-74 victory over the Aggies.
“It always is fun to come to Texas. My family can watch me play,” noted Langford, who had over 20 relatives and friends in the stands. His mother and grandmother sat right behind KU’s bench.
Langford scored 10 straight points late in the first half, helping the Jayhawks shake a slow start and grab a 27-26 lead with 2:06 remaining before break.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoHe was happy he was in the game at the time. Langford had picked up two fouls in the first five minutes, which in some games has meant a spot on the bench the rest of the half.
“Coach said, ‘Go back in and play smart.’ I jumped at the opportunity,” said Langford, who finished the first half with 12 points in 12 minutes.
Overall, Langford iced seven of eight shots, including two threes in two tries.
Another successful trip home — he had 23 points earlier this year in a victory at TCU — even seemed to help his lingering flu-like symptoms.
“It did,” Langford said. “It did me a lot of good seeing a lot of family members in the stands. I’ve taken medicine, too. I felt a lot better.”
¢
Padgett sits out second game: KU freshman David Padgett, who had been resting the past week because of early signs of a stress fracture in his left foot, could have played Saturday if necessary, Self said.
“He was pain-free today. We’ll see how he practices Wednesday and decide if he can go against Richmond,” Self said of Thursday’s 8 p.m. game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Padgett said he had experienced no pain in the foot the past several days.
“I would have played if we’d had foul trouble,” he said. “It was X-rayed yesterday and everything looked fine. I have no pain. I think today they just didn’t want me to hurt it again. I’ll be back this week.”
¢
Nash taped: KU senior Bryant Nash had his sprained left ankle taped, with the tape extending high up his shin.
“It’s a bad bruise on my shin, and I hurt my ankle last game,” Nash said of Wednesday’s K-State game. “We keep it taped so I don’t sprain it again.”
Nash had two points and no boards in four minutes Saturday.
¢
Andy dandy: A&M forward Andy Slocum had 14 boards and three points in 32 minutes.
“I love Slocum. I’d love to have him. He’s their No. 5 guy, and he gets 14 rebounds, and our No. 5 guy gets zero,” Self said.
Senior Jeff Graves went rebound-less in 30 minutes.
¢
Bottom line: “Any road win is precious, regardless of the margin,” Self said of KU’s third league win in three tries.
¢
Wright excels: Texas A&M standout Antoine Wright scored 25 points off 10-of-22 shooting. He scored 13 of A&M’s last 14 points, being guarded by Langford, J.R. Giddens and Michael Lee.
“Not great,” Self said of KU’s defensive job on Wright. “We had some possessions we defended him well. He was comfortable enough to get off 22 shots.”
¢
KU rowing team on hand: A few dozen Kansas University rowers, wearing either crimson or blue T-shirts, sat in the west end zone and cheered the Jayhawks. Coach Rob Catloth and his team have been training in Texas prior to this week’s start of the spring semester.
¢
Max misses game: Former KU guard Brett Ballard worked as color announcer with play-by-play man Bob Davis Saturday on the Jayhawk Radio Network. Veteran announcer Max Falkenstien didn’t make the trip because of illness. Falkenstien has missed just three games because of sickness in his long career.
¢
This, that: KU had eight points off the bench to A&M’s 13. … KU has won a five straight games and seven straight in league play. … KU is 9-0 all-time against A&M. … Jeff Graves made his second start of the year and scored 11 points. He had 11 coming off the bench Wednesday against K-State. … Sophomore walk-on Christian Moody contributed four points in seven minutes, tying a career-high. … Giddens tied a career-high with four threes in five tries. … Aaron Miles had 12 assists and passed Adonis Jordan for sole possession of fifth place on KU’s career assist list. … KU is 11-0 when scoring 70 points or more.
Jayhawks hang on for win
WIBW video: KU drops Aggies
See the photos: KU-Texas A&M photo gallery
Hear Bill: Texas A&M postgame comments