Langford entertains

By Gary Bedore     Mar 4, 2004

Kansas senior Bryant Nash (with the ball) tries to fend off Nebraska's Jake Muhleisen (12).

Kansas University junior Keith Langford dove for the basketball and was prone on the floor as fans held their breath, thinking he might be injured.

Suddenly, Langford popped up and did five push-ups, and the fans roared their approval.

“I don’t know. You can’t play in the fieldhouse forever. You have to take advantage of the opportunities. I just went off instinct,” Langford said, asked why he elected to entertain the fans in the Jayhawks’ 78-67 victory over Nebraska Wednesday.

Did he max out at five?

“No. I figured if I did 10, they would need a TV timeout,” Langford said.

  • Simien says it’s settled: As far as Wayne Simien is concerned, you can put the issue to rest.

He’s going to play four seasons of basketball at Kansas.

Case closed.

“Go ahead and write that,” Simien said after scoring 22 points in 28 minutes. “I haven’t been teeter-tottering and it hasn’t been on my mind the entire season. The early entry thing hasn’t crossed my mind.”

Asked why he’s sure he’s returning to KU and not turning pro, Simien grinned and said, “I still have a lot to do. This will not be my last (home) game.”

Those words come as music to KU coach Bill Self’s ears, though he insists he will check on Simien’s draft status after the season and give the information to Simien and his parents.

“I feel great about it,” Self said of Simien’s comments to the media about returning. “Certainly that would be unbelievably good for our program. On the flip side, regardless of what he said, I want him to make the decision that’s best for his family and we’ll certainly provide the information after the season.”

Freshman J.R. Giddens, who many believe will turn pro after two or three seasons, also said college was on his mind.

“I plan on giving a senior speech, too,” Giddens said after scoring 13 points in 29 minutes.

  • Antlers calling: Self said Missouri’s student section, the Antlers, already had started pestering the Jayhawks in preparation for Sunday’s 1 p.m. KU-MU contest in Columbia, Mo.

“The Antlers are already starting to get to us,” Self said. “I know the players are already getting it, and I started getting it at 12:40 a.m. last night. That is when the calls started coming in. They certainly have all the numbers and have done their homework. This will get us all excited to play. It should be a remarkable atmosphere over there.”

  • Nash’s speech: During his senior speech, senior Bryant Nash teased his dad for wearing a light-blue cap.

“I’m kind of upset at you, dad, for wearing a Carolina-blue hat. We’re at Kansas,” Nash said.

His dad took the hat off momentarily.

“I’ve got fans here even though I don’t play much,” Nash told the crowd. “Fans come up to me and say, ‘That was a nice dunk, even though you missed it.”’

  • Graves’ speech: Graves during his speech said he had been a KU fan a long time.

“Growing up in Missouri, I always came to Roy Williams’ camp. I realized this place is a family on and off the court.”

  • Olson’s speech: Olson, who plans to be a doctor, quipped to his teammates: “Hopefully you’ll never need me, but if you do, give me a call.”

To his brother, Kevin, who was subject of a story in Wednesday’s Journal-World, Olson said: “I love you, man. It’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

  • Stats, facts: KU has clinched the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 tournament and will play a yet-to-be-determined opponent at 8:20 p.m. a week from Friday in Dallas. … KU has won 21 straight games on Senior Night. … With seven assists, Aaron Miles passed Cedric Hunter for second place on KU’s all-time assist list with 687 for his career.
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