KU sends Tigers packing

By Gary Bedore     Mar 13, 2004

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University's Wayne Simien (23) shoots over Missouri's Kevin Young for two of his career-high 31 points. Simien lifted KU to a 94-69 victory over the Tigers on Friday in Dallas.

? Wayne Simien had his Kansas University basketball teammates shaking their heads in disbelief Friday night at American Airlines Center.

Simien, Kansas University’s junior power forward who entered the Big 12 Conference tournament on the heels of three straight 20-point games, erupted for a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Jayhawks’ 94-69 Big 12 quarterfinal rout of Missouri.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pounder hit 12 of 14 shots and seven of seven free throws and scored 14 points in a 23-9 run that erased a 24-12 deficit and put the Jayhawks on track to their 21st victory in 28 tries.

“That was just ridiculous,” junior Keith Langford said after Simien eclipsed his previous scoring high of 28 versus Michigan State earlier this year.

“I just tried to give him the ball. There’s no reason to shoot when your teammate is playing like that. He’s been amazing. We’re going to ride him all the way to San Antonio if we can,” Langford added, referring to the site of the Final Four.

Simien, a modest guy, had to admit it probably was his best game as a Jayhawk.

“Yes, I think so,” Simien said. “The game was a blur to me. We got down 12, and after that I was scratching and clawing and just trying to get us back in the game.”

Simien’s effort was instrumental in KU advancing to today’s 3:30 p.m. semifinal battle against Texas.

It also was instrumental in handing MU its third straight loss to KU in one season, the first time that has happened since 1977-78.

And it likely knocked Missouri out of NCAA Tournament consideration and into the not-so-prestigious NIT.

“It’s as good an offensive game as I’ve seen Wayne play,” KU coach Bill Self said. “He was a beast.”

Simien scored eight points, while Jeff Graves (14 points, three boards) had four and Langford (10 points, 10 boards) four in an amazing 24-4 run that turned a slim 44-42 lead into a blowout victory in the final half.

“It was all defense. We played real good defense. Everybody on the team had the attitude they didn’t want their man to score on them,” Langford said.

“We got off to a bad start,” KU coach Bill Self said of the 24-12 disadvantage. “But the last 30 minutes, that’s about the best we played. We got the lead at halftime (35-33), and I felt pretty good then. I thought we played really well the second half. It’s about the best we’ve looked offensively the entire year.”

J.R. Giddens iced three of four threes and tallied 15 points.

He was one of the chattiest Jayhawks, engaging in some trash talking with the equally chatty Tigers (16-13).

“My mom would have to wash my mouth out with soap if she heard me tonight,” Giddens said. “But sometimes things happen in the heat of a game. I have nothing against those guys at Missouri. They are good guys, good players, and I wish them well.”

The Jayhawks are happy Simien’s strained groin has been feeling strong enough for the big man to dominate lately.

He scored from inside and out, at one point accepting two straight passes from the high post from David Padgett for easy layins off the high-low offense.

“Wayne was great. He was all over the court,” point guard Aaron Miles said. “It’s fun to watch him play like that. Knowing Wayne, he probably wishes he played better defense or something. He’s always trying to find more he can do for the team.”

“I look at the line, and see I had five turnovers and no assists,” Simien said. “I can do better than that.”

Missouri might argue that statement.

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