Moody pressed into duty

By Gary Bedore     Jan 16, 2005

? Bill Self wanted to give Kansas University junior Christian Moody the day off on Saturday.

“I didn’t want to play Christian, with his ankle and all, but when the others weren’t effective (and in foul trouble), I had to put him in,” Self, Kansas University’s coach, said of Moody, who, despite feeling the effects of a sprained ankle, scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds in 12 minutes of the Jayhawks’ 76-61 victory over Colorado at Coors Events Center.

Moody — he hurt his ankle a week ago at Kentucky — didn’t play Wednesday at Iowa State.

“I don’t know if coach wanted to play me,” said Moody, who left for a few minutes in the second half after tweaking the ankle, but returned for crunch time. “He wanted to see if I could make it a couple of more days of rehab, but we got in early foul trouble. I was happy to go in.”

Starter Alex Galindo and ailing C.J. Giles (flu-like symptoms) both picked up two early fouls, so Self turned to Moody, Sasha Kaun (eight points, 11 minutes) and Darnell Jackson (four points, 13 minutes) for help.

“I can’t jump and move as quick as usual,” said Moody, who rolled on his ankle in the second half. “It was shaking pretty bad. Bill (Cowgill, trainer) wrapped another couple of layers of moleskin to tighten it up.”

KU senior Wayne Simien said he was proud of Moody.

“It takes guts to get out there and play hurt,” Simien said. “Even though he was hurt, I was comfortable with him being out there, real comfortable.”

The good news for Moody is, “They (doctors) said it was good for him, playing him,” Self said of keeping the ankle active.

Giles had a 104-degree temperature Friday and missed practice.

“And an ear infection,” Self said. “We could have played him more.”

Michael Lee, who recently separated his right shoulder, had the shoulder banged.

“My shoulder feels good. I got hit pretty hard, but I’m fine,” Lee said.

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