Wayne Simien picked up two fouls in the first three minutes on Wednesday night, reserving him a spot next to coach Bill Self on Kansas University’s basketball bench.
“I could have probably played Wayne the first half,” Self said after watching Simien collect 12 points and seven rebounds, all in the second half of KU’s narrow 59-57 victory over Nebraska.
“I didn’t see playing him and getting a third foul. I knew we’d have to play him 20 minutes, 17 minutes the second half.”
Simien was ready to respond the second half.
“I had fun tonight, competing, fighting,” Simien said. “I wish I could have played more, but you can’t control the whistle sometimes.”
Freshman C.J. Giles started, but played just three minutes, missing one shot and never returning.
“That was coach’s decision,” Self said.
Freshman Alex Galindo, who scored eight points in 13 minutes the first half, played just four minutes the second half and grabbed the final rebound of the game.
“We were playing our best ball with Christian (Moody) and Wayne in the game,” Self said.
Simien played 18 minutes the second half and Moody (four boards, two points) played 12.
“I thought Alex did fine,” Self said.
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