Final denial

By Gary Bedore     Mar 7, 2005

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas University's Keith Langford (5) winces as he leaves the Jayhawks' 72-68 loss to Missouri because of an ankle injury. Langford played just three minutes in the setback Sunday in Columbia, Mo., and his status for Friday's Big 12 Conference tournament opener is in doubt.

? Kansas University senior Keith Langford dejectedly limped off the basketball court carrying a pair of crutches as a flood of delirious Missouri students raced past him after the Tigers’ 72-68 victory over the Jayhawks on Sunday at Mizzou Arena.

Thirty minutes later, Langford used the crutches for support as he addressed a group of media members, defiantly stating that he soon would return from a left ankle injury incurred three minutes into the game.

“I’ll be back the next time we play. That’s the bottom line,” said Langford, who stepped on the foot of Brian Dailey after scoring four quick points, leaving the lineup for good with KU up 11-3.

“I don’t see this being a long-term thing. Obviously, the (X-ray) pictures will show that, and we’ll go from there. My gut feeling is, this will not keep me out.”

Kansas coach Bill Self wasn’t so sure about that, speaking after his team battled back from a 15-point second-half deficit to tie late before fizzing in crunch time.

“I don’t know how long he’ll be out. I think it’s pretty severe what he did,” Self said of Langford, who first hurt the ankle Feb. 27 prior to a home victory over Oklahoma State.

He re-injured the ankle in practice Thursday and did not practice Friday or Saturday, but felt ready to go for MU on Sunday.

“We’ll know more after X-rays. I don’t think it’s very good. As of this moment, he can’t put any weight on it whatsoever,” Self said.

Results of tests were expected to be announced today, but Langford stressed nothing would keep him out of the postseason.

“I’ve never broken an ankle. It doesn’t feel like I’ve done that,” Langford said. “If I have, I’ll still play. If I can move whatsoever, I’ll be on the floor. I’ll find a way to be on the court. My goal is to be ready to play Friday.”

That would be against either Kansas State or Texas A&M in a first-round Big 12 Conference tournament battle at 6 p.m. at Kemper Arena.

KU finished co-champ of the Big 12 with Oklahoma. KU and OU were 12-4 in league games, but Oklahoma claimed the No. 1 seed, thanks to a 71-63 victory over KU Feb. 23 in Norman, Okla. Kansas is the tournament’s No. 2 seed.

“Obviously, I’m concerned because I got injured, and now we have to be co-champions instead of winning it outright,” Langford said. “It’s a fluke thing. It happened. We still have games to play. A lot of teams would like to be in our position.”

At best Langford is facing plenty of time in the training room if he’s to be a factor in this postseason.

“Hopefully it’s just a recurring sprain,” Langford’s mother, Charlene Taylor, said, speaking to the media after chatting — apparently in good spirits — with Keith outside the locker room.

“He did it before the Oklahoma State game. It’s a bone inside, a real deep bruise. If it’s not cracked, I’m sure he’ll play Friday. If it’s not medically impossible, Keith will play Friday.”

The Jayhawks were hoping to play in the noon game Friday as the No. 1-seeded team in the league.

That didn’t happen, thanks to Missouri, which hit eight of 10 threes the first half and built a 49-34 lead with 17:35 to play.

“It’s a big disappointment for all of us, to all these guys,” Self said of the Jayhawks. “We lost the league today. We lost a great chance to be a No. 1 seed (in NCAA Tournament), and we lost to our bitter rival, Missouri. It’s disappointing, but we will regroup and compete hard in Kansas City.

“Going into the postseason, if this loss affects us, then we are a soft group. We should be tough enough to understand we can play very well and not win the league. It’s disappointing, but we will not throw in the towel or anything.”

The Jayhawks didn’t quit Sunday, battling back to tie MU, 64-all, following a J.R. Giddens three with 3:25 left.

8-for-10MU’s 3-point shooting in the first half0-for-8Missouri’s 3-point shooting in the second half3Minutes played by Keith Langford, KU’s second-leading scorer, before he reinjured his left ankle2KU’s seed in the Big 12 tournament; co-champ Oklahoma earned the No. 1 seed

KU had a chance to grab the lead, but Alex Galindo’s three from the corner misfired at 2:32.

MU’s Jimmy McKinney answered with a bucket in the lane, and Thomas Gardner rifled home a dunk at 1:18 to make it 68-64.

Galindo hit a layup off a feed from Aaron Miles at 1:05 to cut the gap to two, then Linas Kleiza canned two free throws.

Aaron Miles lost the ball out of bounds on a driving move to the hoop at :24.3, and Gardner hit a free throw at :19 to give MU an insurmountable 71-66 lead.

“I don’t consider this a major upset,” Self said. “Missouri has good players. If they make shots, they are hard to guard.”

MU hit 46.5 percent of its shots and eight of 18 threes.

“Quin (Snyder) had them ready,” Self said. “Any time you go on the road, it’s a rivalry game, a big game for them. I felt we had as much to play for as they did. You could say that (it was major upset). It’d be a mild upset. I think everybody who knows ball would agree with that.”

It’s an upset that Langford, for one, thinks wouldn’t have happened had he been able to play more than three minutes. He had the ankle retaped and tried to return, to no avail.

“I’d say that 10 out of 10 times,” Langford said. “If I’m on the court, our chances of winning are greater. Our chances are greater if I’m out there.”

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