Columbia, Mo. ? Losing at Missouri for the first time in his career pains Kansas University senior Wayne Simien.
“It’s tough losing the last regular-season game, losing the number-one seed in the conference tournament and having to share the championship, but that season’s over with,” Simien said after collecting 17 points and nine rebounds in KU’s 72-68 loss to MU on Sunday at Mizzou Arena.
It was Simien’s first loss in Columbia in four tries.
He said it was a loss he and his teammates would have to put behind them … and fast.
“We have no choice,” Simien said. “We can either play two more games, or we can play nine. It’s up to us to step up.”
Simien believes the Jayhawks (22-5 overall, 12-4 Big 12 Conference) just might have survived MU (15-15, 7-9) had Keith Langford been able to play more than three minutes because of an ankle injury.
“He’s one of our better defenders as far as keeping guards out of the paint,” Simien said. “They continued to get in the paint the whole game.”
With Langford out, KU coach Bill Self turned to freshmen Russell Robinson and Alex Galindo. Galindo scored eight points in 12 minutes and Robinson a point in 11 minutes with one assist and no turnovers.
Also, freshman Darnell Jackson logged eight minutes inside.
“We had the young guys in the game. That basically cuts our playbook down a lot and obviously gives up a defensive-rebounding edge, but I thought they did well,” Simien said. “We’re going to need those guys to step up and play.”
Galindo had a chance to put KU ahead. He missed a three from the corner with 2:32 left and the game tied at 64. MU scored the next four points.
“He was open. It was a good shot,” guard Aaron Miles said. “He’s made a couple of those this year. It wasn’t a bad shot, just didn’t go in.”
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