Editor’s note: Though Keith Langford’s availability for tonight’s game unknown, we fully expect him to play at least a bit given his competitive spirit. So, for this X-Factor simulation, we started Michael Lee but made Langford the first guard off the bench. Also, the game was played in Allen Fieldhouse since EA’s March Madness 2005 doesn’t have an option for neutral courts.
Kansas University sophomore J.R. Giddens made up for Keith Langford’s reduced play with 25 points and five rebounds in the Jayhawks’ 83-58 virtual victory over the Bucknell Bison in the first X-Factor simulation of the NCAA Tournament.
Giddens also grabbed five rebounds in 23 minutes, helping replace Langford. The injured senior scored seven points in 13 minutes off the bench.
The rest of KU’s guards also picked up the slack. Aaron Miles scored 14 points with seven assists, Michael Lee added 10 points and four assists in Langford’s starting spot, and Jeff Hawkins scored nine points and dished out five assists.
Wayne Simien added three points and six rebounds, and Christian Moody had two points, two boards and five steals.
John Griffin led Bucknell with 11 points and seven rebounds. Chris McNaughton added 12 points, and Kevin Bettencourt scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out three assists.
Bucknell outrebounded Kansas, 25-18, but the Jayahwks won the turnover battle (6 to 14), and had more steals (10 to 1), more assists (23 to 11) and more blocks (7 to 1).
Kansas also shot lights out, hitting 60 percent from the field (33 of 55). The Jayhawks also hit 46.2 percent from behind the three-point line (6 of 13) and 78.6 percent of their free throws (11 of 14).
Bucknell also shot well, making 48.9 percent of its shots (23 of 47). The Bisons made one-third of their three-pointers (4 of 12) and two-thirds of their free throws (8 of 12).
