C.J. Giles wasn’t hurt.
He wasn’t sick.
Kansas University’s sophomore forward, who didn’t play in the first half of Saturday’s 96-54 rout of Nebraska and logged just five minutes the second half, was benched for missing a class Friday – the first day of KU’s spring semester.
“I guess he must have got his class schedule late yesterday. He failed to attend a class on Friday. That’s why he didn’t play,” KU coach Bill Self said.
Self was asked if it was a symptom of a problem with the sophomore forward, who has been inconsistent this season.
“It’s a symptom of not using very good judgment,” Self said. “I like C.J., but it’s a great learning experience. You’ve got a short leash when you miss class – bottom line. If it wouldn’t have been that big a difference (margin) in the game, I wouldn’t have played him a minute.”
Freshman Micah Downs suited but didn’t play. He had been suffering from flu-like symptoms all week. He made a trip to the hospital Wednesday and was hooked up to IVs to combat dehydration.
“It’s a game Micah needed to play in. It’s a game he could have played 15-20 minutes,” Self said, “but he was throwing up all night last night. He has a bug. The only reason he suited up is he didn’t have any street clothes appropriate to wear, no street clothes that were clean.”
KU freshman Brandon Rush, who was kneed on the left side in the second half, was sore but fine after the game.
“I got kneed by No. 1 (Jason Dourisseau),” Rush said. “I’m getting some ice on it. I’m OK.”
