Keith Langford didn't need a pep talk before Saturday's game against Oklahoma.
"This game was big to begin with. Playing Oklahoma gave it that extra oomph," said Langford, KU's 6-foot-4 freshman guard from Fort Worth, Texas.
KU's Keith Langford, center, goes after a loose ball with OU's Hollis Price (10) and Ebi Ere (2). Langford had 12 points and seven rebounds in KU's 74-67 victory on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
He scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in 25 minutes against OU, his other finalist in recruiting last year.
"It's big. It's a moral victory for me since my choice of schools came down to KU and OU," Langford said. "It was real close. It came down to basketball tradition. Oklahoma is more a football school."
Langford liked Oklahoma so much he found it difficult to tell Sooner coach Kelvin Sampson his decision during Langford's senior year at North Crowley Texas High.
"I didn't want to do it by phone. I wanted to do it in person but couldn't. It almost brought me to tears," Langford said. "After the game he said, 'Good game and good luck and we'll see you later in Kansas City (at Big 12 Tournament).'"
Langford said he figured he was due for a breakout game.
"I told coach the other day I felt I was finally in great shape," said Langford, who had been slowed by a bone chip in his ankle earlier in the season. "Coach is always after me: 'Keith you've got to be aggressive, be aggressive.'''
He was aggressive in ripping his seven boards.
"Keith came in and had a bunch of rebounds and played solid defense. He's really going to be good," said senior guard Jeff Boschee.
Fans at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday saw two ceremonies. Former KU player Bill Bridges, center in photo above, was presented his KU Hall of Fame portrait at halftime. He was joined at center court by KU athletics director Al Bohl, left, and Jerry Waugh, who was a KU assistant coach during Bridges' playing days.
Langford entered less than a minute into the second half, taking over for Aaron Miles, who had an off game with no points on 0-of-5 shooting with five turnovers. Kirk Hinrich moved to the point for Miles, with Boschee staying at the shooting guard and Langford playing the small forward position.
"I challenged Aaron as hard as he's probably ever been challenged," KU coach Roy Williams said of his second-half meeting on the bench with Miles.
"Coach just wants the best out of me. He wants me to compete more and to be more aggressive," Miles said. "I didn't have a very good game. I was happy for Keith. He's my boy, my bro. He played great."
Hinrich ran the point as KU hiked a five-point halftime lead into a 22-point margin.
"He'll be fine," Hinrich said of Miles. "Everybody has ups and downs, especially as a freshman."
Of his own play, which included 15 points, seven assists and four turnovers, Hinrich noted, "It was a lot fun. Everything was feeling good. We were stepping up. Our sets were successful. We were open and making plays."
Super Keith: Langford said during lapses when he isn't playing well, he looks at his right biceps and his tattoo of a Superman shield with 'K' in the middle.
Before the game, Jeff Boschee, at left, was recognized as the Jayhawks' all-time leading three-point shooter.
"It's for 'Keith,' not Kansas," Langford said. "If I'm struggling, it's there to remind me to be aggressive. I've had a few good games, but I want to do this every night."
Nicked: Boschee was poked in the eye early and banged knees with a Sooner late.
Boschee hit two of four threes and scored nine points; his knee and eye are both OK.
"These guys compete every single play. It was a physical, defensive game. You will get that every single time you play them," Boschee said.
Recognition: Boschee received a standing ovation when he was recognized as KU's all-time three-point baskets leader before the game.
"I really didn't realize I was stretching and they said something about a Kansas guard. I thought they were talking about Bill Bridges (who was introduced at halftime). Then they said something about Stillwater (where he set record) and I knew it was me so I waved. It was nice to get the ovation."
"It was a nice tribute to him," Williams said. "I very much appreciate the way the kids and the people in the stands recognize what he accomplished. Our crowd has been sensational all year long. It happens in the fieldhouse about every night."
Williams met with former Jayhawk Bridges on Friday.
"He loves this university. It means a lot to him. You see that in talking with him," Williams said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the ceremony when I watch the replay tonight."
Bridges received a Hall of Fame portrait at halftime to a standing ovation.
Sac attack: The bursa sac on Nick Collison's left elbow is growing again. He had that problem last year.
"I will put pressure on it tonight and it'll go down again," said Collison, who wore a left elbow pad. "It's up and down all season. Last year it'd never go down."
Intentional foul: OU's Jozsef Szendrei entered the game simply to foul Collison with 1:06 left, with KU up 71-65.
Three-point goals: 6-16 (Ere 3-3, Selvy 1-2, Detrick 1-3, Price 1-7, White 0-1). Assists: 10 (White 4, Price 3, McGhee, Detrick, Selvy). Turnovers: 19 (McGhee 3, Ere 3, Price 3, Selvy 3, White 2, Detrick 2, Brown, Szendrei, team). Blocked shots: 5 (Detrick 2, Selvy 2, Brown). Steals: 11 (White 4, Selvy 3, Price 2, McGhee, Detrick). |
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Three-point goals: 2-7 (Boschee 2-4, Gooden 0-1, Langford 0-2). Assists: 16 (Hinrich 7, Collison 4, Miles 2, Boschee 2, Gooden). Turnovers: 18 (Miles 5, Gooden 4, Hinrich 4, Collison 2, Boschee, Langford, Simien). Blocked shots: 6 (Collison 3, Gooden, Hinrich, Langford). Steals: 8 (Gooden 2, Hinrich 2, Miles 2, Collison, Boschee). |
| Oklahoma | 25 | 42 | 67 |
| Kansas | 30 | 44 | 74 |
Officials: Scott Thornley, Lonnie Dixon, John Higgins. Attendance: 16,300.
His foul on Collison away from the ball was deemed intentional. Collison hit one of two free throws. For the game he hit five of 10 free throws and is at 53.8 percent for the year.
"They tried it the time before. I heard the guy say, 'Coach told me to foul,''' Collison said. "To me it's an obvious intentional foul. It's what they do to Shaq in the NBA. I've just got to make the free throws."
Subs: Williams used mostly seven players with Jeff Carey and Michael Lee getting a combined three minutes
"With all the timeouts," the coach said, "we had four timeouts before the 12-minute mark of the second half. We've got a lot of rest during the timeouts and I push the guys in practice every day to get 'em in shape. I'd like to go eight deep, and if it hadn't been for different things going on in the game I'd like to get Jeff a few more minutes. Other than that I was fine with it."
Clinic: KU's players will hold their annual clinic for Special Olympians this afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
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