Keith LangfordâÂÂs brand-new 2002 Final Four ring fits perfectly.

âÂÂIt feels good. It looks good, too,â Langford, Kansas UniversityâÂÂs 6-foot-4, sweet-shooting sophomore guard, said, showing the blue stone to reporters on Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

âÂÂI think I just might put this on the shelf and just look at it every day for motivation.âÂÂ

Langford was given a Final Four ring after FridayâÂÂs 105-66 pasting of UNC Greensboro as a reward for last yearâÂÂs performance, not FridayâÂÂs incredible Preseason NIT quarterfinal outing in which he scored a career-high 24 points off 10-of-11 shooting.

Langford, who hit seven of eight shots off drives to the hoop en route to 15 points in KUâÂÂs season-opening victory over Holy Cross on Tuesday – yes, heâÂÂs made 17 of 19 attempts this season – this time did his damage from the outside. He cashed a three-pointer, two deep baskets and a driving one-hander as the Jayhawks blazed to a 17-7 lead.

He hit another three and had racked up 14 points just 11 minutes into the game, which was followed by a short ceremony in which all members of KUâÂÂs 2001-02 squad received their Final Four jewelry.

âÂÂAfter one rattled around the rim and went in, I said, âÂÂ’IâÂÂm kind of feeling it,âÂÂâÂÂâ Langford said. âÂÂI kind of got in a groove.âÂÂ

Sensitive to some Internet criticism that said he was the âÂÂweak linkâ in KUâÂÂs starting five with a suspect outside game, Langford said he was not out to show critics he can stick the deep jumper. He finished with two threes in three tries.

âÂÂNot even that,â Langford said. âÂÂI will not shoot a three if somebody is pressuring me and I can go by them with my left hand. If somebody makes me go right, IâÂÂll go left and take it to the hole every time. Criticism comes with playing college basketball. IâÂÂll have to accept it and try to prove the critics otherwise.âÂÂ

Wayne Simien, who scored a career-high 18 points, had 15 at halftime, while Langford had 14 and Nick Collison 10 of his 25 as the Jayhawks led 48-31 at the break.

Kirk Hinrich tallied 24 points on a night the Jayhawks received just 13 points off the bench.

âÂÂAt one point, maybe the second TV time out, I told a couple of them (Jayhawks), âÂÂ’WeâÂÂve taken three bad shots.â I said, âÂÂ’Keith has taken some shots a couple of other guys took, but he is really feeling it now,âÂÂâÂÂâ KU coach Roy Williams said.

âÂÂKeith got in rhythm so he took some shots and should have. The only shot he missed, he knew as soon as he missed it he shouldnâÂÂt have taken it because he rushed it.âÂÂ

That first and only miss came on a three-point try with 9:42 left in the first half.

KU put on a dazzling display the second half, outscoring the Spartans, 57-35. Guard Jay Joseph, who burned KU for 22 points off 9-of-11 shooting (four of five threes) the first half, finished with 27 off 11-of-18 shooting. He hit one of four threes the second half.

âÂÂIt wasnâÂÂt just the guy guarding him,â Williams said of Hinrich, Langford and others. âÂÂBig guys werenâÂÂt stepping out and showing themselves on the curl screens and guards could have denied a little bit better.

âÂÂWhen they did pass it, he made some big-time shots. He was really something the first half. He made his first one the second half, then missed one wide-open (a layup). Maybe we shouldnâÂÂt have tried to guard him.âÂÂ

The second half was pleasing to Williams, who next will go against his alma mater, North Carolina, in a Preseason NIT semifinal game set to start at 8:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday in New York.

âÂÂKeith did a better job taking the ball to the basket the second half. He was sensational,â Williams said of Langford, who hit his only four tries the second 20 minutes. âÂÂKirk was 10-for-17. ThatâÂÂs more shots than he usually gets in a couple of games. I want him to take shots. Nick and Wayne were really active inside. We needed to get the ball inside. When we do, good things happen.

âÂÂThe second half we were getting stops. At one point, they missed seven in a row and we were laying it up on the other end. ItâÂÂs a lot of fun to play that way.âÂÂ

Of the bench, which didnâÂÂt score until Bryant Nash hit a free throw with 12:35 left – the first field goal came off a Michael Lee layup at 4:57 – the coach noted, âÂÂI do get frustrated at the end of the game when they are turning the sucker over and not making easy shots. âÂÂ: We didnâÂÂt get the play off the bench that I wanted to get or that we got the other night.âÂÂ