Wayne Simien scored a career-high 18 points Friday night in Kansas UniversityâÂÂs 105-66 victory over UNC Greensboro at Allen Fieldhouse.

Simien, KUâÂÂs sophomore forward from Leavenworth, also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds while playing 27 minutes despite tendinitis in his right ankle.

âÂÂIf heâÂÂs not 100 percent the way heâÂÂs playing, then it will be scary to see what heâÂÂs like at 100 percent, because heâÂÂs been playing great,â said senior forward Nick Collison, who had 25 points and eight rebounds in the Preseason NIT quarterfinal game.

Simien had 15 points and six rebounds in 17 first-half minutes as the Jayhawks bolted to a 48-31 halftime lead. He played only 10 minutes in the second half.

âÂÂIt tightened up at halftime in the locker room,â Simien said of the ankle. âÂÂI had a hard time getting it loose.âÂÂ

Not that the Jayhawks needed him. Collison scored 15 of his 25 points after the break, and senior guard Kirk Hinrich scored 14 of his 23 in the second half. Sophomore Keith Langford set a career-high with 24.

Simien still finished with his second double-double in two games. After sitting out KUâÂÂs second exhibition game on Nov. 12 against Washburn, Simien had 13 points and led the Jayhawks with 11 rebounds in an 81-57, first-round victory against Holy Cross on Tuesday.

âÂÂItâÂÂs not feeling as good as it was Tuesday,â said Simien, who went to the bench with 7:50 to play and his team leading, 89-50. âÂÂI didnâÂÂt have all my explosiveness. There were no monster dunks tonight. It was all layups. I still got the job done, and then coach took me out to make sure everything was cool for New York.âÂÂ

The Jayhawks will face North Carolina in the NIT semifinals on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Between now and then, Simien will receive treatment on his ailing ankle twice a day. HeâÂÂs also wearing orthotics – customized inserts – in his shoes.

âÂÂI donâÂÂt want to say IâÂÂve grown accustomed to playing with injuries, but itâÂÂs something I have to deal with and try not to let it bother me,â said Simien, who missed KUâÂÂs first five games last season after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in November. âÂÂI go out there and play hard and do what I have to do.âÂÂ

Williams said SimienâÂÂs injury needs âÂÂ10 days to two weeksâ to heal, but there wonâÂÂt be that kind of gap in the Jayhawksâ schedule – though there could have been had they lost Friday.

Simien said it was frustrating to watch the Washburn exhibition from the bench, and he has no plans to ride the pine now that the games really count.

âÂÂOh, no. Oh, no,â Simien said, asked if there was any chance he would sit. âÂÂI wanted to play in the second exhibition game. I was suited up and ready to go. Coach told me to put on my suit.âÂÂ

Williams, whose bench lacks experience, would rather see the big man in uniform.

âÂÂItâÂÂs something weâÂÂre concerned about,â Williams said. âÂÂItâÂÂs hard. He wants to play so much.âÂÂ