Kansas University’s basketball players had extra incentive for Wednesday’s game against Fort Hays State.

“Nobody wanted to practice at 6 in the morning,” KU junior Keith Langford said after the Jayhawks disposed of the Tigers, 80-40, and avoided an early practice threatened by coach Bill Self.

“He said it in more a joking manner,” said Langford, who scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards, “but he can say something and laugh and still mean it.”

Self’s words of wisdom also inspired freshman J.R. Giddens, who hit two three-pointers in six tries and scored 12 points with 10 rebounds in 23 minutes for his first career double-double.

“Coach said if I didn’t take the open shot I was coming out. I was, ‘OK, shooting, hey, I did a lot of that in high school. I can always shoot,'” Giddens said, grinning.

• Bloody jersey: KU freshman forward David Padgett wore jersey No. 50 the second half instead of 44.

Kansas University's Jeff Hawkins (with ball) scoops a shot under the basket against the defensive pressure of Fort Hays State's Ryan Shriver. KU routed FHSU, 80-40, Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“There was blood on it. Somebody was bleeding all over the place,” Padgett said after scoring 19 points with eight boards and four blocks.

Of his big game, Padgett said he’d spoken in recent days to both Self and his dad, Pete, his high school coach.

“They both tell me the same thing, stay positive and realize I will not dominate every single night. It will not happen every night my freshman year,” he said.

• Good defense: KU sophomore center Moulaye Niang might have been the defensive player of the game. He had five rebounds in 18 minutes.

“I said to our guys from what we saw tonight, ‘Who is our best big guy defender?’ Unanimously everybody said Moulaye,” Self said. “He made plays out there defensively tonight, moving his feet, thinking a pass ahead. As long as he can be solid and have good hands … that’s the big thing with Moulaye working with him the hardest on his hands. I thought his hands looked good tonight.”

• Bumps, bruises: Jeff Graves, who had three points and six boards in 17 minutes, banged his right elbow in the first half. He was able to return to the game after sitting out several minutes. … Bryant Nash didn’t play the second half after re-injuring his elbow. He’s been bothered by a bruised elbow at practice.
• Recruit on hand: Matt Kleinmann, a 6-foot-10 senior center from Blue Valley West, attended with his parents on an unofficial recruiting visit. He could possibly land a walk-on spot next season.
• Stats, facts: Langford’s 10 rebounds tied a career high. … KU shot zero free throws the first half. Last time that happened was against Iowa State in 1990. … FHSU’s two free throws in seven tries were the least made by a KU foe since UNC Asheville hit two Jan. 2, 2003. … KU outrebounded FHSU, 59-25, for a plus-34 rebound margin, its biggest margin since March 13, 1997 when KU outrebounded Jackson State, 61-27.
• Wayne’s timeline: KU junior Wayne Simien, who has a mildly strained groin, has been injured before. He missed five games his freshman season because of a hyperextended knee that required arthroscopic surgery. He had shoulder surgery his sophomore season, missing 22 games. In high school, he had a ligament tear in his shoulder his senior year that required surgery. He had arthroscopic knee surgery his sophomore year and a heart procedure his junior year.

KU motivated by early drillsGet the stats: KU-FHSU box scoreHear Bill: KU-FHSU postgame commentsPhoto gallery: KU-FHSU