It’s painful to watch a replay of Wayne Simien getting his right shoulder knocked out of place last season at Kemper Arena.

Nearly as unsightly, however, is the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder fighting for position against two and three defenders, with Big Dub’s Kansas University basketball teammates unable to feed him for easy buckets.

“It’s frustrating at times when you are getting five or six shots a game and you are supposed to be a go-to guy,” said Simien, who hit one of four shots and five of six free throws in Monday’s 78-46 win over Binghamton.

“But as long as we win and our team keeps taking steps, I’m happy. I’ll try to stay positive that things will open up for me down the road. I keep that mentality every day.”

Simien has averaged 11.1 points and seven shots per game in six games since burning Michigan State for 28 points off 9-of-12 shooting Nov. 25.

The Leavenworth native had one game with double-digit shot attempts since MSU — his 13-shot, 19-point performance Dec. 13 against Oregon at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.

“You score 28 points against the No. 3 team in the country, you will get a lot of attention from defenses. It’s not surprising at all,” freshman center David Padgett said. “We’ve still got to do a better job of getting the ball down to him. He’s an All-America candidate, one of the best players in the country.”

Simien is keeping a positive attitude about his muggings.

“I’m not overwhelmed by it. It’s (opposing) coaches’ strategy I guess — do what you’ve got to do to win,” Simien said. “I guess I’d do it if I was playing against Kansas as well.

Kansas University forward Wayne Simien (23) is hacked by Binghamton's Nick Billings in the first half. Simien, who scored seven points Monday against Binghamton at Allen Fieldhouse, isn't getting as many touches as coach Bill Self would like this season.

“I didn’t think it was going to be like this by any means. At times there’s a lot of guys pushing me down there. But if we continue to shoot the ball better and execute the offense and get our other big guys involved, hopefully things will open up more.”

KU coach Bill Self says KU’s players must quit ignoring their big-man deluxe.

“The big negative (Monday night) is we get Wayne Simien two shots the first half,” Self said. “It’s hard to get the ball to Wayne, when they are fronting and backing him all the time. We’ve got to do a great job of making shots and scoring from the perimeter to stretch the defense.”

Self noted Simien “is not the biggest target at 6-8. If they get guys around him he may appear open on tape, but it doesn’t seem that way live. Trust me, he’s open. We’ve got to get the ball to him. He’s open.”

Simien, who has been bothered by a strained groin, is about 85 percent healthy, Self said.

“It’s feeling good,” Simien said. “It’s day-to-day. I have good days and bad days. I’m just trying to post up strong, keep things in the context of the offense, try not to force shots. I’m confident my teammates will hit me when I’m open and we’ll get better every day.”

¢

Lee doubtful for CU: There’s a slight chance junior guard Michael Lee could play Monday at Colorado, but a more likely return date is Jan. 14 against Kansas State.

“I think it will be doubtful for Michael to play against Colorado,” Self said of Lee, who suffered a broken collarbone Nov. 28 at practice. “Based on what the doctors and trainers have told me, he is on schedule but the Kansas State game is more realistic.

6Sports video: Simien not seeing ball often 6Sports video: Lee probably must wait for Kansas State Hear Bill: Dec. 30 press conference

“It would make it a true six weeks (since suffering injury) rather than five if he were to come back and practice a few days before the Colorado game.”

Lee has been practicing with the team during non-contact drills. He will be X-rayed Friday before the Villanova game (7 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse) and could be cleared for contact after that.

“I don’t think it’d be wise to play him with that long a break after that game (KU has nine days between the CU and KSU games),” Self said. “But if he does play against Colorado it’s because doctors say he’s 100 percent ready to go.”

Lee said he had been “winded,” at practice, but raring to go.

“I can dribble and shoot, but it’s contact, falling on the ground that’s the biggest concern now,” Lee said.

¢

Langford bitten by flu bug: Keith Langford scored 14 points off 5-of-6 shooting Monday despite suffering from the flu. He hadn’t eaten anything solid Sunday or Monday, and had an IV before the game to provide fluids.

“The top two scorers on the team combined take 10 shots … I don’t think you’ll win too many games like that,” Langford said of he and Simien. “Wayne and I are going to have to be more aggressive in some of the bigger games. The offense did better last night. We moved it around really well and passed it like we do in practice.”

¢

Tickets available: A limited number of $30 tickets for Friday’s Kansas-Villanova game are available at the Allen Fieldhouse ticket office, by calling 864-3131 or at www.kustore.com.