Notebook: ‘Banging’ hurts Simien’s shoulder

? Wayne Simien looked like he played a pain-free game Sunday at Lloyd Noble Center.

Looks, however, can be deceiving.

“This is the worst it has felt of the three games,” Simien said after scoring 17 points off 4-of-8 shooting and 9-of-13 three-throw shooting in Kansas’ 77-70 loss to Oklahoma.

He was referring to his right shoulder, which he dislocated Jan. 4. He missed 11 straight games before returning for the last three.

“It didn’t bother me until the second half,” said the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Simien, who also grabbed seven boards. “These are physical teams. I got in there banging and took a couple fouls.”

He tweaked the shoulder after getting hacked with 2:56 left. Simien shrugged off some pain and calmly hit two free throws.

He said he expected no change in his status.

“It’s something I’ve got to — and will — deal with,” he said of the pain he’ll incur until he has offseason surgery.

Simien had 11 points in a 27-7 second-half run that sliced a 32-point deficit to 12 points. KU actually made it a game at the end, lagging by five points with 22 seconds to play.

“I guess the only positive is, we were down by 30, and were able to get back to six and we had the ball,” Simien said. “We had some crucial turnovers at the end. To scrap back on their home court is a positive. We’ve got to come to play from the start.”

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Concussion: OU center Jabahri Brown, who had seven points the first eight minutes, suffered a concussion after running into Michael Lee in the first half.

“We banged heads, basically — like we had a head-butt,” Lee said. “He was going after the ball. I was going after it. The ball was between us, and we collided.”

Brown was down on the court for several minutes before being helped off to the locker room. He returned to the OU bench to a big ovation the second half, but didn’t re-enter.

“I was concerned about him,” Lee said. “I asked him after the game if he was OK. He said he was fine. I told him I didn’t mean to do it. He seemed OK. I hope he is.”

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Not over yet: KU and Oklahoma both lead Oklahoma State and Texas by a game in the Big 12 Conference race.

“I think we can win it and will still win it or a share of it at least,” KU sophomore Keith Langford said after scoring 11 points off 3-of-8 shooting. “We are determined to win it.”

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Stats, facts: Nick Collison tied a career high with three three-pointers made. … Kirk Hinrich passed Calvin Thompson and Kenny Gregory for 11th on KU’s all-time scoring list. … Hinrich passed Jerod Haase for fourth on KU’s all-time three-point attempt list. … Aaron Miles was held scoreless for the first time this season and first time since facing OU last season, Jan. 19, 2002, in Lawrence. The two games are the sophomore’s only two scoreless outings in college.

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Giddens on hand: KU signee J.R. Giddens, a 6-5 senior guard from Oklahoma City’s John Marshall High, attended Sunday’s game.

“It’s nice not to have to drive so far this time,” quipped Giddens, who has made the four-hour drive from Oklahoma City to Lawrence several times for KU games.

Giddens — he erupted for 26 points and seven dunks in Friday’s victory at Oklahoma City Northwest Classen — met the Jayhawks at their team hotel when they arrived Saturday night.

“We just chilled and relaxed and watched TV. It’s cool. I got to hang out with them and get an early taste of what college is like,” Giddens said.

He said it was fun watching his future college play in Lloyd Noble Center.

“I’m familiar with this place, real familiar,” said Giddens, who attended all of OU’s home football and basketball games his sophomore and junior years of high school. “I will always be an Oklahoma fan because I’m born and raised here. I don’t have anything bad to say about Oklahoma.”

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This, that: The Jayhawks are 1-4 against top-10 opponents, 3-4 versus top-25 teams … OU snapped KU’s seven-game winning streak. … KU’s next loss will be coach Roy Williams’ 100th. He has 408 victories