Lubbock, Texas ? Wearing a suit and tie and his 2002 Final Four ring, Wayne Simien rejoiced in the visitors’ locker room with the rest of his teammates after Kansas’ 65-56 victory over Texas Tech Monday night at United Spirit Arena.

Simien, Kansas’ 6-foot-9, 255-pound sophomore forward who last week was ruled out for the rest of the season because of his dislocated right shoulder, was proud of his teammates for gutting out a Big 12 title-clinching victory over the Raiders.

“I always wear this when I’m not playing,” Simien said of his KU ring. “It’s a good feeling to know we’ve got another (ring) coming. We’ve accomplished a lot this year. We’ve still got two All-Americans out there and other guys who stepped up, too. It was a big win.”

Simien was speaking publicly for the first time since being declared out for the season last Thursday.

He said he had come to grips with the fact he wouldn’t be playing any more his sophomore year.

“I’m not really depressed,” said Simien, who dislocated his right shoulder on Jan. 4, sat out 11 games, then returned and played three games and 40 seconds of a fourth before reinjuring his shoulder Wednesday against Texas A&M.

Thursday, KU coach Roy Williams announced Simien was through for the season and would have surgery March 28 in New York.

“I feel good because I gave it my best shot,” he said. “Things didn’t work out, but I feel a burden has been lifted off me and my family and the team.”

Simien said there was no chance he might rehab the shoulder the next couple of weeks and return for the NCAA Tournament.

“Nah, I couldn’t imagine that,” he said. “This is set in stone.”

He will be operated on by New York Giants team doctor Russell Warren.

“I have great confidence in our doctors here. They are trying to do what’s best for me,” Simien said of hooking him up with a surgeon who regularly operates on NFL players.

“The doctors have been great, and coach has helped me out a lot. I was at an all-time low and thinking of calling it a year (in January), but he put fire in me, and I gave it my best shot and am glad I tried to play.”

Simien also put to rest a rumor he’d have his surgery, then head straight to the pros.

“I haven’t heard that one,” he said. “I still am a Jayhawk. There’s no talk of leaving now. I will get this taken care of and play some more (college) ball.”