KU’s Langford sorely missed
A sore right knee kept Kansas University junior Keith Langford from playing in Tuesday’s 91-87 exhibition victory over the EA Sports All-Stars.
The circumstances surrounding the soreness in the knee — the one operated on Sept. 30 — were a sore spot for KU coach Bill Self.
“It wasn’t a decision by me (to keep Langford out of game),” Self said. “He was hurting. It’s a frustrating thing. Keith’s knee has been doing great. He’s been full-speed the last three days.
“He hasn’t had to take reps off. He goes to get a body part worked on other than his knee today, and he comes back with a bad knee.”
Langford, who was unavailable for comment after the game, reportedly went to see a chiropractor Tuesday. Self would not say where Langford was treated.
“I told all our players nobody, unless it comes from our athletic department, should ever lay a hand on one of our athletes unless they have to do so (in emergency). I’m frustrated in that,” Self said.
Self quickly added that Langford could have played. He’s not expected to miss any practice time. Langford had said earlier this week he’s not 100-percent healthy, but he’s getting closer every day.
Meanwhile, senior Jeff Graves also drew the ire of Self Tuesday. Graves, who was supposed to start the game, came off the bench because of disciplinary reasons.
“Jeff didn’t start. He was five minutes late (to fieldhouse). He got hung up in traffic or whatever, so we didn’t start him,” Self said.
Kansas University's Michael Lee, right, steals the ball from EA Sports' Cory Largent late in the second half, leading to a fast break that was part of an 8-0 Kansas run. Lee had six points in that run that helped lift KU to a 91-87 exhibition victory Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Freshman David Padgett started in place of Graves and had 16 points in 22 minutes.
“When coach told D.P. he was going to start, he had a red shirt on, and I swear that his skin completely turned the same color of that shirt,” guard Aaron Miles said. “It was like his heart was just pounding. He came in and did a great job.”
As far as the other scholarship freshmen … J.R. Giddens scored six points in seven minutes, Jeremy Case had one point and two boards in eight minutes, and Omar Wilkes didn’t score in two minutes.
Freshman Nick Bahe and soph Christian Moody played the final 21/2 minutes of the first half. Self used a lot of bodies during that half. The Jayhawks lagged, 40-33, at the break.
“I thought Christian Moody and Nick Bahe played as well as anybody else the first half,” Self said. “I had no problem having those guys in there.”
Too close for comfort
6Sports video: All-Stars throw scare into Kansas
Photo gallery: KU vs. EA Sports
Hear Bill: KU vs. EA Sports postgame¢
Family matters: Self’s parents, Margaret and Bill Sr., made the four-hour drive from Afton, Okla., to attend their son’s KU debut.
“We won’t come to all the games. We’ll watch a lot on ESPN,” Bill Sr. said. “I think he’s very excited, thrilled to be here. When I saw him last (before the game), he was very relaxed, watching film of EA Sports.”
The father said his son was as genuine a person as he appeared to be.
“A good example of that is, five years ago we went out to play golf and only had a threesome. A 19- or 20-year-old kid joined us. He was infatuated with Bill. Bill talked to him more than he talked to me.”
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Stats, facts: KU has won 19 straight home exhibition games, 15 straight regardless of venue. … Had Tuesday’s game been a regular-season game, Jeff Hawkins’ eight points would have been a career high, Graves’ four steals would have been a career high, and EA Sports’ 16 three-pointers would have been most by a KU foe since Nebraska’s 18 in 2002. … Jason Bueker, a KU student from Springfield, Mo., who won a contest to be able to suit up for the visitors, entered in the closing seconds.