Woodling: Lee key for KU
One, two, three, look at Mr. Lee.
Is there any better way to describe Wednesday night’s performance by Kansas University junior Michael Lee than the lyrics of that popular 1950s platter?
Out for six weeks with a broken collarbone, Lee made his “second-season” debut with a career-high 16 points in the Jayhawks’ nail-biting 73-67 victory over long-time country cousin Kansas State in Allen Fieldhouse.
“I don’t think we win the game without him,” KU coach Bill Self said.
Truer words never were spoken by a coach, prophet or even a politician because Lee was just what the doctor ordered for a team that has seen too many doctors lately.
“We’re tired, we’re sick and we’re beat up,” Self said.
With freshman David Padgett out with a foot injury, with Keith Langford drained by a bout with the flu and with point guard Aaron Miles nursing a bum ankle, the Jayhawks never have needed a catalyst more than they did against the new and improved breed of ‘Cats.
Lee hadn’t played since the second game of the season Nov. 25 against Michigan State.
“I was joking that maybe I should get hurt again if I can come out like that,” Lee quipped. “Hitting that first shot, that was big.”
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Hear Bill: KSU postgame commentsLee waited and waited and waited before Self finally called his name about halfway through the first half.
“I was real anxious,” said the 6-foot-3 guard from Portland, Ore. “I kept looking at coach. I was waiting for that call.”
When the call finally came, the decibel count in the fieldhouse doubled at least, and may have tripled.
“I came out real nervous, but when the crowd started cheering, I said, ‘I’m back now,'” he said with a smile.
Less than 90 seconds after he took the floor, Lee drilled a three-pointer, then added a deuce about two minutes later and basically ignited his teammates like a player coming off the bench is supposed to do.
“He brought a lot of energy out there,” Miles said. “That’s what he does. He hit shots, and he hit those free throws.”
On a night when the Jayhawks didn’t resemble the Big 12 Conference’s leading free-throw shooting team, Lee stepped to the line and made all six of his charities, including four in the last 40 seconds when the Wildcats were still within hailing distance.
Just like KU quarterback Bill Whittemore did last fall against Iowa State, Lee bounced back from a broken collarbone with a memorable outing.
“I thought about it while I was on the bench,” Lee said of his healed right shoulder, “but when I went out there I didn’t think about it.”
You may remember when it was disclosed Lee had suffered collarbone damage back in late November that he was tentatively scheduled to return to the floor in the Big 12 opener against Colorado nine days ago. A couple of weeks ago, however, that date was postponed until Wednesday, much to his chagrin.
“I was really actually mad, but I tried not to show it,” Lee said. “But I listened to the experts. That’s what they get paid for.”
Second on the list of Wednesday night’s energy-providers may have been Self, who was as upset as I’ve ever seen him after a couple of second-half calls by official Mike Sanzere. One was an intentional foul against Wayne Simien; the other an out-of-bounds call as Miles was streaking down the sideline in front of the scorers’ table.
Incidentally, before play resumed after a timeout, Sanzere explained the call to Simien, although not to the 6-foot-9 junior’s total satisfaction.
“He tried to explain it to me, but I didn’t understand. He said I grabbed him (Marques Hayden) by the throat,” Simien said. “I was just going for the ball and so was he.”
In the final analysis, this game wasn’t Simien going for Hayden’s throat as much as it was Lee going for K-State’s jugular.