Who knows? Maybe No. 12-ranked Kansas University’s stunning home loss to unheralded, unranked Richmond just might help the Jayhawks.

That’s the hope of KU’s players, caught in the Spiders’ web, 69-68, Thursday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

“We needed a slap in the face,” said KU junior Keith Langford, who scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds.

“I’m upset we lost, but it’s done. We’ve got to play Colorado Sunday (1 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse). Thank God this wasn’t a Big 12 game. While it’s disappointing, maybe we can learn from it and be better off in conference play.”

Langford said the team wouldn’t be demoralized by the defeat.

“News flash: It won’t be the last time we lose. It’s basketball. It happens,” Langford said.

“We weren’t fluid. We had guys who didn’t know the plays we were running. We were stagnant. It won’t be the last time that happens either in a basketball game. Give Richmond credit. They played well, too.”

KU coach Bill Self also indicated the game wouldn’t doom KU’s confidence.

“If this destroys our confidence, we weren’t very tough to begin with,” Self said.

Richmond's Reggie Brown outjumps Kansas' Keith Langford (5) and Richmond's Jermaine Bucknor (32) for a rebound in the Spiders' 69-68 victory. KU outrebounded Richmond, 45-32, in the setback Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse.

• Caravan in town: Royals pitchers Jimmy Gobble and Jason Grimsley attended along with former second base great Frank White and radio color man Ryan Lefebvre as part of the team’s annual “caravan” to Lawrence. The mascot, Sluggerrr, also was on hand.
• Tough crowd: Loud cheers and applause could be heard in the sellout crowd when the final score of the Florida State-North Carolina game was shown on the scoreboard in the first half. Former KU coach Roy Williams’ Tar Heels lost to the Seminoles in OT to the delight of many fans still miffed he left KU for UNC. … Some fans also cheered when one of the refs fell to the ground in the second half after getting bumped by a player.
• T: Self received his first technical at KU in the second half. He complained loudly when Aaron Miles was stripped of the basketball with no foul called.
• Make-A-Wish youngster on hand: Jack Wilson, 7, of Ocean Springs, Miss., attended the game with his parents, brother and sister. He’s been in town two days fulfilling his dream to attend a KU game. His appearance was set up by the Make-A-Wish foundation.
• Hefty payday: Richmond received $50,000 guarantee money for playing the Jayhawks in the game, which will not be returned by KU next season.

6Sports video: Richmond surprises Jayhawks Spiders ensnare Kansas Woodling: League breaks unkind to KU Richmond hangs close, strikes Kansas gets ‘slap in face’ Hear Bill: Richmond postgame audio Get the stats: KU-Richmond box score See the photos: KU-Richmond

• Jackson faring well: KU signee Darnell Jackson is averaging 11.1 points a game off 53.8 percent shooting and 8.8 rebounds for 10-3 Midwest City High in Oklahoma.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Jackson has cashed 73.5 percent of his free throws.

Midwest City’s state title hopes took a hit this week when 6-8 sophomore Keith Clark, who was averaging 15.1 points a game, was kicked off the squad and enrolled at rival Putnam City High.

“He never cared about anyone but himself,” Jackson told the Daily Oklahoman. “I’m real disappointed. I would love for him to be here, but we can go on and win without him.”

Jackson transferred from Northwest Classen after his junior year in part because of Clark.

Putnam City High is led by junior phenom C.J. Henry, the son of former KU player Carl Henry, who averages 26 points a game for the Pirates.

Putnam City is 11-1; Midwest City 10-3.

• More on Krabbenhoft: Joe Krabbenhoft, a 6-7 junior guard/forward from Sioux Falls, S.D., said it was a tough decision to choose Wisconsin over KU, Notre Dame and Minnesota.

“I really thought I fit in well there, especially with the coaches and the players,” Krabbenhoft told Jeremy Tiers of minnesota.rivals.com. “It’s a good atmosphere and I have family close by. They also have a great group of younger players and I think they’re going to be really successful. I just wanted to be a part of that.”

• Tourney tickets on sale: Tickets for the first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., are available at big12sports.com and the Kemper box office.

Tickets for the six-game, three-session tournament are $150 each and there is a $4-per-ticket service charge for tickets ordered by mail. Customers are limited to a maximum of eight tickets per order.

There is a good chance KU will be sent to Kemper Arena for tourney play because of the NCAA’s pod system, designed to allow area teams to play near campus and help sell out first- and second-round sites.

Several thousand tickets remain for the Kemper event, despite the fact KU fans will be clamoring for tickets in March if the Jayhawks play in K.C.