Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self knows why his most productive player wants to stick around.

“Senior Night … having a chance to go out with the guys he came in with … leaving a legacy behind,” Self said Thursday, responding to junior Wayne Simien’s declaration Wednesday he would stay in school for his senior season.

“Wayne will definitely go down as one of the premier players who has played here. That would mean an awful lot to him,” Self said.

Simien, who has been to two Final Fours and is averaging 17.4 points and 9.1 rebounds this season, is 69 points short of 1,000 for his career. Just 45 players in KU history have scored 1,000 points.

“Being from Leavenworth, growing up and loving the Jayhawks, being a fan for so long … some things mean more to him maybe than somebody from outside the area,” Self said. “I don’t think he’s impatient.”

Simien, who says he still has “a lot to do (in college),” patiently will put his NBA dreams on hold — just like former teammates Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, who played at KU four years and were tapped NBA lottery picks.

“I believe Wayne can be a guy who benefits like Kirk and Nick benefited,” said Self, who still will compile information on Simien’s draft status after the season to present to Simien and his parents.

“We could all learn (from past KU history),” Self said. “It was a good decision for Drew (Gooden) to leave. He was the third player taken in the draft. It’s hard to improve on that.

Kansas University's J.R. Giddens (15) fends off Nebraska's Andrew Drevo. KU's David Padgett is at left. The Jayhawks beat the Huskers, 78-67, Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“If Kirk and Nick left as juniors, they would have been, what, late first or early second round? They played themselves into an unbelievable position. I think Wayne is more in the Nick, Kirk deal. I think he has a chance to go high in the draft. I think he can really help himself. But it’s such an inexact science.”

Foreign players and high schoolers have become popular first-round selections.

“There will be six to 10 high school guys coming out,” Self said. “Then you take in consideration the junior class (of high schoolers) projected to come out in a year. Right now, there are not that many, so there will be more slots open (in 2005).”

Self is impressed Simien is focused solely on college basketball. They’ve only talked about the draft once all year.

“I’m the one who initiated it. I said, ‘Wayne, are agents or runners bothering you, getting to you?

“He said, ‘No, I’m not interested in any of that stuff. I’m not interested in talking to anybody. It’ll be addressed at the right time.’ I said, ‘That’s a great attitude to have.'”

Self enjoyed when Simien expressed his emphatic desire to give his own senior speech next year.

“For Wayne to say what he did yesterday, the way it was reported it was like, ‘You can go to the bank with this.’ You can go with this as media members,'” Self said.

Simien has averaged almost 20 points his last 11 games. He has scored in double figures in 13 straight games.

6Sports video: Simien to give senior speech next season 6Sports video: KU to face MU at the Hearnes Center for the last time Hear Bill: March 4 news conference

“You can pencil him in for 20 points and 10 rebounds, for the most part,” Self said. “Those are All-American-type numbers.”

• Antlers: Self was asked if he screamed at members of Missouri’s student cheering section, The Antlers, who have phoned his house in the early morning hours this week. The Antlers traditionally make pests of themselves the week of the KU-MU game in Columbia.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Self said. “I may not visit with them very long, though. They’ve done a good job of doing their research I guess, getting some of our (phone) numbers.”

• Hearnes finale: Sunday’s game will be the last played in 31-year-old Hearnes Center.

“I’ve got some unique memories. As assistant coach at Oklahoma State, I got our head coach a third technical (foul) there and got him tossed,” Self said of Leonard Hamilton. “He wasn’t very happy with me after that game.”

What happened?

“The official misread my lips, I guess, and gave me a ‘T.’ It’s when all technicals on the bench were assessed to the head coach. He’d gotten two the first half and I started the second half by standing up and yelling something. They gave me a ‘T’, which automatically went to him.”

• Home or road?: Self was asked what was better for Kansas in the KU-MU series, playing the first game at Allen and second at MU or vice versa.

“I don’t know. I think you probably prefer to play at a time when it gives you the most emotional advantage. I can’t imagine them being at a bigger advantage than closing down the building.”

• Bumps, bruises: Self said David Padgett (ankle sprain) would play Sunday: “It’s sore. He has to go on it. We’ll give him today and tomorrow off. He’ll practice Saturday. He’ll be available Sunday. Keith’s (Langford) knee is sore. Wayne has a bad groin. We have all kinds of things this time of year, no more than anybody else.”
• Senior Night revisited: Self said he had a blast at his first Senior Night as KU coach.

Of pregame introductions of the seniors, he said: “Short and sweet.”

As far as the postgame speeches of the three seniors. “Jankovich (Tim, assistant) walked up to me and said, ‘Here’s the stats from last night’s game’ because it did take a while.

“Maybe we can cut that back a bit. I appreciate the fans who stayed. Some traditions at Kansas you don’t want to touch. That’s one of the real good ones. Players listen to coaches yak at them all the time. Coaches have to understand players get the mikes every now and then, too.”

• He likes Allen: Asked if he was jealous of MU getting a new arena, Self said: “No, no. I would rather have Allen than any arena in America. I do think we need to do some things to it,” he added, referring to modernizing the windows, sandblasting the outside, repainting, fixing up locker rooms and adding a video board.

“As far as changing the feel of the building, I wouldn’t do anything to change it … nothing.”