KU ‘ecstatic’ over victory
Jayhawks thrilled to close Hearnes with win over MU
Columbia, Mo. ? Leave it to archrival Kansas University to spoil one of the biggest parties in Missouri basketball history.
The Jayhawks’ 84-82 victory over Mizzou on Sunday at Hearnes Center came on Senior Day for MU standouts Arthur Johnson, Rickey Paulding and Travon Bryant and reserve Josh Kroenke.
And, more importantly, it came in the final game played in 32-year-old Hearnes Center, which will be replaced by a new building next season.
“Everyone on our team is ecstatic we won,” said freshman center David Padgett, who hit a game-winning eight-footer with two seconds left. “But it wasn’t like we were trying to ruin anyone’s Senior Day. We just wanted to get a big conference win in our last regular-season conference game.”
Mission accomplished. KU improved to 20-7 overall and 12-4 in the Big 12 Conference; MU fell to 15-12, 9-7.
“We didn’t come here to spoil a party,” KU coach Bill Self said. “We came to enhance our chances for the postseason and tie for second in the league. A lot of times closing a building and Senior Day can be distractions, make it tough for the home team.
“It was a great win for our program and players.”
The Jayhawks definitely didn’t gloat after silencing the 13,611 fans who filed out of the building rather quietly.
“It’s one of the most memorable games I’ve been part of,” Wayne Simien said after scoring 22 points. “I really enjoyed it. We knew it’d be a big game for them, that they’d be enthused, but it was a big game for us, too. We definitely knew we’d have to play well to win.”
KU's Keith Langford (5) dunks on Missouri's Arthur Johnson for two of Langford's 19 points. Johnson finished with a career- and team-high 37 points.
Of quieting the crowd, junior Keith Langford said: “We did a good job making plays early. We had some hustle plays, J.R. Giddens diving for the ball, keeping them kind of at a standstill. You can sometimes keep noise to a minimum if you come out and play well.”
Langford, Simien, Aaron Miles and Michael Lee were 3-0 at Hearnes.
“I never thought of that until you just brought it up,” Simien said. “It’s nice to win, especially since I’m from around here.”
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Good D by Langford: Langford scored 19 points in 37 minutes. He also guarded Rickey Paulding, who had 14 points off 4-of-9 shooting.
“I tried to play the best defense I could,” Langford said. “I know he was bothered by an ankle injury, but I tried my best nonetheless.”
Langford played well despite missing several practices last week because of a bruised knee.
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Kemper not assured yet: Self said he didn’t think the victory assured KU a first- and second-round NCAA Tournament assignment at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. KU likely will need a No. 4 or 5 seed.
Turn out the lights at Hearnes
WIBW video: Kansas slips past rival Tigers
Hear Bill: KU-MU postgame comments
See the photos: KU-MU photo gallery“It sets the table to make a run. If we don’t take care of business in Dallas, I don’t think so,” Self said.
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Great expectorations: Giddens, who had 15 points, said he was fired up after an incident in warmups.
“At the beginning of the game, somebody (a fan) spit on me. It made me upset,” Giddens said.
After the game, some Jayhawks had to dodge debris thrown at them as they exited to the locker room.
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Antler mania: Members of MU’s Antlers fan section apparently tried to awaken the Jayhawks in an early morning visit to the team hotel.
“They tried to come through the hotel at 4:30 in the morning,” KU senior Jeff Graves said, “but I didn’t hear them. They didn’t get to my room.”
Some members of KU’s traveling party heard disturbances in the halls, but the Antlers never made it to the floor in which the players were staying.