Men’s basketball briefs

Giddens’ late three big for Jayhawks

J.R. Giddens hit a clutch three-pointer with 3:36 left, right out of KU’s final long timeout, erasing a 58-56 deficit.

“Coach called, ‘Fade,”’ Giddens said. “I jumped up and jabbed my man. I knew I had to set him up good and act like I was going to go baseline to get an open shot. Two steps, you know, knockdown — money ball.”

Giddens did not start. The nod went to senior Michael Lee.

“J.R. didn’t practice yesterday. That’s the only reason Mike started,” KU coach Bill Self said of the decision to hold out Giddens. “It’s not a knock on Mike or J.R. J.R. was nicked up. He said he was too sore to practice, so we started Mike because Mike’s been out there every day.”

“That didn’t bother me at all,” Giddens said of not opening the contest.

No headgear

Giddens did not wear his trademark headband much of the second half.

“I was driving toward the basket, and somebody knocked it down over my eyes, and I threw a blind pass. After that I threw it off,” said Giddens, who flung it toward the stands and never asked for it back.

Freshmen big men don’t play much

KU big men Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles didn’t play the second half.

“Darnell (Jackson, six key points in first half stretch) played the most because he was most productive,” Self said. “The other guys didn’t get a chance tonight. It’s a tough game for ’em to play right now because when you play a perimeter 4-man that can really shoot it and we want to trap the post with Taylor Coppenrath, it’s a tough matchup. Those guys have not been through it before.”

This, that

KU has won 32 straight openers in a row at home and three straight overall. … KU is 6-0 against America East teams. … Wayne Simien grabbed his 600th career rebound in the first half.