Langford likely won’t play
KU senior suffers relapse of stomach woe, remains doubtful for Bucknell game
Keith Langford dropped his gear in the luggage deck, then stopped to sign autographs for a pair of fans before boarding the charter bus for Topeka’s Forbes Field on Wednesday night outside Allen Fieldhouse.
He never cracked a smile, and for good reason.
Langford, Kansas University’s 6-foot-4 senior guard from Fort Worth, Texas, earlier Wednesday had a relapse of the stomach ailment that last week put him in the hospital. He now is listed as doubtful for Friday’s NCAA Tournament opener against Bucknell at 8:50 p.m. in the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
“I can’t believe he’d be able to play,” KU coach Bill Self said Wednesday night after the Jayhawks arrived in downtown OKC at the team hotel, the Marriott.
In fact, he indicated Langford definitely would not start the game. Michael Lee and J.R. Giddens will start alongside Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles and Christian Moody.
“He doesn’t have his strength, hasn’t been able to keep food down like he needs to in order to have his strength,” Self said. “Today was a bad day for him. He’s frustrated. We’re all frustrated. Hopefully, he’ll be better tomorrow.
“There’s a chance he could play on Friday, but probably not a real good one.”
Self discussed Langford twice Wednesday — after a Langford-less practice at the fieldhouse and upon arrival in OKC.
“Keith had a setback today health-wise,” Self said, noting the player had a nasty headache. “His stomach got to him today. He is just run down. He is stressed out. It’s a combination. He is hurting. He is going to be fine eventually. We thought he’d be past this by now.”
Kansas University senior guard Keith Langford, center, and teammate Jeremy Case board the team bus. The Jayhawks left Wednesday for Oklahoma City, their NCAA Tournament site.
Self said Langford, who also has been slowed by a bruised left ankle, would have practiced Wednesday if not for the stomach setback.
Instead, Langford spent part of the day in bed after visiting the doctor.
It remains to be seen whether Langford can take part in today’s open-to-the-public shootaround, set for 6 to 6:50 p.m. in Ford Center. Prior to that, KU will have a closed practice for an hour and 15 minutes at Oklahoma City University.
“I can’t imagine a guy being off as long as he’s been off where he can just step in and play,” Self said. “He’s done some miraculous things in his time here, but I don’t think his body will allow him to do it this time without getting some quality reps. I don’t think he’ll have the strength to go.”
Of Langford’s mental state, Self said: “He is down, but being down will only delay the healing process. He needs to do everything he can to be well, to be up and excited for his teammates and do everything he can to get well.
Framed by a cameraman, Kansas University coach Bill Self speaks during a news conference. Self, shown Sunday in Memorial Stadium's press box, and the Jayhawks will play Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 8:50 p.m. Friday in Oklahoma City.
“His mindset can’t be, ‘When I get healthy I’ll be ready.’ His mindset has to be, ‘I’m ready now mentally and will do everything I can so the healing process is one, two, three less days than what it could be.'”
Self said he and the Jayhawks were not brooding about Langford’s setback. KU, which led Missouri, 11-3 with Langford on the court, wound up losing after Langford suffered a badly bruised ankle.
KU went 1-1 at last week’s Big 12 Conference tourney minus the sweet-shooting, slashing lefty.
“I am not bummed about it. I am sad for Keith, but if you get bummed about it, you are almost admitting you won’t play well without him. I think we’ll play great. Guys will step up just like before. Our players are capable of stepping up.”
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Langford likely won’t play
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Goin’ home: Three Jayhawks from Oklahoma — Jeremy Case, J.R. Giddens and Darnell Jackson –enthusiastically boarded the bus, ready to get back home.
“Oklahoma … that’s my soil. I’m ready to get some of that Oklahoma City air,” said Giddens, who along with Jackson is a native of OKC, one of eight first-and second-round pod sites for the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Case hails from McAlester.
“I think the fans will like it,” Giddens added. “There’s Bricktown … fans can go down there where there are restaurants and nightclubs for people older. It’s cool place, a beautiful city. There’s tons to do down there.”
The Jayhawks, of course, won’t have much free time.
“I’m excited going home and being with family. I hope my mom brings us some wings,” said Jackson, who like Giddens is a fan of the lemon pepper chicken wings at “Wing Stop.”
“I’m just looking for a lot of excitement now. It’s my first time in the tournament.”
Case can’t play in the games because of his red-shirt status.
“More than you know,” Case said, asked if he wished he could play this weekend. “But I am happy with my decision (to redshirt). It’s been hard not being able to play, but the season has gone faster than I thought it would. It’s been good.”
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Personnel: Self said freshmen Russell Robinson, Alex Galindo, Sasha Kaun, C.J. Giles and Russell Robinson all could see playing time in the NCAAs.
“I don’t know if our freshmen are feeling any pressure,” Self said. “I think they are excited getting a few more minutes of late. Our young guys are very unique. Sometimes I feel they don’t grasp the magnitude of everything that’s going on. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes not good. Getting to Oklahoma City and watching everybody else, they’ll start to grasp this is a pretty big deal.”
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Shaq picks KU: Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal has filled out his NCAA Tournament bracket.
His Final Four consists of his alma mater, LSU, plus Kansas, Louisville and Syracuse.
KU's Keith Langford answers questions during the Jayhawks' news conference Sunday.
His last team standing? Kansas, a winner over Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals in the title game.
“I like Kansas,” O’Neal told the Miami Herald. “They started the season off terrible.”
O’Neal had Illinois losing to Alabama in the Sweet 16.
O’Neal, a first team All-American in both his sophomore and junior seasons, played in three NCAA Tournaments with the Tigers before taking his game to the NBA. O’Neal’s Tigers never made it past the second round.
“Just make sure people know that I don’t bet on games,” O’Neal said.
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Bison itinerary: Bucknell had a two-hour workout Tuesday before coaches broke down KU tape later that afternoon. The team had a dinner Tuesday night, then chartered a plane from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bison will work out at an Oklahoma City high school gym today, followed by a media session at 7 p.m. and an open walkthrough practice at 8.
Things have been made easier for Bucknell this week because the students are on spring break.