Woodling: Miles crucial for KU

royr17 · 01-10-2005, 05:46 AM

http://www.kusports.com/news/mens_ba...l/story/112796

Woodling: Miles crucial for KU
By Chuck Woodling, Sports Editor

Monday, January 10, 2005

Lexington, Ky. — Imagine, if you will, a Kansas University basketball fan who, for some reason, was unable to watch Sunday's game on television.

So as soon as he could, the fan called a friend who had seen the Jayhawks play Kentucky and blurts, "What happened? How did the Jayhawks do?"

"Well," his friend replies, "KU turned the ball over 21 times, gave up 20 offensive boards and shot 39.6 percent."

"Omigosh, how bad was it?"

"Wait ... I forget to tell you KU's leading scorer was Christian Moody with 11 points."

"Geez, we must have been blown out of Rupp Arena."

"Not really. Kansas won by six."

"WHAT???? You've got to be kidding me"

"Believe it. Kansas won, 65-59."

Yeah, it's hard to believe, all right. Not many Kansas fans thought Kansas had a chance Sunday against Kentucky.

Sure, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 2 in the country, but they hadn't played away from home, they were facing the No. 8-ranked team in its own barn, and they hadn't set the world on fire the last three games with All-American Wayne Simien out with a thumb injury.

How did Kansas win? Well, it certainly helped that Kentucky's halfcourt offense looked like hippos dancing the polka. And it didn't hurt that Kentucky couldn't hit bluegrass from a horse barn. The Wildcats shot 30.9 percent, bricking 20 of 26 three-point attempts.

If you compare statistics, you probably could make an argument that Kansas didn't win this one so much as Kentucky lost it. And yet it doesn't really matter how you win or lose, it's who's ahead on the scoreboard when the buzzer sounds.

When this thriller is hashed and rehashed by Kansas fans, they'll talk about how freshmen big men C.J. Giles and Sasha Kaun, who had struggled in November and December, seemed to come of age. They'll banter about Michael Lee's crucial three-point goal with 31 seconds remaining and Kansas ahead by two.

Moreover, they'll discuss how KU won with Keith Langford, Russell Robinson and Moody unable to play down the stretch because of injuries. Maybe they'll also mention how the five KU players on the floor when the game ended were the unusual combination of Lee, Moulaye Niang, J.R. Giddens, Jeff Hawkins and Aaron Miles.

And yet all that palaver is really ignoring the tree to talk about the forest.

Who was the tree? Miles. Kansas absolutely would not have won Sunday without the senior point guard. Miles' numbers won't overwhelm anybody -- five points, five assists, three turnovers and two steals.

Miles WAS involved in the game's most crucial play. When it appeared he had lost control at the top of the lane and was on the verge of being called for traveling, he somehow unloaded the ball to Lee for that critical three-pointer.

"That was a dagger in our heart," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said afterward. "That was a real killer."

As important as that play was -- and it was a biggie, all right -- it shouldn't overshadow how during the 34 minutes Miles was on the floor he exuded the confidence needed to enable to win with 24,367 people trying to bust your eardrums and your resolve at the same time.

In the Kentucky pregame notes, a blurb noted how senior Chuck Hayes was the nation's active career leader in winning percentage. UK has won 85 percent of Hayes' 88 career starts (75-13).

Miles is also on the list. He's No. 6. KU had won 82 percent of the games he started. But there's a difference. A big difference. Miles had started 96 victories, or 21 more than Hayes. Now Miles is three wins from the century mark.

Miles' Kentucky counterpart, freshman Rajon Rondo, played one fewer minute than Miles, scored six points, had two assists, just two turnovers and an impressive five steals.

But who would you rather have out there running the point -- a senior like Miles, or a freshman like Rondo? Perhaps when he's a senior, Rondo will mean as much to Kentucky as Miles means to Kansas.

Kansas proved Sunday it could defeat a ranked team on the road without Simien. But you have to wonder if Kansas would have won if Simien had been healthy and Miles had been the Jayhawk sidelined.

Now there's a topic for discussion.

01-10-2005, 05:46 AM	Topic Starter
royr17 MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lovin my kids Casino cash: $1498676	Woodling: Miles crucial for KU http://www.kusports.com/news/mens_ba...l/story/112796 Woodling: Miles crucial for KU By Chuck Woodling, Sports Editor Monday, January 10, 2005 Lexington, Ky. — Imagine, if you will, a Kansas University basketball fan who, for some reason, was unable to watch Sunday's game on television. So as soon as he could, the fan called a friend who had seen the Jayhawks play Kentucky and blurts, "What happened? How did the Jayhawks do?" "Well," his friend replies, "KU turned the ball over 21 times, gave up 20 offensive boards and shot 39.6 percent." "Omigosh, how bad was it?" "Wait ... I forget to tell you KU's leading scorer was Christian Moody with 11 points." "Geez, we must have been blown out of Rupp Arena." "Not really. Kansas won by six." "WHAT???? You've got to be kidding me" "Believe it. Kansas won, 65-59." Yeah, it's hard to believe, all right. Not many Kansas fans thought Kansas had a chance Sunday against Kentucky. Sure, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 2 in the country, but they hadn't played away from home, they were facing the No. 8-ranked team in its own barn, and they hadn't set the world on fire the last three games with All-American Wayne Simien out with a thumb injury. How did Kansas win? Well, it certainly helped that Kentucky's halfcourt offense looked like hippos dancing the polka. And it didn't hurt that Kentucky couldn't hit bluegrass from a horse barn. The Wildcats shot 30.9 percent, bricking 20 of 26 three-point attempts. If you compare statistics, you probably could make an argument that Kansas didn't win this one so much as Kentucky lost it. And yet it doesn't really matter how you win or lose, it's who's ahead on the scoreboard when the buzzer sounds. When this thriller is hashed and rehashed by Kansas fans, they'll talk about how freshmen big men C.J. Giles and Sasha Kaun, who had struggled in November and December, seemed to come of age. They'll banter about Michael Lee's crucial three-point goal with 31 seconds remaining and Kansas ahead by two. Moreover, they'll discuss how KU won with Keith Langford, Russell Robinson and Moody unable to play down the stretch because of injuries. Maybe they'll also mention how the five KU players on the floor when the game ended were the unusual combination of Lee, Moulaye Niang, J.R. Giddens, Jeff Hawkins and Aaron Miles. And yet all that palaver is really ignoring the tree to talk about the forest. Who was the tree? Miles. Kansas absolutely would not have won Sunday without the senior point guard. Miles' numbers won't overwhelm anybody -- five points, five assists, three turnovers and two steals. Miles WAS involved in the game's most crucial play. When it appeared he had lost control at the top of the lane and was on the verge of being called for traveling, he somehow unloaded the ball to Lee for that critical three-pointer. "That was a dagger in our heart," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said afterward. "That was a real killer." As important as that play was -- and it was a biggie, all right -- it shouldn't overshadow how during the 34 minutes Miles was on the floor he exuded the confidence needed to enable to win with 24,367 people trying to bust your eardrums and your resolve at the same time. In the Kentucky pregame notes, a blurb noted how senior Chuck Hayes was the nation's active career leader in winning percentage. UK has won 85 percent of Hayes' 88 career starts (75-13). Miles is also on the list. He's No. 6. KU had won 82 percent of the games he started. But there's a difference. A big difference. Miles had started 96 victories, or 21 more than Hayes. Now Miles is three wins from the century mark. Miles' Kentucky counterpart, freshman Rajon Rondo, played one fewer minute than Miles, scored six points, had two assists, just two turnovers and an impressive five steals. But who would you rather have out there running the point -- a senior like Miles, or a freshman like Rondo? Perhaps when he's a senior, Rondo will mean as much to Kentucky as Miles means to Kansas. Kansas proved Sunday it could defeat a ranked team on the road without Simien. But you have to wonder if Kansas would have won if Simien had been healthy and Miles had been the Jayhawk sidelined. Now there's a topic for discussion.
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