Hinrich scores career-high 29 points in rout

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- This 100-46 victory was no fun at all for the winning coach or players.

In the first half of (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 18 AP) Kansas' rout of Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, Jayhawks sophomore forward Wayne Simien jammed his arm into the rim and dislocated his right shoulder.

It's a similar injury, and to the same shoulder, that sidelined the 6-foot-9 Simien for about six months at the end of his high school career. How long the Jayhawks' leading rebounder and second-leading scorer will be out is not known.

Could it be season-ending?

"It could. But that's the last thing I'm thinking about right now,'' Simien said. "I'm trying to stay as positive as I can. Of course, it's frustrating. But I'm going to do everything possible to get back.''

Kirk Hinrich scored a career-high 29 points, Nick Collison had 20 points and Keith Langford had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks.

Junior college transfer Jeff Graves, who will start in Simien's place Monday night, had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

"The game stopped being fun when Wayne got hurt,'' said coach Roy Williams, whose Jayhawks (9-3) will begin defense of their Big 12 title Monday night at Iowa State.

Simien was scheduled to be examined by doctors later Saturday night.

"I just know I'm going to do everything possible to try to come back as soon as possible, but still keep in mind I've still got the rest of my career ahead of me and not try to make any stupid mistakes, just do what the doctors tell me,'' Simien said.

"I went up for a block and kind of got jammed up in the rim. My arm stayed and my body kept going, and it came out,'' he said.

With about 7:30 left in the game, the partisan Kansas crowd at Kemper Arena gave Simien a standing ovation when, with his arm in a sling, he rejoined his teammates on the bench.

Simien leads Kansas with 9.4 rebounds and is their second-leading scorer at 17 points per game.

Simien was injured while going up to defend a layup by Michael Watson, who entered the game as the nation's third-leading scorer at 25.6 points per game.

It was 44-17 at halftime as Watson went just 2-for-12 from the field and had seven points. Watson wound up with 27.

Hinrich was 7-of-8 from 3-point range as the Jayhawks won their sixth in a row and second straight blowout.

On Thursday night, they beat North Carolina-Asheville 102-50.

"The first thing we get out of this is the knowledge that nobody in our league will be as good as Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich,'' UMKC coach Rich Zvosec said. "We gave up too many inside baskets.''

The undermanned Kangaroos (1-11), whose only victory this year was against Youngstown State, shot 28 percent and were outrebounded 59-22.

"Nine turnovers is right where we need to be but we've got to make some shots,'' Zvosec said. "We had some decent looks.''

Hinrich had a three-point play to ignite a 16-0 run midway through the first half.

"I was just getting wide-open shots,'' Hinrich said. "I was getting confidence in making them. I hit my first two, which always helps. That gives you extra confidence.''