KU’s Azubuike, Garrett slated for extra practice time at free-throw line

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self planned on summoning Udoka Azubuike and Marcus Garrett to the practice gym on Sunday for some emergency work at the free-throw line.

The two went a combined 7 of 19 — that’s 36.8 percent — in Saturday’s narrow 70-67 victory over Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse.

Fortunately for the Jayhawks, the only other two KU players to step to the stripe, Devonté Graham and Malik Newman, cashed 14 of 15 free throws for 93.3 percent, helping the Jayhawks to an overall 21 of 34 outing (61.8 percent) compared to Baylor’s 15 of 21 (71.4 percent) mark.

“Well, Marcus and Doke are going to come over tomorrow, and guess what they’re going to do? They’re going to shoot and shoot a lot — stationary shots from 15 feet out,” Self said after Saturday’s win.

“The guys that played the vast majority of minutes, they aren’t going to do anything tomorrow (Sunday). Then we’ll do tape after those guys work out for about an hour, get them off their feet, then we’ll have a good practice on Monday and get on a plane and go and try to take care of some business (a 6 p.m. Tuesday game at Oklahoma),” Self added.

For the season, sophomore center Azubuike, who made 4 of 11 free throws against Baylor on Saturday, has converted 23 of 56 free throws for 41.1 percent. Freshman guard Garrett, who made 3 of 8 against Baylor, has cashed 12 of 25 for 48 percent.

The Azubuike/Garrett combo has made 35 of 81 free throws for 43.2 percent. As a team, KU is at 71.0 percent.

“Two guys go 7 for 19 from the free-throw line; that’s hard to do. That’s like a turnover,” Self said. “We only had 11 turnovers, but we probably really had 16 or 17 when you look at it that way.”

Senior point guard Graham said the Jayhawks were fortunate to win Saturday considering some of their problems at the line.

“If we would’ve made free throws,” he said, jokingly glancing at Azubuike at the same table in the postgame interview room, “we would’ve been in a little bit better of a predicament, too.”

Coincidentally, Baylor coach Scott Drew was also talking about free throws after the game.

“I thought it was another typical Big 12 (Conference) game. It comes down to one possession. Kansas did a better job of getting to the free-throw line late in the game and to me, that was the difference,” Drew said after his team dropped to 2-5 in the league and 12-7 overall. KU improved to 16-3, 6-1.

“I thought we had decent looks. You don’t get great looks against Kansas, but I thought we had decent looks,” Drew said. “We take a six-point lead (at the final TV timeout) and if I did the math right, they get seven free-throw attempts and we get zero. We’ve got to get to the line. I’ve got to do a better job of getting us plays where we can get to the line instead of settling for jump shots.

“At the end of the game, free throws make a big difference. Credit them (Kansas), they did a great job of getting to the line and we didn’t.”

More on Malik

KU senior Graham lauded sophomore combo guard Malik Newman after a 24-point performance that included Newman scoring 12 of KU’s final 14 points.

“Just his confidence,” Graham said when asked what he liked about the Jackson, Miss., native’s effort Saturday. “He just got to the basket. He hit a big three off that Svi (Mykhailiuk) drive and kick (to cut the deficit to 61-59 at 4:20). I wish he would just show a little bit more emotion. When you get 12 straight (points), say, ‘Let’s go’ or something. He just had the killer face on. But I’m happy for him. I’m definitely glad he helped us get that win.”

Newman was disappointed the Jayhawks led by as many as 13 points the first half and 11 at the break, yet were down by as many as six down the stretch. KU has blown double-digit leads in four of its last six games at Allen Fieldhouse.

“It’s very hard,” Newman said of surrendering leads. “If we didn’t take the foot off the gas like Devonté said, the outcome could have been different. I mean as a player I can speak to it and I’m sure my teammates say the same: Look at the scoreboard and see 25-7 you get comfortable and kind of get loosey-goosey and that’s when things start to go wrong for you. It’s kind of a reality check.”

This story was originally published January 21, 2018 at 4:42 PM with the headline "KU’s Azubuike, Garrett slated for extra practice time at free-throw line."