The talk will be the free throws, but here’s the play that will stick with Bill Self

Bill Self was first asked about not taking Udoka Azubuike out of the game late. This was in a cramped media room at Lloyd Noble Center, in the minutes following Kansas’ 85-80 loss to Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Self spoke for about a minute on the topic. Then he revealed what upset him more than anything: KU’s defensive possession with 30 seconds left and down two.

“That’s what iced the game,” Self said. “We should have had the ball with a chance to tie or win it.”

KU had previously been amazing in these late-game situations. The Jayhawks executed perfectly on both ends in a one-point win against Nebraska. They knew what final Kansas State play was coming and defended it well in a close home victory. And they finished Saturday’s contest on a 9-0 run to escape at home against Baylor.

This has been KU’s identity. The Jayhawks, coming into Tuesday, were 17-1 over the last two seasons in Big 12 games decided by single digits.

You don’t get a record like that without end-game confidence and trust. KU started with that Tuesday, but didn’t finish with it.

And we can tell from looking at two plays.

Start with the 1:56 mark. During free throws — and away from the ESPN cameras — Self spoke with guard Devonté Graham about the defensive matchup on Oklahoma star Trae Young. Teammate Malik Newman walked toward the bench.

“I got him,” Newman told his coach.

Graham agreed, and it made sense. KU’s point guard had been chasing Young all game, weaving through ball screens while never getting a breather on the bench. Newman asked for the challenge, and Graham showed faith that he could handle it.

And what happened? Young tried to go right, but Newman cut off his driving lane. While looking for a pass, Young dribbled it off his knee, resulting in his fifth turnover.

Graham, a few steps away, clapped three times following Newman’s defensive effort.

The mind-set changed about a minute later.

Self had time to direct his team in the huddle during a timeout. He wanted the Jayhawks to switch all screens, even if the Sooners slipped them.

And it’s here when the player who has saved KU so often — Graham — lost himself for just a second.

It’s not difficult to see why. Graham, in this very building, had drawn national attention after he shut down player of the year Buddy Hield two years ago. All week, ESPN had been hyping this as “Young vs. Graham,” so on the last possession, why wouldn’t the senior want a chance to help win the game for his team?

“This happens a lot of times in sports,” Self said. “You know what you’re supposed to do, but you think you can guard Trae better than the guy you’re switching with.”

In this case, Oklahoma’s Brady Manek was the one faking a ball screen. Self had just said to switch, so Svi Mykhailiuk correctly slid over to guard Young.

Graham didn’t leave him, though, losing belief in Mykhailiuk for just a second while sticking with Young to create a de-facto double-team.

Young diagnosed it immediately. He made the easy pass to Manek on the perimeter, who now was being guarded by neither Graham nor Mykhailiuk.

The three went in.

“We gave them a wide-open look,” Self said. “And he’s a great shooter.”

These are the moments that often separate wins and losses. KU has leaned on Graham so heavily this year — he played 40 minutes for the third straight game Tuesday — that asking him to be a hero offensively and defensively is probably too much.

Against Oklahoma, that led to fatigue, and also a missed assignment late.

Fans will talk about the free throws, but you can bet Self and Graham will think most about that possession — a rare misstep for a team that almost always saves its best for last.

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 11:00 PM with the headline "The talk will be the free throws, but here’s the play that will stick with Bill Self."