Azubuike handles double team, hits free throws in KU’s 79-52 win over Washburn
Dedric Lawson sensed his frontcourt partner Udoka Azubuike was a bit depressed after the 7-footer’s two-point, six-turnover debut against Emporia State on Oct. 25 at Allen Fieldhouse.
“I texted him after the game. I was like ‘Bruh (brother) don’t worry about it. This was an exhibition game. I mean those stats don’t even count. We’re out here just to have fun,’’’ Lawson said of Azubuike’s performance against the double team in the Jayhawks’ 93-55 win over the Hornets.
“He texted me back (and) said ‘Yeah, man.’ Udoka wants to play so well for us and contribute so much. I know where his heart is at. I wanted to give him my words of encouragement to stay with it,” Lawson added.
Azubuike was much better Thursday. KU beat Washburn 79-52 in another exhibition game, and Azubuike scored 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting (5 of 6 at the line), grabbed six rebounds, blocked two shots and dished three assists against just two turnovers.
“I can’t have games like that all the time. It was important for me to bounce back,” said Azubuike. “After the first game I had to get myself together. Dedric, Lagerald spoke to me about what I need to work on. Coach (Bill Self) talked to me about it. I spoke to coach Roberts (Norm, big man coach). I figured out what to do in the trap.”
That is …
“Pass the ball, maybe take two dribbles, just find a way to get others looks,” Azubuike said.
Azubuike not only was composed from the floor on Thursday, but also at the line where he struggled both his freshman (37.9 percent) and sophomore (41.3) seasons.
“It was a boost to my confidence,” Azubuike said of the 5-of-6 night on free throws. “It is something I’ve been working through the offseason. My whole form is totally changed. I’ve been working on it. The last game you didn’t really get a chance to see how the free throws were going. I’m glad this game I was able to compose myself and use the routine I’ve been working on. I was glad to see my free throws go in.”
Azubuike said the key is “being natural. You can see right now my form and everything is natural. It’s me taking my time holding the ball the right way and following through.”
KU coach Self was pleased with Azubuike’s 18 minutes of work on Thursday.
“He wasn’t very good last week,” Self said. “It’s not that he wasn’t very good, but he let how a team played him totally take him out of his game. That’s not very mature. I thought tonight he handled traps very well, passed out of the trap. Most importantly he passed better. I thought he did a good job making free throws. His energy level was better. He blocked some shots. He was better tonight. I thought he played well.”
Of his free throws, Self said: “You guys saw he took his time, and they were a lot softer. He is capable of putting a soft stroke on the ball each and every time.”
Senior guard Lagerald Vick, who scored seven points in the win over Emporia State a week ago, hit four threes and scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting against Washburn. He, along with Lawson (18 points, six rebounds, four threes), combined for five three-pointers in a 33-5 run that turned a close 35-28 game (18:19 remaining) into a 68-33 rout with nine minutes left.
The game, which was KU’s final tuneup before Tuesday’s regular-season opener against Michigan State in Indianapolis, featured two different starters from the opener.
Sophomores Charlie Moore (four points, four assists) and Marcus Garrett (five assists, no points) opened in place of freshmen Quentin Grimes (seven points, eight rebounds) and Devon Dotson (six points, five rebounds, three assists). The other three starters — Vick, Azubuike and Lawson — also opened against Emporia State.
“I thought our starters played well, and when we subbed it was about even,” Self said. “Quentin and Devon weren’t getting shots in the first half, but they were better in the second half. I thought Lagerald, Dedric, Doke and Charlie all had pretty solid games.”
Ballard returns with Ichabods
KU coach Self waved to Washburn coach Brett Ballard’s wife, Kelly, and Brett and Kelly’s three children — sons Kaden and Brooks and daughter Breagan — after shaking hands with former KU player and staff member Ballard before the game.
KU showed a pre-game video clip of Ballard cutting the nets during his playing days with the Jayhawks.
“Everyone kept asking me how I felt,” second-year Washburn coach Ballard said of returning to KU where he played for coach Roy Williams and served seven years on Self’s coaching support staff.
“I wanted to wait until after the game to decide because we didn’t want to come in here and lay an egg. I told the guys in the locker room I’ve never been about just showing up and saying that’s good enough. When I came to Kansas as a walk-on, it wasn’t like, ‘Hey I’m happy to be on the team.’ I was competing and working for minutes. I know I’m biased, but this is the best venue in sports.”
Agbaji may redshirt
KU freshman Ochai Agbaji scored six points and had three boards after scoring eight points with four boards against Emporia State.
He was asked about the possibility of redshirting after the game.
“Still up in the air. I know I’m going to talk to coach sometime in the following days. But whichever is my path, I’m ready for it, and I’m just positive about everything that’s going on,” he said.
Self said walk-on Elijah Elliott would red-shirt his freshman season.
Gary Bedore
Gary Bedore covers University of Kansas athletics for The Star.
This story was originally published November 1, 2018 at 9:14 PM.