KU’s McCormack flushes one dunk, misses another against Washburn

Powerful David McCormack unleashed an authoritative, two-handed follow dunk off a missed layup by fellow Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes with 5 1/2 minutes left in the Jayhawks’ 79-52 exhibition victory over Washburn on Thursday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

McCormack, KU’s 6-foot-10, 265-pound power forward out of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., deposited that slam efficiently, yet fell on his backside after clanging a more forceful, try-to-bring-down-the-backboard dunk attempt off a carom of a Chris Teahan miss with under a minute to play.

Had McCormack’s second two-handed dunk try been successful, it would been the play of the game in the Jayhawks’ second and final game of the preseason.

“I felt I had it, but halfway through the air I guess something just didn’t work out. It didn’t want to go in for me,” McCormack said after scoring two points and grabbing seven rebounds in 14 minutes versus the Ichabods. “I still had to attempt it, of course,” McCormack added during the postgame show on the Jayhawk radio network.

McCormack said even though he made some mistakes — he had four turnovers in the Oct. 25 opener against Emporia State and none versus Washburn — the exhibition season served its purpose.

“I feel a lot more confident now,” said McCormack, a native of Norfolk, Va. “I was nervous playing in the Fieldhouse the first time (against Emporia State). I felt there was a lot of pressure, a lot of tension.”

McCormack scored three points and secured two rebounds in the Jayhawks’ 93-55 victory over the Emporia State Hornets.

“I got the first exhibition game under my belt. I came in tonight (and) played my game, played to my strengths,” he said Thursday.

McCormack figures to be a member of the rotation during the season.

KU head coach Bill Self is a fan of the intensity McCormack brings to practice, going so far as to say he’s completely changed the culture of daily workouts.

KU’s other bigs “will be dominated,” Self said if they don’t show up ready to battle McCormack.

“He is 6-11, a big dude,” junior center Udoka Azubuike said. “He has improved a lot since he got here (in summer). He is aggressive. He goes hard every time. He’s full of energy. He helps me a lot during practice.”

A former football player, McCormack acknowledges he likes contact, as does the 7-foot, 280-pound Azubuike.

“There’s actually been multiple times we’ll be in the post. He (Azubuike) will go for a dunk and it’ll end up as a block or foul. Both of us will go for a rebound and both are in the air and have their hands on it, neither wants to let it go,” McCormack said.

“Both of us being big and being competitors, there’s multiple times we’ve had great conflict,” McCormack added of battles with Azubuike in the paint.

Of his seemingly unending reserve of energy, McCormack said: “It’s always been part of my game. I’ve always been a hustle player, always do what I can do to help the team.”

McCormack will make his regular-season debut Tuesday in Indianapolis against a No. 10-ranked Michigan State team that boasts 6-9, 245-pound junior Nick Ward, as well as 6-8, 245 pound sophomore Xavier Tillman, 6-11 freshman Marcus Bingham and 6-7, 230-pound senior Kenny Goins. Bingham is listed at 235, but conceded to reporters he’s closer to 215. He’s a possible redshirt candidate.

“It’s going to be a big venue and a great team,” McCormack said.

The Champions Classic opener, set for a 6 p.m. start, will be contested in 17,923-seat Bankers Life Fieldhouse. “They have a great team, a very big, veteran team. Playing them … they will know the game of college basketball much better than I do. I have to stay on my toes and be ready and alert.”

Self said he expects McCormack will have a productive freshman season.

“I think he’s beyond his years on the court and off the court too. I think David will help us this year. He is a true 5-man right now. He’s not going to beat Udoka out, but he will be a great defender,” Self said.

“David in his own way has been a terrific leader because he’s made those other guys (bigs) be better. It’s not surprising seeing somebody have success who tries that hard. Anybody who tries that hard also will raise the level in practice each and every day,” Self added.

Gary Bedore

Gary Bedore covers University of Kansas athletics for The Star.