Vick’s been the story, but McCormack playing well, too, KU’s Self maintains
Kansas’ basketball players and coaches have been quick to shower superlatives on senior Lagerald Vick for his back-to-back 30-plus point performances.
“He’s a really talented kid. His attitude has certainly been terrific,” KU coach Bill Self said of the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Memphis, also referred to by Self as “the hottest player in America right now.”
Vick scored 32 points in Monday’s 84-68 victory over Vermont and 33 in Friday’s 89-76 victory over Louisiana, both at Allen Fieldhouse. He’s made 15 of his last 20 threes over two games.
“I mean, he’s a madman,” KU freshman forward David McCormack said of Vick, who has averaged 22.3 points per game in three games to Dedric Lawson’s 13.0 ppg. Udoka Azubuike has averaged 19.0 ppg and Quentin Grimes 12.3 for the undefeated, No. 2-ranked Jayhawks.
“On the bench or on the court, when it’s coming off his fingertips, we know it’s good. We’ll crash (boards) regardless, but coming out of his hand, we’re feeling good,” McCormack added.
As great as Vick has played of late, he has not been a one-man show, according to Self, who praised the play of three individuals after Friday’s win.
“I’ll be honest. David won the game for us the first half. Doke won the game for us the second half. Lagerald won the game for us the entire game,” Self said.
Junior center Azubuike scored 13 of his 17 points and junior forward Lawson 15 of his 19 points as KU outscored Louisiana, 45-35, the final half and expanded on a narrow, 44-41, halftime lead.
Meanwhile, freshman McDonald’s All-American McCormack — he did not play in Monday’s win over Vermont via coach’s decision — was on the court the final 10 minutes of the first half. That’s the period of time in which KU turned a 27-20 deficit into a 44-41 halftime lead.
McCormack had two points, six rebounds and a block as the Jayhawks, rolled, 24-14, those final 10 minutes of the initial half.
“I was pleased with David’s energy and what he gave us. David had six rebounds in 10 minutes,” Self said. “Four were offensive rebounds. One was a (Dennis) Rodman-type effort. He missed a bunny and got a quick rebound.
“You know he was nervous as all get-out just because he didn’t play last game,” Self added. “The problem is when we play a team like that (Vermont), how do you play he and Doke together? If Doke is playing well and not in foul trouble, there’s not a huge reason to sub him out. Tonight David was definitely our best big in the first half.”
Azubuike, who played five minutes the first half to Lawson’s nine minutes (both had two early fouls), spoke to McCormack just before he entered Friday’s game. Azubuike knew it was vital the freshman play well if KU wanted to erase a 12-point deficit against the fired-up mid-major Ragin’ Cajuns.
“I was in foul trouble. I had two fouls. Dedric had two. I talked to him (McCormack). I said, ‘Go out and play your game, rebound the ball,’’’ Azubuike explained. “He gave us energy, gave us that edge. David did well the little time he was in.”
It’s nothing new.
“David at practice has so much energy,” Azubuike said of the 6-10, 265-pound big man out of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.
“He’s one of the best bigs I’ve seen in having so much energy. He moves his feet with unbelievable energy,” Azubuike added.
McCormack said he had no idea he’d play 10 minutes the first half after not playing versus Vermont. He did not re-enter the game the second half Friday.
“Going into this game, he (Self) didn’t really say anything whether I was going to play much or little,” McCormack said. “It so happened Doke got in foul trouble. When Dedric got in foul trouble, the opportunity presented itself.”
Of limited minutes early in the season, McCormack conceded: “It’s a little struggle at first. When you have a positive mindset and know you are willing to do whatever you can to help the team in whatever minutes you have, it all goes to the back of your mind and you don’t even think about it.”
Like all players, he’s had conversations with his head coach.
“He appreciates the energy and how hard I played and my work ethic, honestly,” McCormack said of Self. “He definitely has talked to me a couple times saying it was really unfortunate with the matchups. I was very understanding. I know it’s part of the game. Being a freshman coming in having to play behind Doke, it’s going to have to be something I do. Regardless of the game, whether two minutes against Vermont or a minute here … regardless of how many minutes I play, I will play as hard as I possibly can.”
KU (3-0) will next meet (3-1) Marquette approximately 6:30 p.m. Central time Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The game will start 30 minutes after a 4 p.m. NIT Tip Off semifinal between Louisville (3-0) and Tennessee (3-0).
Gary Bedore
Gary Bedore covers University of Kansas athletics for The Star.
