How ‘Batman’ came through for KU basketball in its win over Oklahoma
Before we talk about the first-half missed layup — the one that led to Kansas sealing Tuesday’s 66-52 victory over Oklahoma — it’s best to put what Marcus Garrett did Tuesday in perspective.
This was a game KU had to have him. Starting point guard Devon Dotson was out with a hip injury. Garrett is the team’s backup at the position ... and behind him was only Christian Braun, a freshman who — for good reason — does not yet have full knowledge of the playbook at that spot.
Garrett, meanwhile, has hurt both of his ankles in the last month. He tweaked the left one Saturday against Baylor, and though he felt good in warmups Tuesday, he admitted the soreness crept up again once the game started.
“I had the mindset going in,” Garrett said, “I was going to have to play a lot.”
So how did it turn out? Garrett played 38 minutes, scored 15 points, was KU’s best penetrator on offense and also had five assists with one turnover.
“He’s a stud,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Say what you want to. He doesn’t make his free throws. He doesn’t shoot the ball a great percentage, all that stuff. All he does is just win and give you a chance to win.”
Self also noticed something subtle about Garrett before the game. While the junior hated that his team had to play without Dotson, he also loved the opportunity he’d have to be the team’s point guard.
“I think that was big for him,” Self said, “to show that he could be Batman.”
He certainly did that at a crucial time Tuesday.
Garrett had always been a point guard in high school, but he had rarely been asked to play the position at this level. Going in, his main focus was to take care of the ball and run the team.
It’s a more difficult task given his own circumstances. Garrett is one of KU’s top defenders, meaning he’s already expending a lot of energy on that end.
Teammate Christian Braun still saw Garrett playing his typical defensive role Tuesday while also taking on the added responsibility of initiating offense.
“It takes a lot, especially to do that on one leg,” Braun said. “I guess half a leg, because it’s both ankles (he’s hurt).”
Self offered another compliment, saying Garrett “controlled the game.” The guard also gave comfort to those who wondered what KU might look like in the future without Dotson.
“It was a time that he could show that he could be our point guard,” Self said of Garrett. “There’s no doubt who our point guard will be next year. You’ve got he and Dajuan (Harris), that’s a pretty good tandem.”
Which brings us back to the missed layup — and the types of plays that are difficult to appreciate in real time but still reflect Garrett’s value.
In the first half, on a clear-out play, Garrett drove to the rim and missed a close shot. But he also picked up a detail that would help KU on one of its biggest possessions ahead.
Garrett realized how Oklahoma was defending this action, with Isaiah Moss’ defender coming up the floor to a spot where it was impossible to make a kickout pass for a three.
Self called the same play during the last media timeout with 2:52 left. And Garrett called an audible based on his previous read, talking to Moss during the break.
“I told him to start in the corner,” Garrett said, “and once I drove to come up, so he’d be wide open.”
A few seconds later, it all went as Garrett envisioned: Clear out. Drive. Defensive help. Moss moving up from the deep corner. Open passing lane.
Moss caught the pass from Garrett and hit the three, pushing KU’s lead to 12 and essentially ending all hopes of an Oklahoma comeback.
On the bench, Self stood up and pumped both fists in jubilation.
He was proud of his team’s starting point guard — a year ahead of that title becoming official.
