KU’s Self impressed with Braun as a starter: ‘I don’t see any reason to take him out’
Kansas freshman guard Christian Braun made the most of his first collegiate start in scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in Monday’s 65-50 victory over Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
His solid effort, which included 4-of-8 three-point shooting, has likely earned him a second start Saturday against Texas Tech (3 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse), coach Bill Self said on Tuesday night’s Hawk Talk radio show.
“Well I am not going to say what we are positively going to do, but I don’t see any reason to take him out. As long as people are healthy and nothing negative happens, I think Christian will be a starter,” Self said of the 6-foot-6 Blue Valley Northwest graduate.
“It’s not that David (McCormack) lost his spot because of what occurred. That’s not it at all. It’s because our team has been playing better small.”
Sophomore power forward David McCormack, who started 17 of KU’s first 18 games, missed the past two contests following a Big 12 mandated suspension for his role in a melee at the end of the KU-Kansas State game on Jan. 21 in Allen Fieldhouse. Reserve big man Silvio De Sousa also has missed two games and will sit out 10 more, returning on March 7 in the Big 12 regular-season finale at Texas Tech.
“With limited depth inside,” Self said, “you don’t want to play them (McCormack and starting center Udoka Azubuike) together and have one of them get two fouls and all of a sudden, there’s your depth. You want to be able to have four fouls (to give) in the first half in that spot if at all possible.”
With just one big available the last two games, Self first started senior Isaiah Moss with Azubuike and starting guards Devon Dotson, Marcus Garrett and Ochai Agbaji in Saturday’s 74-68 home victory over Tennessee. Braun started in Moss’ spot against OSU. Moss scored two points vs. the Vols on 1-of-6 shooting. Braun had seven points on 2-of-8 shooting that game.
During Braun’s big game against the Cowboys, Moss came off the bench for 13 points on 3-of-8 three-point shooting.
“He’s played good enough to start, period,” Self said of Braun, who had 20 points off the bench in the win over K-State. “I didn’t really want to start him, not because of his age or anything. I thought Isaiah was a starter three years at Iowa. I thought maybe if he got a chance in that role it might help him with comfort or whatever. That didn’t really seem to happen in the game. It doesn’t mean it can’t moving forward. That didn’t really happen against Tennessee. Not that it’s a big deal, but it seems whatever role we put Christian in, he responds. Certainly we thought we’d try this. He responded.”
Braun has averaged 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds while logging 17.0 minutes a game in 20 games for the No. 3-ranked Jayhawks (17-3, 6-1). In Big 12 play, he’s averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds while being awarded 24 minutes a game. He’s made 13 of 25 threes in Big 12 games for 52 percent.
“He has kind of carried us shooting the ball from the perimeter,” Self said of Braun. “I think he deserves the opportunity. It’s not him just shooting, but him being tough and competitive. He is beyond his years from a poise standpoint. He doesn’t seem to get rattled very easily.”
Self definitely likes the four-guard lineup, which makes it logical for him at this time to separate bigs McCormack and Azubuike and not have them play together.
“Even though it worked out OK last night (in beating OSU), we don’t really have a threat to post or anything like that unless one of the bigs are in,” Self stated. “We can spread it and drive. It’s what we did semi-effectively the last two games. I think we’ll play much better playing four around one.”
Self praises Garrett
Self continues to be impressed by senior guard Marcus Garrett, who still is not 100% recovered from a left ankle injury. Garrett scored seven points with nine assists and eight rebounds in 34 minutes against OSU.
“He’s just a ballplaying dude,” Self said of the junior from Dallas. “Whatever we need done he’s always Johnny on the spot to attempt to do it. He’s been nicked up so much. Very rarely do we make excuses for our guys from an injury standpoint because if they are out there they should be producing or don’t be out there.
“He got nicked up last night. He’d never let anybody know anything’s going on (regarding injury). If you know him, you know if he’s not pressuring defensively, then there’s something going on with his ankle or toe. I’d like to see him 100%. It’d be nice to have him toward the end of the season where he can play where he’s not in any type of discomfort and can be 100%.”
Self said rest is planned until Thursday when the Jayhawks will start practicing hard for Tech.
“We took off today. We may even have to give him off tomorrow,” Self said. “That’s still two days to get ready for Saturday. If you win Monday, it’s nice to have the rest of the week (to watch others in league play).”
Self is catching Super Bowl fever this week
Self likes the Chiefs’ chances versus the 49ers.
“I think we’ll win Sunday. I do. I think it’s going to be hard though,” Self said Tuesday, referring to the Chiefs as “we.”
“I think the 49ers defense is pretty good. I don’t watch it as close as I’m sure some (do). I think we’re going to win because I think if the other team hangs 30, he (QB Patrick Mahomes) will figure out a way to hang 31. If the other team makes 40, he’ll figure out a way to hang 41. I think he’ll figure it out and everybody will, staff included.”
Asked about KC’s future with Mahomes, Self said: “I would believe two (Super Bowl titles) would be the minimum if he stays healthy. He may be a guy who could have Brady-type numbers or Montana-type numbers. He’s obviously that good. Isn’t that unbelievable for Kansas City to have that to look forward to the next 12 years or whatever? It’s great.”
