Dominant Udoka Azubuike impresses OSU coach after scoring 1,000th point in KU win
Oklahoma State basketball coach Mike Boynton pointed his left index finger to the rafters while conversing with Kansas senior center Udoka Azubuike in the handshake line following the 7-footer’s 19-point, 16-rebound effort in an 83-58 victory over the Cowboys on Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
“He said, ‘Keep doing what I’m doing. If I do that I’ll hang a banner in the fieldhouse.’ That’s what he said to me,” Azubuike revealed after hitting 6 of 7 shots from the field and 7 of 8 free throws.
Azubuike, a 42.3% free throw shooter who was extra motivated playing a college game in front of his brother, Chima Azuonwu, for the first time, was extremely accurate from the line in Monday’s win.
In fact, the 1,000th point of Azubuike’s KU career came on a free throw in the first half.
“If Udoka Azubuike is going to make all his free throws, they are going to win a national championship,” Boynton said of the Jayhawks (25-3, 14-1 Big 12), who ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll Monday following Saturday’s 64-61 win at Baylor.
“I told him … he’s one of the most improved players I’ve ever watched over a period of time. He’s put a lot of work in. He’s terrific. I’d be hard-pressed to find a better national player of the year candidate than he is. The way he’s playing now is pretty special. They have a different kind of fanbase here. They appreciate him. I don’t know if he’s appreciated (enough) nationally.”
Azubuike, who has been plagued by injuries in two of his four seasons at KU, scored his 999th point on a free throw that banked in with 10:20 left in the first half. His 1,000th point came on an ensuing free throw that swished and gave KU a 17-10 lead.
Azubuike is now the sixth KU player to score 1,000 points, grab 600 rebounds and block 150 shots in a career. The others: Danny Manning, Nick Collison, Scot Pollard, Eric Chenowith and Cole Aldrich. Collison was in the stands for Monday’s game.
“He’s the best defensive center we’ve had since I’ve been here,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Look at (Jeff) Withey, Cole (Aldrich) … he (Azubuike) is the best. He does things physically nobody else can.
“I think he’s gotten to the point where people recognize him for what he brings to the table athletically. If he plays to his athletic ability, that’s how he’ll get paid (in the NBA).”
Azubuike said it’s all about “taking pride in playing defense and rebounding the ball more, going after every ball.
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work into my game. It’s something I’ve worked all year on ... you don’t even see. All that hard work is just paying off for me. And I’m happy that I’m actually showing what all the hard work I’ve been putting in the offseason that they don’t see, it’s really paying off right now.”
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Sign upKU had five players score in double figures against OSU (14-14, 4-11) just two days after a victory at Baylor that vaulted KU into a tie with Baylor for first in the league standings.
Ochai Agbaji, who did not score at Baylor, finished with 15 points in 27 minutes. He hit 5 of 9 shots and was 2 of 6 from three on a night KU hit 10 of 28 threes to OSU’s 3 of 12.
Devon Dotson had 11 points and four assists, while Christian Braun hit 3 of 4 threes and scored 10 points. David McCormack also had 10 points, on 5-of-10 shooting. Isaiah Moss hit 3 of 6 threes and had nine points. Marcus Garrett had seven assists, five points, three boards and a steal in 31 minutes.
“It’s nice we were able to cut down the minutes on everybody,” Self said. Dotson played 27 minutes, Azubuike 27 minutes, Garrett 31 minutes and Agbaji 27 minutes.
“Guys are tired. That’s the least energy Devon has played in a game this year,” Self said. “No energy at all. He still played OK. It was an efficient win more than high octane.
“They are emotionally tired. A lot of teams are tired this time of year. We’ll take off tomorrow. We’ll do something Wednesday (in preparation for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m., game at Kansas State). Dot (Dotson), Doke (Azubuike), Marcus, Och (Agbaji) … I may sit them Wednesday too. We’ll wait and see how they are feeling. We’ve got to be prepared going to Manhattan Saturday.”
Azubuike said he’s having too much fun to think about being tired.
“This is my last year. It’s my last season,” he said. “Regardless of what’s going on, you’ve got to embrace it. I’ve just got the mindset I’m going to look back one day at this moment. The best thing to do is just cherish the moment. It’s basketball. You’ve just got to have fun regardless.”
Of KU moving to No. 1 in the polls, Self stated: “I do think we earned it. ... We put ourselves in a good position where, if we take care of business, we’re going to be in a favorable spot. But we’re a long way away from taking care of business.”
Game notes
KU leads the all-time series against Oklahoma State, 118-59. The Jayhawks have won the last five games between the teams after dropping four of seven. … KU won the first meeting between the schools this season, 65-50, on Jan. 27, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. … Bill Self is 21-10 versus his alma mater as KU coach. … KU is 54-12 on ESPN Big Monday in the 17-year Self era. KU is 32-0 in Big Monday games in Allen during the Self era. … The Jayhawks have won 18 straight Big Monday games overall. … Self is 705-214 in 27 seasons overall as a head coach (at KU, Illinois, Tulsa and Oral Roberts). His record at KU is 498-109 overall. … Kansas 2,299-862 all-time… OSU coach Mike Boynton is 2-5 versus KU.
Recruit Williams attends
Donovan Williams, a 6-5 senior shooting guard from North Star High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, attended Monday’s KU-OSU game as part of an unofficial recruiting visit.
Williams at one time was committed to Nebraska. He’s considering KU, Kansas State. Texas, Oklahoma State, Oregon and others. He’s ranked No. 128 in the recruiting Class of 2020 by Rivals.com.
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 10:15 PM.
