KU’s Azubuike sheds boot, will do ‘everything he can’ to heal in time for TCU game
Kansas senior center Udoka Azubuike removed the boot from his right foot on Monday, attempting to gain some mobility as Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Senior Night game against TCU approaches.
“He was in it basically the last 48 hours, came out of it and moved a little bit. He didn’t practice or anything,” KU basketball coach Bill Self said Monday night of the 7-footer from Delta, Nigeria, who sprained his ankle in the first half of Saturday’s 62-58 victory at Kansas State.
“We’ll see if he can do anything tomorrow (Tuesday). The status on him would still be considered ‘questionable probably at best’ for Wednesday. I know he really wants to try to go for a lot of reasons, also it being Senior Night … not too many guys spend four years in school to sit that one out. He’ll do everything he can to get back.”
Self said on Monday’s weekly Hawk Talk radio show that if Azubuike is healthy enough to play, he will not be on any minutes restriction.
“Obviously if he is hurting and not effective, I guess that could be the restriction,” Self said. “Nothing like that. It’s a sprained ankle (with no broken bones). X-rays were negative. He’ll do whatever he can do. If he’s effective he’ll play, if not effective he won’t play much. Even Doke just giving us some limited time I think would give everybody else a little bit of confidence.”
Whether he plays or not … Azubuike will speak to the fans after the contest. He and senior guard Isaiah Moss will each take turns giving traditional Senior Night speeches.
“He’ll be nervous. He’ll be too nervous probably to play well in the game,” Self said. “He’ll be nervous for the speech afterwards. That’s true with some (seniors). They’ll practice and practice and practice (the speech). I’m like, ‘Don’t worry. It’ll come. Let’s win.’
“He’ll want to play and hopefully his health will allow him to play. That’s the most important thing. He’ll do great in the postgame because he’ll speak from the heart.”
Self said Azubuike’s host parents from Florida, where he played high school ball, will attend. Self recalled days recruiting Azubuike at Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville.
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Sign up“When I first went down to watch him play I videoed him with my phone. I thought he looked like Shaq (O’Neal in the movie Blue Chips),” Self said.
“I thought, ‘This guy is a monster.’ I was so excited to coach him just because I thought he was so athletic. I probably remember him as a guy who came here as a youngster, (who had) barely turned 16, then to see how he’s matured over the last four years is remarkable. Then it’s also to see how discouraged he’s been through injuries (in two of his four seasons) and had years cut short. To always rally and come back better than he was the year before speaks volumes to his character. There’s not many out there with size who can impact a team more than he has. With Doke, we’ve got a chance to be pretty good. Without Doke, our team changes so much because of what he does defensively and how teams have to game plan for him. He’s been a true treat to work with.”
Moss, a graduate transfer from Chicago who played at the University of Iowa three seasons, will start his sixth straight game on Senior Night. Self said the 6-5 shooting guard’s parents will attend as well as some relatives who followed Moss to Lawrence for his senior year.
“He has six to seven relatives living in town that aren’t his parents. They came down here and wanted to see him play his last year (of college),” Self said. “They are so appreciative of the opportunities he’s had. I haven’t given them to him. He’s had to earn them. We’re very thankful he is here. If he was not here our team would look totally different, especially with the injuries we’ve had. If you told me before the season started Isaiah would play well (in certain games) and not make shots, I’d say, ‘How?’ Now he’s become a good defender. He’s made great progress in areas besides shooting the ball.”
Marcus Garrett update
KU junior guard Marcus Garrett was “hurting” in Saturday’s game at K-State because of a sore foot, Self said.
“It’s the same,” Self said. “It’s going to be the same the rest of the season. He’ll get healthy whenever the season is over. We don’t have a month to shut him down right now. He’ll play with it. He’s OK. He is in some discomfort though.”
Dotson a Cousy finalist
KU sophomore Devon Dotson has been named one of five finalists for the 2020 Bob Cousy point guard of the year award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday. Other finalists: Tre Jones, Duke; Markus Howard, Marquette; Payton Pritchard, Oregon and Malachi Flynn, San Diego State.
