KU guard Agbaji nears major milestone in Jayhawks’ 88-59 victory over Stony Brook
Kansas senior guard Ochai Agbaji has something to look forward to besides Thanksgiving dinner, Mickey Mouse sightings and three basketball games at the upcoming ESPN Events Invitational tournament.
“1,000 in Florida,” Agbaji, KU’s 6-foot-5 guard from Kansas City, proclaimed after scoring 25 points in the Jayhawks’ 88-59 victory over Stony Brook of the America East Conference on Thursday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
His third straight 20-plus scoring outing to start the season for the (3-0) No. 3-ranked Jayhawks, upped his career scoring tally to 999 points in his four-year Jayhawk career.
“I was hoping he could get it at home,” KU coach Bill Self said of point No. 1,000. “Not that it’s a huge deal. He’ll have to wait ’til Orlando to get it.”
Kissimmee, Florida, just south of Orlando, is site of Thursday’s first-round Events Invitational contest against North Texas. The tourney will be played at Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.
Self did his part to try to get Agbaji his 1,000th point at home.
First he took Agbaji out of the game for a breather down the stretch with KU enjoying a comfortable lead.
“When they told me that (he’d hit 999 points), I put him back in (with 4:49 to play and KU up 81-52) and I told him to shoot it,” Self explained. “He didn’t shoot it, came off (a screen) and gave Zach (Clemence, 11 points all second half) a basket. Then he was like, ‘Why do you want me to shoot it?’ I said, ‘You’ve got 999 points. He shot one up (three-point try at 3:24). It didn’t go in. I told him, ‘You are only going to get one more chance.”
Self removed Agbaji from the game for good with 2:48 left to give others a chance to play and show good sportsmanship toward Stony Brook (0-2) with KU up by 29 points late.
“Coach told me during the timeout if I didn’t shoot he’d take me out. So he a ran couple sets for me. I unfortunately didn’t get it,” Agbaji said, immediately looking at the bright side, that he can hit 1,000 in Florida over KU’s holiday trip.
KU has had 62 players throughout history score 1,000 points in a career, including 16 in the 19-year Self era.
Agbaji has been off to a torrid start. On Thursday, he scored 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting (4-of-11 from three) with three assists, two steals and four rebounds in 31 minutes.
He had 29 points in the opener against Michigan State and 25 versus Tarleton State.
Agbaji’s 79 points rank second in the country after three games. Antonio Reeves of Illinois State has scored 29, 32 and 19 in three games for 80 points. Also, Agbaji’s 79 points are most by a Jayhawk through three games of a season since at least 2010. Frank Mason had 69 points in the first three games in 2016-17.
“I don’t know I envisioned him leading the country in scoring which I think he is,” Self said. “He’s prepared to have a good start to the year. He’s playing with confidence. I think that first game (25 vs. Spartans at Champions Classic) did wonders for his overall confidence. He’s not forcing anything. He’s playing within himself. He’s very efficient.”
Self continued praising Agbaji during the coach’s postgame interview session with the media.
“I don’t think he is hunting shots,” Self said. “I hope he can average 19 a game like Devonté (Graham) or 20 a game like Frank (Mason). I think we are a long ways from being at that level over the course of a season.
“He looks like a pro out there to me, looks really good. You can also go back and say, ‘He’s shot one free throw the last two games (1 of 1 Thursday), too. He has to do a better job of drawing fouls. Getting 25 and he didn’t shoot it well. Those are positive signs.”
Agbaji acknowledged he’s having a lot of fun to open his final season at KU.
“My focus was on being consistent,” Agbaji said. “I’m focusing on that more than anything, not going out with a total in mind about points or anything like that, just being assertive and consistent. I’m being that.”
He had 10 points the first half Thursday as KU held a narrow 38-32 lead at halftime. He had 10 points the first 3 1/2 minutes of the second half as KU pulled away.
“The guys told me, ‘It’s a new half. Shots are going to fall.’ I wasn’t hesitant for any of those shots I was taking,” Agbaji said. “I love my team. The newcomers are coming along, doing all we can ask of them.”
On Thursday, senior transfer Remy Martin tweaked his back and did not score in 18 minutes. He was 0 for 2 shooting with four rebounds and two assists. Self said the injury was not believed to be serious.
Kansas freshman Clemence had 11 points in 12 minutes, while Jalen Coleman-Lands had seven points, Bobby Pettiford four points, four rebounds and three assists. David McCormack scored 12 points with eight rebounds. Christian Braun had 11 points and Dajuan Harris six assists. Also Mitch Lightfoot had six points and Joe Yesufu five points and three boards.
Agbaji for the third straight game was the story.
“I feel if he keeps playing like that we’ll be a really good team,” Harris said. “My job is to get him open shots. If I can do that, I feel we’ll be a good team, too.”
“That’s a freak athlete, a great player there for sure,” Clemence said. “He’s got to keep being better, too. He’s a great guy, a calm guy. There are moments he’ll get going, rebounds, steals, assists (to go with points). He’s that guy.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 9:26 PM.
