Remy Martin converts big three as Kansas Jayhawks basketball beats Stephen F. Austin
Kansas senior guard Remy Martin made the kind of shot during crunch time on Saturday night that Big 12 coaches likely envisioned when they named the former Arizona State standout the conference’s preseason player of the year.
“Remy’s had a lot of good moments. None as big as that one,” KU senior forward Mitch Lightfoot said, commenting on Martin’s huge straight-on three-point basket that gave KU a six-point lead with 34 seconds left in the No. 7-ranked Jayhawks’ narrow 80-72 victory over mid-major Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
“That was kind of, quote unquote, the dagger,” Lightfoot added. “He lined it up, made a big-time shot. I’m sure Coach (Bill Self) would have loved a better shot. But as hard as they (the 8-4 Lumberjacks) played defensively, they wouldn’t let us get one that possession.”
The Lumberjacks wouldn’t creep closer than four points after Martin’s deep three as sophomore point guard Dajuan Harris went 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to keep KU comfortably ahead.
As good as point guard Harris was in hitting the late free throws and dishing four assists in 25 minutes despite battling a flu bug that Self said definitely was NOT Covid-19 related, it was Martin’s shot that had 16,300 fans buzzing.
Lightfoot and Christian Braun (21 points, six rebounds) marveled at Martin’s “dagger.”
“He’s a gamer. He’s the reason we won the game at the end,” Lightfoot said after scoring six points with six boards and two blocks in 26 minutes. Starting big man David McCormack played just 10 minutes, scoring two points with no boards.
“Remy plays his butt off, enables us to play with confidence and gives us the swagger we need,” Lightfoot added.
Braun said: “It was good to see him hit the big shot. It’s plays we know he can make, plays he’s made through his career (four years at Arizona State). It’s more of the stuff Remy does. It’s who he is. I could see more of that moving forward.”
Martin likes the fact he cashed a big three but was not impressed with his line: 15 points on 3-of-10 shooting (2 of 5 from three, 7 of 9 from free-throw line), with four assists, two turnovers, two steals and one board in 36 minutes.
“I know the team relies on me for certain things as far as being a leader. I let them down a couple times,” Super Senior combo guard Martin said, noting he celebrated after hitting that big three and as a result his man scored a layup seconds later on the other end.
“My energy in the first half (KU led by seven at halftime) wasn’t there. I’ve got to do a better job with that and be better for my guys,” Martin stated.
He was huge in icing the three down the stretch, however.
On the key possession, Ochai Agbaji (18 points, five boards, four turnovers) missed a three with 55 seconds left and KU up by three. Braun grabbed the rebound and eventually fed Martin.
“Shot clock … by the time the ball got back to me it was going to be six seconds, five seconds left,” Martin said. “I just wanted to make a play. My mindset was trying to make a basket. My teammates trusted me. C.B. trusted me. I’m just happy the shot went in and we got the win.”
He did not agree with a reporter’s assertion the shot may have been his “defining moment” as a Jayhawk.
“I wouldn’t say defining moment, but I think about things coach was telling me. I made the three but got scored on seconds later. Little stuff like that I’ve got to be better at. I’m thinking a little too much. I’ve got to go out and play the game. I will try to be better for my teammates. Scoring the ball and big shots … those will come. My effort and attitude has to be there all the time,” Martin noted.
Self gave an interesting critique of Martin after KU’s ninth win in 10 games.
“He’s a winner but not always making winning plays,” Self said, assessing Martin’s night as “good and bad.”
“He made a big three and celebrated and his man (David Kachelries, 18 points, five assists; big man Gavin Kensmil had 16 points, 12 boards, seven assists, seven turnovers) went right around him for a layup. He had an uncontested layup that was two points. He stopped to try to jump off two feet to try and get an and-one at game point instead of just taking the two points. He made the two free throws (but) those aren’t winning plays,” Self added.
“I am thrilled we have him, thrilled he made the shot and thrilled he made his free throws late. We wouldn’t have won the game without him. There are things he has to tighten up. We all do,” Self added, pointing to three missed uncontested dunks in the contest.
The Jayhawks will next meet Colorado at 8 p.m. Central time Tuesday in Boulder, Colorado.
Health update
Self said sophomore point guard Harris had an upset stomach during the week but was able to practice Friday and Harris insisted he could play Saturday. Self called Harris the “player of the game” for the Jayhawks.
Freshman forward KJ Adams also was ill. He attended but did not suit up for the game. And assistant coach Kurtis Townsend missed the game while under the weather.
Self stressed none of the illnesses were COVID-19 related in any way.
“KJ hasn’t felt well in a couple days,” Self said. “I’m not saying we got a bug going through our team, but this has been a weird week for us with finals and guys not feeling well. KJ ... I’m hoping he may be ready to go by Colorado. Kurtis has a viral infection. Hopefully he’ll be back in a day or two we thought it’d be best to stay away. None of it is COVID-related.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 9:24 PM.
