Former KU basketball center Ernest Udeh says he’s ‘ready’ to face his former team
Former Kansas basketball big man Ernest Udeh raced to the corner from his spot in the paint and extended his right hand as high as his 6-foot-11, 260-pound frame would allow. He rejected Jayden Nunn’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer to preserve TCU’s 74-71 come-from-behind victory against Baylor on Sunday in Waco, Texas.
The rejection came four seconds after TCU junior Udeh set a screen for guard Brendan Wenzel, who broke free for a 3 that snapped a 71-71 tie and propelled the Horned Frogs to a victory.
The win brought TCU to 3-3 in Big 12 Conference play and 10-7 overall heading into Wednesday’s game against Udeh’s former school, KU (13-4, 4-2). Tipoff is 6 p.m. with a live broadcast on ESPN2.
“One thing thing I can say about my guys, the moment is never too bright for us. We stay composed, trust our stuff, trust what we run,” Udeh said after scoring 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting (6-of-8 from line) and grabbing 15 rebounds with four blocked shots in 32 minutes against the Bears.
Asked what the Horned Frogs could take from the exciting win over then-No. 25 Baylor (11-6, 3-3) into the game against No. 12 KU, Udeh said: “Understand the things that we did well. Understand the things that we didn’t do well, rest up and get ready to play great basketball. Defend home court.”
Udeh grinned when asked by a reporter if the opportunity to play KU was “special” to him. He averaged 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.3 minutes a game for the Jayhawks in 2022-23.
“What (do) you think?” Udeh said. “I’m ready for Wednesday.”
TCU played against KU once a year ago, Udeh’s first season with the Horned Frogs. A starter as a sophomore, he had two points, four rebounds and one blocked shot in the Frogs’ narrow 83-81 loss in Allen Fieldhouse.
For the year, Udeh, a native of Orlando who decided to enter the portal in response to big man Hunter Dickinson’s decision to transfer to KU from Michigan, averages 7.9 points and 8.3 rebounds.
Udeh — he starts and averages 28.1 minutes per game — has made 42 of 69 shots for 60.9%. He has cashed 35 of 62 free throws for 56.5%. He has a team-leading 25 blocked shots.
“It’s huge,” Udeh said of rebounding. “When you get a board, you eliminate second-hand shots for the opponent. Most likely when you win the rebound battle you are going to win the game, and again my teammates know what I bring to the team.
“They trust me every night, expect me and hold me to a standard of basically shooting for 20 rebounds every time I step on the floor. Me coming up with the numbers I did on the glass (at Baylor on Sunday) was huge for us. Regarding any aspect other than that, I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do and what I can for my team to help us get a win,” he added.
Udeh was pleased he was able to fare well from the line, missing just two of his eight attempts against BU.
“One thing everybody has told me is to stay aggressive,” Udeh said. “... Going to the charity stripe and knocking down the amount of free throws I did, staying composed, is something I also work on very hard. I take that to heart. It (free throw shooting) is something I work on behind closed doors. Staying composed allowed me to be aggressive on the glass on the boards.”
Regarding playing against KU, Udeh told The Star last season he’d remained close to Dajuan Harris and some others. At KU during his one season (2022-23) he also was a teammate of current Jayhawks Zach Clemence, KJ Adams, Dillon Wilhite and Wilder Evers.
“The guys I played with last year, the relationships I built, the bonds with their families … I always talk to these guys. It’s always love,” Udeh said a year ago to The Star.
KU coach Bill Self spoke of Udeh on Monday’s Hawk Talk radio show.
“Ernest had 16 and 15 against Baylor, probably his best game of his career,” Self said. “Ernest was great (at KU). We didn’t want him to leave. But we also had Hunt coming. He (Udeh) was good enough to be a starter. He’s a true 5-man like Hunt. We are happy for Ernest when he does well against other teams, not against us.”
TCU coach Jamie Dixon said of Udeh, who helped the Frogs overcome a 12-point deficit vs. BU: “We need Ernest. Ernest is key. He was under the weather last game and we got a loss (to Utah at home, 73-65). It’s critical. If you look at him, he didn’t score much in AAU, in high school, didn’t play at all at Kansas. Every minute I think he can get a little better at something.”
