Bill Self had a ‘good feeling’ about AJ Storr. Then, he played his best game for KU
It was no surprise that Zeke Mayo and Hunter Dickinson scored 24 and 23 points respectively and KJ Adams chipped in 15 more during Kansas’ 98-94 overtime victory over UCF in a second-round Big 12 Tournament contest Wednesday at T-Mobile Center.
After all, they’ve been regular starters and regular point producers for the Jayhawks, who in surviving UCF advanced into Thursday’s quarterfinal contest against Arizona.
The surprise contributor — at least to the large contingent of KU fans who were in the crowd of 15,431 — Wednesday had to be junior wing AJ Storr, the former second-team all-Big Ten pick from Wisconsin who erupted for a KU-career-best 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting (3-of-5 from 3).
Storr had scored in double figures in just two regular-season Big 12 games. His previous KU high was 16 points against Oakland early in the nonconference season.
“Well, I think I was told by a third party today, ‘I’ve got a good feeling about AJ Storr,’ and I actually agreed with him,’’’ KU coach Bill Self said, noting he was not stunned by the scoring spree of Storr.
The Jayhawks improved to 21-11 overall.
Self declined to reveal the third-party predictor when asked by The Star who had the accurate crystal ball in an interview outside the winners locker room.
“No, I didn’t sense anything different today,” Self stated. “He had a good shootaround. I told him at shootaround I thought he’d get a double-double tonight. He didn’t do that. But certainly he scored the ball really well.
“We didn’t do anything different from a substitution deal, but he was obviously one of the better players in the game without question. We needed his offense, so he was big for us tonight. We don’t win the game without him.”
Storr, a 6-7 native of Rockford, Illinois, entered the Big 12 Tournament with five total points in the last four games.
“I didn’t do anything different,” Storr said. “I woke up today, got something to eat, did have a good shootaround and waited a long time for the game (8:30 p.m. start).”
Asked how it felt to have perhaps his breakout game as a Jayhawk, he said: “It felt good. I’m just happy we walked out with a ‘W.’ It was a heck of a game. I’m looking forward to the rest of the tournament.”
Storr said his offensive production increased dramatically because “I just started off downhill. I saw the ball go in couple times and I stepped out to the 3 and then it was money, so…”
He was asked if it was a “relief” or a feeling of “happiness” to contribute big-time in the single-elimination tournament.
“I’m just focusing on the next game, just looking forward to winning it,” Storr said of the game against the Arizona Wildcats (8:30 p.m., Thursday).
Storr’s teammates insist they knew he was capable of putting up a 19-point outing.
“I thought he did fantastic. We’ve known that he could score the ball like that. This was a great game for him, a coming-out party for sure. We needed every bucket,” said guard Zeke Mayo, who was 5-for-7 from 3 and 7-of-8 from the line. “As long as he stays aggressive I’m sure we will live with the results.”
Point guard Dajuan Harris (six points, seven assists) has been encouraging Storr to “stay aggressive.”
“He kept believing in himself. He was ready to go tonight and it showed. We’re all proud of him,” Harris said. “Anybody on our team can go off, it just depends who is having that night.
“He was having that night. We’re very proud of him having his best game in a Kansas uniform.”
Can he keep it up?
“For sure. If he keeps his hand hot like he has been doing and be ready to shoot like he was tonight,” Harris said.
Noted junior guard Rylan Griffen, who did not score in 18 minutes: “AJ played with confidence. He played aggressive and I’m very very proud of him.”
