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Articles by Udoka Azubuike
Men's Basketball | Senior CLASS Award
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The case for Kansas center Udoka Azubuike as national player of the year is building with teammates and opponents alike | Tale of the Tait
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike is doubled teamed by Oklahoma State guard Isaac Likekele (13) and Oklahoma State guard Lindy Waters III (21) during the first half on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 at Allen Fieldhouse. by Nick Krug To hear his teammates tell it, Kansas senior Udoka Azubuike is on some kind of a hot streak at the moment, with five double-doubles in his last seven games and back-to-back monster showings in KU’s two most recent victories.
Ochai Agbaji follows rare scoreless outing with 'aggressive' offensive approach | Smithology
Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji (30) moves in to the bucket against Oklahoma State guard Jonathan Laurent (1) during the first half on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 at Allen Fieldhouse. by Nick Krug A supporting starter for the No. 1-ranked team in the country, Ochai Agbaji often blends in more than he stands out. That doesn’t mean his head coach, Bill Self, wants Agbaji playing passively on offense.
No. 3 Kansas beat TCU for head coach Bill Self's 700th career win
XFL on TSN: Seattle Dragons vs. D.C. Defenders Now on TSN3 NCAA Basketball: Florida vs. Ole Miss Now on TSN1 NCAA Basketball: (13) West Virginia vs. Oklahoma Now on TSN2 PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Third Round Now on TSN4 and TSN5 NCAA Basketball: Virginia vs.
Notebook: Hudy returns to Allen Fieldhouse, Dotson named Big 12 player of the week for third time
Although Monday’s 69-58 Kansas victory over Texas marked KU’s ninth consecutive win over the Longhorns inside Allen Fieldhouse, this particular game had a much different feel than the others. For the first time since leaving KU in the offseason to join Shaka Smart’s Texas staff, former KU strength coach Andrea Hudy made her return to Lawrence, this time as member of the visiting team, suiting up in a different locker room and sitting at the opposite end of James Naismith Court.
No. 3 Kansas wins battle of big men with 69-58 victory over Texas
The story of the game between third-ranked Kansas and visiting Texas on the aptly named Big Monday at Allen Fieldhouse was the battle of the big men. Sophomore David McCormack started in place of KU senior Udoka Azubuike and both had their hands full with Texas junior Jericho Sims – when he was in there. The result, on a gritty, physical evening in the Big 12, was a game that threw away all concerns about style and morphed into a battle of which team could simply survive.
No. 1 Kansas holds off No. 10 Michigan State in opener
No. 1 Kansas holds off No. 10 Michigan State in opener INDIANAPOLIS — Quentin Grimes scored 21 points in his college debut and Dedric Lawson added 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 1 Kansas past No. 10 Michigan State 92-87 in the season-opening Champions Classic on Tuesday. The Jayhawks won their third straight in one of college basketball's premier events. Michigan State was led by Joshua Langford with 18 points and Kenny Goins with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Udoka Azubuike on injured knee: 'Obviously not 100 percent, but I'm getting there' | KUsports Video
OMAHA, Neb. — Udoka Azubuike's knee brace served as a reminder he's not completely healed from a left knee injury he suffered before the Big 12 tournament. However, the 7-foot, 280-pound Delta, Nigeria-native gave a relatively positive outlook when asked how he was feeling. "It's feeling better, way better than I was last week," Azubuike said. "Yeah, I'm ready." Azubuike said he couldn't put a percentage on how healthy he felt, but he did note things are moving in the right direction.
Tigers always trust Brownell's preparation will give them chance to win
Omaha, Neb. — Through the course of any given season, when Clemson coach Brad Brownell isn’t preparing his Tigers for the next opponent on their schedule, he inevitably checks in on other college basketball games. During the past several months it wasn’t uncommon for Brownell to find himself watching Kansas, his Tigers’ Sweet 16 opponent Friday night at CenturyLink Center. “I’ve seen them because they're on TV so much. And again I watch games a lot.
Clemson big Elijah Thomas ready to battle KU's Udoka Azubuike
Omaha, Neb. — As well as Clemson’s starting guards Shelton Mitchell, Gabe DeVoe and Marcquise Reed have played on the perimeter, directing the program to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1997, the Tigers think their starting center could hold the key to toppling Kansas. A 6-foot-9, 237-pound junior, Elijah Thomas might not possess the height or bulk of the Jayhawks’ 7-foot, 280-pound Udoka Azubuike.
Notebook: Guard-heavy attacks will be key for both KU and Clemson
Omaha, Neb. — In the first round, it was upset-minded 16 seed Penn. In the second, it was monster power forward Angel Delgado. It's true that things are supposed to get harder as the NCAA Tournament moves along. And that may still prove to be the case for top-seeded Kansas. But even if Friday's Sweet 16 showdown with fifth-seeded Clemson turns out to be a duel to the death, the Jayhawks figure to be much more comfortable with this matchup than the two that got them here. The reason?
Blue Devils not surprised to see Tigers reach Sweet 16 | Smithology
Omaha, Neb. – Their teams only squared off once this season in the ACC, but Duke’s players left their lone encounter with Clemson impressed by the Tigers. Ahead of Clemson’s Sweet 16 matchup with Kansas, a pair of potential Blue Devils lottery picks shared their thoughts about one of the ACC’s lesser-known basketball commodities.
Tom Keegan: Udoka encouraged by pace of knee recovery
Omaha, Neb. — The moment Kansas center Udoka Azubuike earned 100 percent credibility on the topic of the fitness of his left knee was the moment he answered the question as to whether he had recovered 100 percent. “Obviously, not 100 percent, but I’m getting there,” Azubuike said from his locker chair. He had no reason to lie. He’s feeling a lot better, and is encouraged enough by the truth that he need not resort to trying to convince himself he’s better off than he really is.
KU's Lagerald Vick riding high heading into NCAA Tournament's second weekend
Omaha, Neb. — When it comes to assessing the reason why the top-seeded Kansas basketball team is still alive this postseason and set to take on Clemson on Friday night at CenturyLink Center, plenty of things come to mind. The emergence of Malik Newman and quick recovery of Udoka Azubuike's injured left knee sit at the top of the list. The veteran play and presence provided by point guard Devonte' Graham and sharp-shooter Svi Mykhailiuk also has received some attention.
1 or 11: It's up to Jayhawks how many days are left in their season | Smithology
Omaha, Neb. — As top-seeded Kansas enters its Sweet 16 matchup with Clemson, a board on a wall inside the Jayhawks’ locker room back home feels more relevant than ever. Sometimes it is referenced, other times just thought of but unmentioned. Either way, it has been on the minds of KU’s players this week. The essence of the board inside Allen Fieldhouse traveled easily to CenturyLink Center.
Udoka Azubuike on matching WVU’s intensity, beating the Mountaineers | KUsports Video
Kansas sophomore center Udoka Azubuike came through on both ends of the floor for the Jayhawks in a 77-69 victory over West Virginia Saturday night at Allen Fieldhouse. After providing 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting and blocking three WVU shots (two in the final three minutes), Azubuike explained how he approached what his coach Bill Self labeled a “big-boy game” for the sophomore 7-footer. “You’ve got to match their intensity,” Azubuike said of the Mountaineers. “If not, they’re gonna blow you out.
Cole Aldrich calls jersey retirement ceremony 'really humbling'
With his wife, Britt, by his side, and his dad, Walt, and brother, Grant, there to support him, as well — dad decked out in a No. 45 Kansas basketball T-Shirt, no less — former Kansas big man Cole Aldrich returned to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday for the moment of a lifetime.
Coming up big: Udoka Azubuike helps Jayhawks rally past WVU
After Kansas sophomore Udoka Azubuike dropped 21 points in 31 minutes to help lead the Jayhawks to a wild, 77-69, comeback victory over West Virginia on Saturday evening at Allen Fieldhouse, one of the most popular questions tossed KU's way was whether the game was the best of Azubuike's still-young career. As is so often the case, KU coach Bill Self delivered the best answer, tying in Saturday's celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the 2008 national title team to emphasize his point.
Tom Keegan: Bob Huggins' frustrations erupt in late-game ejection
West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins cooled down almost as quickly as he flipped his lid in a way that earned him back-to-back technical fouls and an ejection with eight seconds remaining in Saturday night’s game in Allen Fieldhouse. Shortly after Kansas had finished its 77-69 come-from-behind victory against West Virginia, Huggins was seated in a folding chair in front of the visiting radio crew’s court-side table. From there, he went into the media room to take questions.
Bill Self talks about 'home-court advantage,' Udoka Azubuike and more following win over UK
It wasn’t quite Allen Fieldhouse, but KU coach Bill Self still felt the support of a pro-KU crowd at United Center on Tuesday night. “There would be a lot of people in the state of Illinois that would not want me to think (this was home) at all, even though it’s been 15 years” Self joked. “But our fanbase is unbelievable.” In front of a vocal KU contingent, the No. 4-ranked Jayhawks defeated No. 7 Kentucky, 65-61, to improve to 2-0 on the year.
KU coach Bill Self confident freshman forward Billy Preston will be back but unsure of when
Chicago — Shortly after his team survived a scare from seventh-ranked Kentucky despite using basically just six players, Kansas coach Bill Self offered a little more information into the traffic incident that kept freshman forward Billy Preston in street clothes.
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