Mike Maddox doesn’t mind playing with his back to the basket.
“I feel really comfortable there,” said Kansas’ 6-8 freshman, referring to the paint, a spot he occupied part-time during the Jayhawks’ 73-62 Big Eight basketball win over Colorado on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
“I played there some in high school. I was having fun.”
Maddox realizes coach Larry Brown had little choice but to let the frosh roam the middle versus the Buffs.
With senior Danny Manning saddled with foul problems, frosh Mike Masucci on the bench in street clothes, recovering from the mild concussion he sustained Wednesday against Oklahoma and Marvin Branch out as an academic casualty, Maddox was the man.
Brown’s only other choice would have been Sean Alvarado, the redshirt who the KU coach is considering inserting for the remainder of the season.
“I tried to step forward with Danny in foul trouble,” said Maddox. “It’s tough right now with our numbers. People are falling out all the time. There was nobody else to put in.”
Maddox knows he was somewhat of a last resort.
“It’s just part of being a member of a team,” Maddox said. “Everybody has to step forward and assume responsibility when the time comes. That’s why you have 15 players. When it’s time, you get in there and play hard.”
Maddox showed promises in various areas Saturday. In the lane, he waved his arms frantically and demanded the basketball. On a wing, he fired a pinpoint inside pass to Danny Manning, who scored easily. He also accepted a feed from Manning and scored on a driving layup.
In short…
“He looked like he belonged out there,” Kansas coach Larry Brown said.
Naturally, the Oklahoma City native, who played 19 minutes Saturday, would enjoy similar amounts of playing time in Wednesday’s encounter at Oklahoma State.
“It’ll be a lot of fun. I’ve got relatives who will be at the game,” said Maddox. “I have a lot of friends who go to Oklahoma State. It’ll be great playing there. Hopefully we’ll play well.”
Maddox is quite familiar with one Cowboy – freshman Richard Dumas. The 6-7 forward, perhaps the Big Eight’s top freshman player, scored 17 points in Saturday’s stunning 80-78 overtime victory at Iowa State.
“We played against him in the state final game,” said Maddox. His Putnam City North squad fell to Dumas’ Tulsa Washington team in Tulsa.
“They beat us by nine,” Maddox explained. “It was tied at halftime, but they came out and built a nine-point lead in the third quarter.
“They were tough. It was their fourth state title in a row.”
Both athletes played well in the finale.
“I had 23 points and 15 rebounds. He had something like 12 points and eight rebounds,” Maddox said.
“I also guarded him in an all-star game last summer and played with Richard on an AAU team the summer before my senior year. We won the national title for 17 and under. He’s a great athlete. He can jump out of the gym. We’re good friends. It’ll be fun seeing him.”
Maddox respects Okie State’s program. The Cowboys are 12-8 overall, 3-3 in the Big Eight. KU, in comparison, is 13-8, 2-4.
“They recruited me,” said Maddox. “One of the considerations was they had a building program. They have a good, young team.”
Maddox doesn’t expect boos Wednesday.
“When I announced I was coming to Kansas, there were 500 people at the press conference,” Maddox said. “My friends applauded. The Kansas basketball program is respected in Oklahoma so much. The people felt happy for me, I don’t think they resented me.”
