Nick KrugCliff Alexander was the last Kansas University scholarship freshman and the last of the Jayhawk big men to enter Tuesday’s exhibition game against Emporia State.
“Just because I think those other guys probably deserved to play more based on the last couple practices,” coach Bill Self said after KU’s 109-56 rout of the Hornets.
The 6-foot-8 Chicago native, who scored 12 points and grabbed six boards in 13 minutes, did have quite a second-half flurry.
Alexander flushed a 1-handed slam off a perfect pass from Wayne Selden, then downed a 2-handed dunk off a feed from Perry Ellis — and after blocking the shot of Terrence Moore — ripped home another one-handed dunk off a feed from Frank Mason III and flexed for the fans. On the next possession he hit a jumper.
That flurry of a block and eight straight points stretched a 65-34 lead to 73-34.
“I was happy for him. He had the building going crazy,” junior Jamari Traylor said after scoring nine points off 4-of-4 shooting and grabbing five rebounds in 18 minutes. “I don’t think it got as loud up until that point. It’s what he can bring to the table. He’s a dog. He will work hard. He will run hard in transition. He can block shots. I was happy for him to get those plays he did.”
