Dotson’s monster effort tops ratings, leads Kansas to road win at TCU

By Matt Tait     Feb 12, 2019

article image
TCU guard Desmond Bane (1) attempts to strip the ball away from Kansas guard Devon Dotson (11) as TCU head coach Jamie Dixon, right, watches in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

**1 – Devon Dotson -** Played all 45 minutes of a ruthless game and delivered a career-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists to lead KU to a much-needed win on the road.

**2 – Ochai Agbaji -** His first half set the tone for the Jayhawks to have success and his final numbers were reminiscent of what people have come to expect from the freshman who just keeps soaring – 20 points, 11 rebounds, 41 minutes.

**3 – K.J. Lawson -** Hit without question the two biggest shots of the game and was ready and willing to play hard and with a good attitude when the Jayhawks had to have him. Finished with 10 points in 16 minutes, but his impact was far greater than those numbers suggest.

**4 – Dedric Lawson -** It wasn’t his best game by any means, and TCU was not interested in letting that happen again after he hit them for 31 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting. Still, to grind it out and record yet another double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes was absolutely huge for Kansas, which showed it doesn’t have to have Dedric be Superman to win.

**5 – Mitch Lightfoot -** His energy from that home win over Oklahoma State last weekend carried over to Monday night and the Jayhawks all appear to be catching his drift. Had just 4 points and 6 boards in 22 minutes, but also blocked 3 shots and competed for every second he was on the floor.

**6 – Quentin Grimes -** Not his night shooting the ball, though he did hit one crucial second-half 3-pointer, but his 4 assists and just 1 turnover in 36 minutes were important on a night when KU needed to take care of the ball to survive.

**7 – David McCormack -** Made the second start of his career, hit a couple of big free throws and one big shot in the second half and also flashed the kind of ball-screen defense KU fans have become used to seeing from injured big man Udoka Azubuike. This could go down as a big game in McCormack’s development so getting the win was big for that, as well.

**8 – Charlie Moore -** Missed the 3 shots he attemped and turned it over twice in 13 minutes.

Season Standings:
———–

1 – Devon Dotson – 195

2 – Dedric Lawson – 187

3 – Lagerald Vick – 132

4 – Marcus Garrett – 125

5 – Quentin Grimes – 110

6 – Mitch Lightfoot – 87

7 – Charlie Moore – 70

8 – Ochai Agbaji – 69

9 – K.J. Lawson – 66

10 – David McCormack – 62

*Note: Injured center Udoka Azubuike had recorded 50 points through KU’s first 13 games of the season and freshman Ochai Agbaji did not start playing until Game 15. Senior Lagerald Vick left the team to take a leave of absence with no timetable two days before Game 24.*

PREV POST

Notebook: Marcus Garrett unable to play in front of familiar face after missing TCU game with ankle injury

NEXT POST

53112Dotson’s monster effort tops ratings, leads Kansas to road win at TCU

Author Photo

Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.