Azubuike earns top spot after dominant night vs. ETSU

By Matt Tait     Nov 19, 2019

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Kansas center Udoka Azubuike (35) elevates to stuff a shot by East Tennessee State guard Bo Hodges (3) during the second half on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 at Allen Fieldhouse.

**1 – Udoka Azubuike -** The big fella was fantastic in every way, imposing his will on the overmatched Buccaneers and finishing with 21 eye-popping points on 10-of-13 shooting. His blend of patience and power was a sight to behold.

**2 – Devon Dotson -** Started the game off with a bang, attacking the basket, being a pest on defense and helping Kansas deliver an early punch from which ETSU never fully recovered. Also hit 6 of 6 from the free throw line en route to a 19-point night.

**3 – Tristan Enaruna -** So smooth already and getting smoother by the game. His length, poise and all-around ability make him a serious weapon that can strike when opponents have their hands full with Dotson, Azubuike and the rest of the KU starting five. Tallied 4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in 24 minutes.

**4 – Marcus Garrett -** Made 4 of 6 shots, dished three assists and swiped 3 steals. Would have made a push for the No. 3 spot if not for those 3 turnovers on his line.

**5 – Silvio De Sousa -** Bill Self said De Sousa contributed as much to KU winning down the stretch as anybody. That’s two pretty strong outings in a row for the KU forward who got off to a slow start to the season.

**6 – David McCormack -** Back in the starting lineup, McCormack played 12 minutes and scored four points and grabbed three rebounds. Not bad but nothing like we saw from him off the bench last Friday night.

**7 – Ochai Agbaji -** Another off shooting night has Agbaji 3 for 17 in his past two games. He played 34 minutes and he played hard. The shot’s just not falling right now. That’ll change soon enough.

**8 – Isaiah Moss -** Scored just two points in 17 minutes, but, more glaringly, had two pretty bad turnovers on a night he took just two shots.

**9 – Christian Braun -** Played eight minutes and had little to show for it. Remains a work in progress but is definitely capable and still worthy of real minutes.

Season Standings
———–

T1 – Devon Dotson – 30

T1 – Udoka Azubuike – 30

3 – Marcus Garrett – 25

4 – David McCormack – 24

5 – Tristan Enaruna – 22

T6 – Isaiah Moss – 17

T6 – Ochai Agbaji – 17

8 – Silvio De Sousa – 15

9 – Christian Braun – 8

10 – Jalen Wilson – 2x

*x = broke his ankle 20 seconds into the second game of the season and is expected to be out at least three months.*

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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.