How KU’s win became a nightmarish ‘Choose your own adventure’ book for Colorado
Kansas guard Isaiah Moss smiles when asked about the bottom defender.
This is about a half-hour after KU’s 72-58 victory over Colorado, and also following a second half where KU’s offense showed a three-minute burst of potential with Moss on the floor alongside big man Udoka Azubuike.
The biggest reason why?
That one poor Colorado player caught between the proverbial rock and hard place.
“There’s not really a right choice either way,” Moss said.
Though Azubuike isn’t passing here, it’s worth appreciating the exact way he’s making things easier for teammates.
While also creating hell for KU’s opponents at the same time.
Colorado’s D’Shawn Schwartz was one of the victims with 6:32 left in the second half.
With both feet outside the lane, he watched as Devon Dotson and Azubuike executed a pick-and-roll in front of him. The man he was guarding — capable three-point shooter Ochai Agbaji — lifted out to the perimeter.
In real time, it’s like a choose-your-own adventure book where pages 25 and 36 both lead to your demise. Do you step in front of Azubuike to prevent a dunk, or stay with Agbaji to stop an open three?
“You’re gonna have to choose one,” Moss said. “Either way’s pretty deadly.”
This time, Schwartz “tags” Azubuike to stop his progress. Dotson’s pass then goes to Agbaji, who has enough space to hit the semi-guarded three with Schwartz late to recover.
“When Azubuike screens and rolls to the rim as hard as he rolls the rim, you’d better have somebody there,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “And if they’re there, then they throw it to the shooter.”
Self wasn’t done exploiting this, running a similar action the next time down.
In this instance, Tristan Enaruna clears and Agbaji goes to the corner for floor spacing. Dotson and Azubuike begin another pick-and-roll called by Self, and this time it’s Maddox Daniels — he’s guarding Moss — stuck in no-man’s land.
Stop the dunk, or stop the three? Daniels chooses Azubuike, which leaves Dotson to whip a quick pass to Moss for another open look that goes through.
“I can see the play happening,” Moss said, “so I know if I’m going to get it or if (Azubuike) is going to get a lob.”
Self wasn’t done. Ninety seconds later came a third play call with the same basic setup. On this one, Marcus Garrett — one of KU’s best passers — utilizes the Azubuike screen with Moss in the corner closest to him.
Eli Parquet is left with the no-win decision. Take the rolling Azubuike or the spotting-up Moss?
Parquet hesitates before helping ... and Garrett sees it. Up goes the lob to Azubuike, who’s fouled on the alley-oop attempt for two free throws.
It’s easy to see why Self commented this week about his team needing to increase its three-point production moving forward. Azubuike is such a force — and draws so much defensive gravity — that it only makes sense to utilize him not only a scorer but also as a means to free the Jayhawks for open perimeter shots.
KU’s offense wasn’t perfect against Colorado. The Jayhawks struggled some with turnovers and went 0-for-6 from three in the first half before making 6 of 7 after the break.
That brief second-half flash, though, showed what KU’s offensive potential can be — especially with Agbaji and Moss on the floor together as shooters that have to be respected.
“Playing defense is going to be tough,” Moss said, speaking for other teams.
KU fans shouldn’t take this for granted. These plays require a dominant big man, a quick-driving point guard, a lethal three-point shooter and a clever coach who is consistently finding new ways to utilize his players’ skillsets.
The final result is Azubuike causing consistent defensive conflict.
And also a bottom defender making a split-second decision, likely to be wrong no matter his choice.
This story was originally published December 8, 2019 at 12:05 AM with the headline "How KU’s win became a nightmarish ‘Choose your own adventure’ book for Colorado."
