Ochai Agbaji’s 20 points help Jayhawks beat Buffs: ‘Defense is where I get my energy’
Kansas sophomore guard Ochai Agbaji says he was determined to play aggressive defense Saturday night against a Colorado basketball team led by preseason all-Pac-12 players Tyler Bey and McKinley Wright.
“Going into the game I had a different mindset as in, ‘I don’t care if my shot falls or not. Defense is where I get my energy,’” Agbaji, a 6-foot-5 Oak Park High School graduate said after helping hold the Buffs to 30% shooting in the Jayhawks’ 72-58 victory at Allen Fieldhouse.
Bey, a 6-7 junior, scored five points (eight below his average) on 1-for-3 shooting in 25 minutes. Wright, a 6-0 junior, went for eight points (four below his average) on 2-of-7 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and three turnovers in 33 minutes.
“On the defensive end, I’m getting more confidence there,” Agbaji said. “Getting stops and seeing the ball go in helps.”
Agbaji — he scored 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting (including 4 of 6 from three-point range) with two assists and three turnovers in 36 minutes — was called “by far our best performer today” by coach Bill Self.
“It’s what we’ve been talking about: Worry about the things you can control,” Self said when told what Agbaji had said about defense.
“I don’t think he’s rebounded the ball the way he’s capable (4.9 per game) and he goes and gets 12 tonight — three offensive — which was great. You worry about the right things … he goes 4 of 4 from three the second half. I thought Ochai played well.
“One thing … we give away so many points when we have numbers in transition,” Self added. “Ochai gave it away (once). ‘Dot’ (Devon Dotson) did twice. It drives me nuts we don’t score better in transition.”
Agbaji, who entered the contest having scored in single digits in three of the Jayhawks’ last five games, did enjoy his best offensive game in a while. His season-high 20 points were just four off his career-high of 24 Jan. 29 at Texas. His four threes were his most in a game this season and one off his career high of five Feb. 9 against Oklahoma State.
“Moving forward I’m not going to worry if it (his shot) goes in or not. Defense … any energy I can get from that,” said Agbaji, who is averaging 10.9 points per game on 43% shooting (15 of 41 for 36.6%).”
He says he’s trying to follow the lead of junior guard Marcus Garrett, the primary defender on CU’s Bey Saturday.
“I get my energy from Marcus, seeing him deflect balls. Him helping everybody makes me want to help everybody,” Agbaji said.
“I feel he kind of spreads it throughout our whole team. He gives the whole team tips and stuff. His communication affects the way we all talk.”
KU (7-1), which has won seven in a row since a season-opening loss to Duke, next plays host to Milwaukee at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Allen.
While hoping for another stellar defensive effort, KU coach Self would be all for some additional production on offense, too. KU hit 6 of 13 threes Saturday to 7 of 34 for CU (7-1).
“Ochai, Isaiah (Moss) and Devon have to be our best shooters,” Self said of the trio that combined to make 6 of 12 threes vs. the Buffs. “Christian (Braun) is a good shooter. He probably won’t get the same opportunities. We need Ochai to be a 35% three-point shooter. We need ‘Dot’ above 35 and Isaiah around 40.
“If they are able to do that, we’ll be a good shooting team. We won’t shoot as much as other teams but we will be a good shooting team.”
This story was originally published December 8, 2019 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Ochai Agbaji’s 20 points help Jayhawks beat Buffs: ‘Defense is where I get my energy’."
