‘Awesome’ David McCormack scores 28 points in limited duty as KU slams UMKC 98-57
Kansas power forward David McCormack erupted for a career-high 28 points while playing just 16 minutes, 36 seconds against UMKC on Saturday afternoon at Sprint Center.
The flurry of points in such a short period of time — not even half the game — had KU coach Bill Self wondering what might have been if the 6-foot-10, 265-pounder from Norfolk, Virginia, been granted more than five minutes of court time the final half of KU’s 98-57 victory.
“David was just awesome,” Self said of McCormack, who hit 11 of 14 shots and grabbed seven rebounds. McCormack shattered his old career-best mark of 18 points set against Oklahoma last season.
“Obviously I screwed him around. He should have played more. If I played him 25 minutes he may have gotten 35,” Self exclaimed.
Self, whose Jayhawks improved to 9-1 and positioned themselves for a possible No. 1 ranking in Monday’s AP poll, had mercy on (5-7) UMKC by sitting McCormack most of the final half — one in which KU outscored the Kangaroos 55-33.
“Always,” McCormack said, asked if he wanted to return to the game. His motivation to return had nothing to do with topping the 30-point standard, however.
“I definitely want to get back in to do whatever I can to help the team,” he stated.
McCormack — who scored 16 points total in KU’s last three games — scored 16 in the first half versus the ‘Roos on 6-of-9 shooting. He had 14 of KU’s final 20 points of the first half as the Jayhawks led 43-24 at the break.
He scored 10 of KU’s first 20 points of the final half.
“Honestly everything,” McCormack said of what went right for him Saturday. He was 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to go with his 11 of 14 outing from the field.
“I was getting the open looks I wanted, (was) going after the ball, just making the right plays. I feel I have to bring high intensity, high energy every day, every game no matter what minutes I’m playing. I tried to do that tonight.”
Self was pleased with all aspects of McCormack’s game.
“I think a lot of it was effort, energy,” Self said. “The bigger part was skill set. He shot it. He made 15, 18-footers, backed guys down and scored over them. It’s not like he got layups. It’s encouraging. For the first time all year he and Doke looked comfortable together. It makes me think maybe we can play them together.”
Udoka Azubuike was 4 of 4 from the field and scored nine points with five rebounds, four assists and three blocks. He’s now made 15 straight shots over three games and is one made field goal shy of tying Greg Dreiling for the school record for most consecutive field-goal attempts without a miss in multiple games (16 in 1986).
“Probably the best he’s ever passed the ball,” Self said of Azubuike.
Devon Dotson scored 18 points and Marcus Garrett 13 for for the Jayhawks, who will soon learn if they snare the top spot in The Associated Press poll for the first time since week six of last season. No. 1 Louisville lost to Texas Tech on Tuesday in New York. No. 3 Ohio State (9-0) plays at Minnesota on Sunday.
UMKC, which committed 22 turnovers, on Saturday was led by Marvin Nesbitt and Javan White who each had 12 points. Maks Klanjscek hit three-pointers late and finished with nine points.
Silvio De Sousa also had nine points, seven boards and three blocks for KU, all of his production in the second half.
“Silvio didn’t do much early. He got some positive things to happen which was good,” Self said.
Dotson had 10 points the first half on 4-of-9 shooting. Garrett had eight points and three assists in the half and Azubuike five points, three blocks and three rebounds.
UMKC’s Nesbitt swished three three-pointers and scored nine points in the half for the ‘Roos, who committed 15 of their 22 turnovers. Brandon McKissick had five points but four turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
KU opened the game with some fullcourt pressure and led 6-0 at 18:31 and 10-4 at 15:47. Azubuike and Garrett had three points and McCormack and Dotson two points in the early going.
UMKC used a 9-0 run to grab a 13-10 lead at 11:55. Zion Williams had four points, Nesbitt three and Jordan Giles two.
At that point, it was time for a 13-0 KU run to make it 23-13 KU at 6:50.
Enaruna scored an inside shot followed by an Azubuike slam off a lob from Garrett. Garrett then hit a three, Dotson a two, Garrett two free throws and Dotson two charities.
KU extended the run to 17-3 and 25-9 and led 35-22 at 3:23. At that point of the game, UMKC’s Nesbitt had three three-pointers and nine of the Roos’ points.
“Kansas is terrific. There’s no other way to deal with it or say it,” UMKC coach Billy Donlon said. “They are really good. They have very few weaknesses and a Hall of Fame coach. I was disappointed in what our guys did to start the second half.”
He added that the Jayhawks “will have a typical terrific season.”
KU, which enters final exam week, will meet Villanova at 11 a.m., Central time, Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. UMKC will play host to Toledo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Swinney Center.
Notes
UMKC fell to 0-25 versus ranked teams. … KU is 8-0 all-time against UMKC. The Jayhawks won the last meeting, 105-62, on Dec. 6, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse. The first meeting was a 108-62 Jayhawk victory on Dec. 12, 1992, at Kemper Arena. … Kansas coach Bill Self is 482-107 at KU and 689-212 for his career. … KU is 2,284-860 all-time. … KU is 301-67 since Jan. 1, 2010. KU entered the weekend trailing only Gonzaga (305-54) in overall wins in the decade. Kentucky entered with 298 wins; Duke 297 and Wichita State 277… KU is 42-10 in Sprint Center and 228-84 all-time in KC. … UMKC is now 0-1 in Sprint Center. … UMKC faced a top-25 opponent for the first time since a 109-57 loss at No. 7 Wichita State on Nov. 10, 2017. … UMKC has made at least one three-pointer in 309 straight games. The last time the team failed to connect from three was against Oakland (0 for 13) on Jan. 22, 2000….
This story was originally published December 14, 2019 at 6:08 PM with the headline "‘Awesome’ David McCormack scores 28 points in limited duty as KU slams UMKC 98-57."
