Why one KU performance stood out in win over Baylor: ‘Guys, he’s like Deion Sanders’
The ESPN camera angle captured it perfectly.
This was just before halftime in Kansas’ 71-58 victory over Baylor, and as Davion Mitchell prepared to hold for the last shot, a baseline view showed exactly what he was seeing.
And also the obstacle he was about to face when trying to score at the end of the half.
Here was KU guard Marcus Garrett, in his element. He squatted low — extending his arms both directions — with his 6-foot-5 frame seeming to sprawl longer than that as he worked to swipe away a steal as Mitchell retreated.
It was all right in front of KU coach Bill Self, who even then could sense he was witnessing a special night for one of his all-time favorite players.
“When he sits down in a stance,” Self would say about Garrett afterward, “it’s almost intimidating what he looks like guarding a guy.”
Mitchell did not score here. He tried to isolate Garrett, driving right while expecting contact on the shot attempt.
Garrett seemed ready for that. He backed away quickly, leaving Mitchell with nothing to lean on. That resulted in an off-balance layup attempt coming up well short, with KU preserving a three-point lead on its way to a convincing win.
It would be silly to act like Garrett has never executed on something like this before. He was national defensive player of the year just last season, so coming through in a crucial moment is not something that’s completely shocking.
What changed Saturday, though, was evident on that possession, the one before it and also throughout the entire game.
This was not the same Garrett from most of the season. And because of that, this was not the same Jayhawks team either.
“You guys know it as well as I do, it looked different tonight,” Self said. “It looked different the way he was turned up.”
Let’s speak the truth here: Garrett has been good all season. Fine. But he’s also been part of what has held KU back, especially on the offensive end.
That’s because something with him has just seemed a little off. Early on he battled a sickness. After that, Self spoke some about how the guard would struggle to catch his breath at times.
Garrett, for whatever reason, has been missing that burst. Too often, Self’s staple plays haven’t been working as well because Garrett has pulled the ball out in advantageous ball-screen situations instead of pressing the action. And though Self tried to limit Garrett’s minutes and take him off-ball some offensively, nothing seemed to fully replenish the senior’s energy meter.
Until Saturday night’s game, that is, which featured a super-charged Garrett compared to before.
The previous possession at the end of the first half showed this as well. Garrett, after getting a pass on the perimeter, attacked Baylor’s MaCio Teague, driving right, stopping quickly to cross over, then moving back left for a fast-twitch layup he put in before any help could rotate. It’s the exact type of play where he’s struggled to free himself most of the season.
“For everybody to see how good No. 0 really is as a basketball player tonight was terrific,” Self said, referring to Garrett. “He was so turned up, which makes me feel like he needs to be that way more often.”
And maybe that last sentence is one of the biggest keys to the rest of KU’s season.
What the Jayhawks received from Garrett against Baylor changes the complexion of their outlook. Not only does he give KU a late-clock or late-game driving threat it has lacked, but it also lifts the team’s defense to another level when the leader is getting after the opponent’s best player like Garrett was Saturday.
Baylor guard Jared Butler, who was Garrett’s primary defensive assignment before any switching, had just five points after averaging 23 against KU in his previous five contests.
Self heaped praise on Garrett for that.
“Guys, he’s like Deion Sanders was when he was MVP,” Self said. “He just can eliminate one side of the field, and he eliminates one guy. So really proud of everybody, but I’m especially happy that he went out in style like this.”
There were plenty of reasons for Garrett to be hyped Saturday. He said afterward it was the first game his mother and brother were able to watch him play at Allen Fieldhouse. Taking on undefeated Baylor and first-team All-America candidate Butler seemed to add to the juices as well.
The bottom line, though, is that if Garrett can replicate this, KU’s ceiling changes. Some flaws disappear, and the margin for error grows with the postseason looming.
That was the takeaway from Saturday. KU will be happy with a résumé-building victory, and Garrett will always look back fondly on the home game he was honored.
Most importantly, though, the Jayhawks saw what they can become when Garrett’s spirit matches his savvy.
And “intimidating” would be a good way to describe it.
This story was originally published February 28, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Why one KU performance stood out in win over Baylor: ‘Guys, he’s like Deion Sanders’."
