Field Level Media
Feb 8, 2020
Senior center Udoka Azubuike and sophomore guard Devon Dotson each posted double-doubles Saturday as No. 3 Kansas extended its winning streak to eight by stifling TCU 60-46 in their Big 12 matchup at Fort Worth, Texas.
Dotson, the Big 12's leading scorer, recorded a career-high 11 assists to go with 18 points. Azubuike managed 20 points, including nine dunks, and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Jayhawks (20-3, 9-1) remained within one game of first-place Baylor, the top-rated team in the nation, atop the Big 12.
The victory was the 700th career win for Bill Self, who is in his 27th season as a head coach and his 17th at Kansas. Self, 57, became the second fastest to reach the 700-win plateau behind Bob Knight.
TCU (13-10, 4-6) closed within 44-40 with 7:03 remaining but then committed five turnovers on six straight empty possessions. Senior guard Desmond Bane, who trails only Dotson among Big 12 scorers, netted a team-high 20 points.
Kansas overcame spotty 3-point shooting with a 36-26 scoring advantage in the paint while shooting 41.4 percent. TCU countered with just 35.2 percent shooting as it suffered its fifth straight loss and seventh in eight games.
Sophomore guard RJ Nembhard added 11 points for the Horned Frogs.
Azubuike erupted for 14 points and nine rebounds in the first half to help Kansas lead 31-18 at the break. At one stage, Azubuike made three straight dunks and also scored the last basket in a 14-2 run that pushed the margin to 26-13.
TCU missed eight straight shots and went 1 of 14 while Kansas went on its tear. The Frogs shot just 29.6 percent for the half, going 8 of 27. They were led by Bane with seven first-half points.
Kansas recorded its 31st consecutive 20-win season, tying the Division I record set by North Carolina from 1971-2001. The Jayhawks' streak began in 1989-90, Roy Williams' second of 15 seasons at Kansas.
Self reached the 700-win mark 24 games sooner than legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen. Self coached at Oral Roberts (1993-97), Tulsa (1997-2000) and Illinois (2000-03) before joining the Jayhawks.
--Field Level Media