Ochai Agbaji embraces trophy after Kansas Jayhawks’ Big 12-clinching OT win over Texas

Ochai Agbaji, the last of Kansas’ six seniors to speak to the fans after the Jayhawks’ 70-63 Big 12 title clinching victory over Texas on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, pointed to the league trophy resting on James Naismith Court as he presented his postgame address.

“It was a tough choice to stay (in 2021 NBA Draft) or return. This is why I came back. I came back for this reason,” Agbaji, KU’s 6-foot-5 senior guard out of Oak Park High School, said during his Senior Day speech, 16,300 spectators responding with a loud ovation.

Agbaji and fellow KU men’s basketball seniors David McCormack, Mitch Lightfoot, Chris Teahan, Remy Martin and Jalen Coleman-Lands each stood in front of 20 Big 12 title trophies (won by KU in 26 seasons) that were carried onto the court as the fieldhouse lights went down after an overtime victory that assured KU a tie for the 2021-22 league crown.

Baylor and KU both finished 14-4 in conference play. The Bears wrapped up their share with a 75-68 victory over Iowa State on Saturday in Waco, Texas.

“Oh my gosh, when the lights went out and they brought the trophy out, man, that’s when I started losing it,” Agbaji said of the title trophy, speaking with The Star before exiting the building. “We actually did it. I’m really proud of my guys,” Agbaji added.

The Jayhawks won their 39th consecutive game on Senior Day — and claimed their 16th league title in the last 18 seasons — on a day Agbaji struggled to score.

He missed his first 10 shots, finally cashing a basket to tie the score at 61-61 in overtime. He finished with eight points on 1-of-11 shooting with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 39 minutes.

“I don’t care if I scored 40 this game or zero points. It was about winning this game — winning this game for the program, the coaches, the fans,” Agbaji said of the win that gave KU its NCAA record 63rd conference championship.

“Whatever it takes to win,” Agbaji continued. “Shots weren’t falling for them. Shots weren’t falling for us. We battled, toughed it out.”

Some news was made regarding Agbaji during the postgame victory celebration.

KU coach Bill Self told the fans Agbaji would have his jersey hung in the south rafters at some point in time. Presumably Agbaji will be named Big 12 player of the year as well as first-team All-America and perhaps national player of the year. Any of those awards should secure his spot in the rafters forever.

“That actually hit home really hard. I didn’t know he was going to say that. That’s crazy,” Agbaji said with a smile.

“Ochai carried us all year long. He did pick the last game to have his worst shooting performance,” Self said after sixth-ranked KU improved to 25-6 overall and 14-4 in the league. No. 21 Texas fell to 21-10, 10-8. “That’s good for us. The lid will come off and he will be as good as he’s ever been before,” Self added.

Two players really stepped up on a night the Jayhawks hit just 31.0% of their shots to Texas’ 33.9%.

Senior power forward David McCormack scored 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting. He was 10 of 10 from the line while playing 36 minutes. Also, sophomore forward Jalen Wilson scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting (2-of-5 from three) and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Junior guard Christian Braun had 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting (2 of 3 from three) with 11 rebounds.

“David won us the game. He put us on his back, but he could’ve had 30 tonight,” Self said of the 6-10 McCormack, who missed several inside shots. “I’m proud of David. He carried us. Jalen Wilson had a great night on the glass. We never got into any rhythm, at all. Ochai labored and we didn’t run any good offense,” Self noted.

McCormack, who had his season-high scoring output (22 points), now has made 16 consecutive free throws.

“I am exhausted, that’s for sure,” McCormack said. “There’s still work to be done. It’s not about being tired. You can perform and excel when tired.

“It’s a great feeling,” McCormack added of winning the league title. “Credit to them (Texas Longhorns, who had a three-game winning streak vs. KU snapped). They fought hard. Playing at home, stakes on the line, we prevailed. We did what we were supposed to do. It’s a great feeling, Every practice paid off.”

McCormack continued: “I can’t put this into words. It makes it more special knowing it was not a blowout win. It shows how much everybody here cares.”

KU coach Self was hoping to win this one in regulation. KU took the ball out of bounds with 2.2 seconds left and the score tied at 57-57. The ball was thrown in to Agbaji, who had it stripped by Timmy Allen down low, with no foul called. Senior Jalen Coleman-Lands banked in a three-pointer after the buzzer sounded and the game went to OT.

“I thought we would shoot free throws at the end of regulation,” Self said. “I thought we won it in regulation. We got exactly what we wanted out of the side out, got the ball to ‘O’. He obviously got it stripped. At least that was what the call was. We had to go to OT.”

And KU played well in OT, with Agbaji scoring six points after scoring just two during regulation.

“Och contributes in the game. Even though he was not hitting shots, he set screens, rebounded. He had an impact regardless,” McCormack said. “He helps us win with 110% effort each time.”

And this time the victory made him a Big 12 champion his senior year.

“We have more stuff to do,” Agbaji said. “That’s the reason I came back here, to be more successful and be in the rafters.”

He was referring to KU someday hanging an 2022 NCAA title banner in the north rafters, not the individual banner that will carry his name and number in the south rafters some day.

The KU victory assured a happy Senior Day for Agbaji, McCormack, Lightfoot (one point, one board, nine minutes), Teahan (no points, two minutes), Martin (two points, seven minutes) and Coleman-Lands (three points, seven minutes), who were introduced with family members before the game and gave speeches after the contest.

Self went with an all-senior starting lineup of Agbaji, McCormack, Lightfoot, Teahan and Martin. Self said he chose Martin over senior Coleman-Lands after meeting with the two first-year KU players Friday. Self said Martin told Self he felt Coleman-Lands should start; Coleman-Lands said Martin should start because KU needed a true point guard in the opening five.

So Self indeed went with a starting point guard.

The score was 2-2 when Coleman-Lands entered for Teahan at 17:49.

Coleman-Lands immediately hit a three-pointer. It was 10-9 Texas when Self went with his normal starting lineup of Agbaji, McCormack, Christian Braun, Jalen Wilson and Dajuan Harris. Texas (led by Courtney Ramey’s 18 points) wound up building an early 15-9 lead at 11:55.

KU next will meet the winner of Wednesday’s Kansas State-West Virginia game in a Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal at 2 p.m., Thursday in Kansas City.