‘Tenacious’ McCormack scores 19 points, grabs 15 rebounds in KU’s 85-59 win over WVU

After starting 12 first-semester nonconference games following a junior year in which he started 28 of 29, Kansas 5-man David McCormack was relegated to a reserve role for the Jayhawks’ first three Big 12 contests.

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound senior from Norfolk, Virginia, admitted Saturday that the demotion, if one wants to call it that, has “sometimes” affected him.

“You always want to hear your name in the starting lineup,” he said. “At the same time, it is about production, whether you come off the bench or start. I guess you could say, Coach likes to say, ‘(It) lit a fire within me’ — just made me play a little bit harder, be a little bit more tenacious.”

No doubt about that. Restored to a starting role and playing 29 minutes on Saturday, McCormack scored 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting, tied a career high with 15 rebounds, dished three assists and blocked a shot as the Jayhawks routed West Virginia 85-59 at Allen Fieldhouse.

“I think that kind of came out in practice, which translated to the game,” McCormack said.

He had nine points and five rebounds in the first half as KU (14-2, 3-1 Big 12) led 33-31 at the break.

“I did a great job rebounding offensively,” said McCormack, who had 10 of KU’s 14 offensive rebounds. The Jayhawks outrebounded the Mountaineers 47-38 and won the points-in-the-paint battle 54-20.

“I should have grabbed more defensive rebounds,” he added. “They were pretty strong with offensive rebounds, as well (16). Hopefully one of these games I can break my (personal) record and get 20 rebounds.”

KU coach Bill Self said on Friday that McCormack had a great practice Thursday, indicating McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot were not thrilled that a freshman, KJ Adams, got the starting nod at the 5-spot Tuesday against Iowa State.

“I think it correlates some. When you practice well there’s a chance you could play well,” Self said. “It doesn’t always work that way. I’d much rather have a guy play well on game night than have a great practice the day before. David is piecing some good days together.”

Added Self: “That was probably as dominant a game he has played this year. He was great.”

McCormack played just 10 minutes on Tuesday. But his practices on Thursday and Friday prompted his return to Self’s starting lineup.

“It’s a great feeling, of course, letting the game come to me and getting into the flow,” McCormack said. “The lid came off the basket. I made the right plays. Of course there were some turnovers (two) and better reads I could have made. It feels good to get back in the groove.”

He thinks he can keep it up.

“Same mindset going into a game, being free, playing loose, not trying to force anything to happen,” McCormack said. “Let the game come to me and be a defensive presence mainly.”

Junior forward Jalen Wilson scored a career-high-tying 23 points with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 32 minutes. Ochai Agbaji hit four threes and scored 20 points with seven rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes. Christian Braun had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and five blocks in 34 minutes.

Of Wilson, McCormack said: “J. Will is my boy, so I can tell when he has the hot hand, can tell when he’s going to make the right read and pass.”

Wilson hit 10 of 13 shots and was 3 of 6 from three-point range on a day the Jayhawks were without Remy Martin (bone bruise in knee).

“I think not only did the lid come off for him, he made the right reads,” McCormack said of Wilson. “It seemed the game slowed down. He was able to see things before they happened. It’s a credit to him and his basketball IQ.”

The Jayhawks clicked in the second half, outscoring West Virginia 52-28. KU improved to 10-0 at Allen Fieldhouse against West Virginia (13-2, 2-2 Big 12) dating to 2013-14, when the Mountaineers joined the conference.

“Jalen was fabulous in about every area,” Self said. “Ochai was terrific. C.B. (Braun) did a great job on (Sean) McNeil (10 points, 4-of-11 shooting). Och did a great job on (Taz) Sherman (1-of-9 for 5 points). Juan (Harris (six points, five assists, no turnovers, two steals, two rebounds) was solid. I thought everybody played well the second half, really well.”

KU next plays Oklahoma at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Norman, Okla., then travels to Manhattan next Saturday for a 3 p.m. game against Kansas State, a Saturday winner over Texas Tech