LAHAINA >> Chew on that, haters.
No one Wednesday — not a dangerous opponent in Dayton, nor the Flyers’ vocal fans, nor the NCAA itself — could stop a troubled blue blood from hoisting another trophy in paradise.
No. 4 Kansas shrugged off its ongoing off-court problems and on-court defenders alike in winning 90-84 in overtime to claim the Maui Jim Maui Invitational championship at the raucous Lahaina Civic Center.
Kansas (6-1), one of college basketball’s premier programs, is under active investigation by the NCAA. It was served a notice of allegations in September for high-level recruiting violations, and a rare responsibility clause was levied at the Jayhawks’ big-name coach, Bill Self. Self has vigorously denied the allegations.
“I think there’s been some haters about maybe our program, because we have been under a microscope or under some scrutiny, obviously, the last 18 months or so,” Self, still d amp from the team’s celebration, said at the postgame interview podium. “So, but that doesn’t have anything to do with this particular group and we don’t even talk — I’ll be honest, we don’t even talk about that with our guys.”
The “guys” soldiered on against an explosive foe in claiming the Wayne Duke Trophy for a second straight appearance, and third (1996, 2015) in seven trips to the 36-year-old event. Point guard Devon Dotson led Kansas’ charge from eight points down in the second half and 7-foot senior center Udoka Azubuike was an emphatic finisher, both around the rim and in scoring his team’s first nine points of overtime.
The two combined for 60 points as each logged a career scoring high, Dotson finishing with 31 and Azubuike contributing 29. They were named co-MVPs, the first time that happened on Maui since KU’s Wayne Selden and Frank Mason III shared honors in 2015.
“I’m keeping it,” an expressionless Azubuike said of the wooden MVP trophy, sliding it away from Dotson at the podium.
Dotson, smiling, did not argue.
Some big-boy basketball was warranted in the Jayhawks’ first tight game of the tournament; they’d rolled over Chaminade and BYU the first two days. KU compiled 52 paint points to Dayton’s 22, countering the Flyers’ 16 3-pointers. They shot 55.9% from the floor, led by Azubuike’s 12-for-15 effort.
“I mean, when he has it going and the attention is on him that opens up for other players,” said Dotson, whose drives and bankers high off the glass were tough for even bouncy 6-9 forward Obi Toppin to contend with. He shot 11-for-16.
“So it’s just kind of a 1-2 punch. We read the defense, take what’s given to us. We know that if we can get the ball down low, we’re going to go there every time.”
Self said he thought it was the best two-player combo “we’ve seen with anybody in a while in our program.”
KU, which saw Dayton guard Jalen Crutcher hit a tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, shot 5-for-5 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line in overtime.
Dayton (5-1) of the Atlantic 10 was denied its second Maui title (2003) in its fourth appearance.
The Flyers’ fans were outnumbered by the Jayhawks diehards in the 2,400-seat Civic Center, but their noise was comparable.
Dayton dominated inside in beating Georgia and Virginia Tech on the first two days, but the going was much tougher Wednesday against the hulking Azubuike. Toppin, his matchup, exerted himself for his 18 points and nine boards.
It was an impressive run for Dayton, which could be ranked next week.
“We competed for three days straight,” said forward Ryan Mikesell, who led the Flyers with 19 points, but missed a pair of free throws late that sealed the outcome. “We kind of showed people what we can do on more of a national level.”