LAWRENCE, Kan. Kansas junior power forward Dedric Lawson has stretched his game from the lane to past the 3-point line as the 2018-19 college basketball season has progressed.
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Memphis native, who was 3 of 3 from 3 in KUs 79-63 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, has made 8 of his last 13 3s (61.5 percent) over the last four games after hitting six 3s in 29 tries (20.7 percent) in the Jayhawks first 18 contests.
I get up quite a few at night, Lawson said Saturday, referring to hoisting 3-pointer after 3-pointer in the practice gym.
The extra work has helped make Lawson, confident in my (3-point) shot. Ive just got to knock them down. When you get looks, shoot them to make them and not just shoot them.
Lawsons 3s came in the first half of Saturdays game. He gave the Jayhawks at 13-4 lead with 14:11 left in the first half, a 42-24 advantage with 2:01 left and 46-26 margin right before halftime.
The way Texas Tech plays … they collapse. They didnt want me to get to the basket, Lawson said. Those shots were open.
He finished with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting as KU as KU surpassed its season average of 76.8 points a game. The Jayhawks had scored in the 60s in three of their past four games.
The ball was moving. The paint was not clogged up, Lawson said. Guys were aggressive.
He cited the play of Quentin Grimes, who scored six points (2 of 5 from 3) with four assists against no turnovers.
Quentin made a lot of aggressive moves today. He found me, gave me easy baskets. Its something he can do. He can also score. I keep talking to him about being aggressive, Lawson said of the 6-5 combo guard who averages 8.1 points a game on 40 percent shooting. Hes made 28 of 84 3s for 33.3 percent during an up-and-down freshman season.
When I was a freshman I went in a slump the first six, seven games in conference, Lawson said, comparing his frosh season at Memphis to Grimes first season at KU. It took just one game to grow in confidence and get going.
Lawson was again impressed with freshman guard Ochai Agbaji. The 6-foot-5 Agbaji scored 10 points (1 of 4 from 3) and grabbed 10 rebounds versus Tech.
Double-double, join the club, Lawson said with a smile. Lawson has 15 double-doubles this season. Ochai had energy, played with a free mind. He goes out there and plays hard. Ochai is a great player, a special talent. I look forward to him keep going up (in production) each and every game.
Backup point guard Charlie Moore, who had six assists on Saturday, completed two lobs to Agbaji for crowd-pleasing slam dunks.
Its something Charlie does all the time (in practice), Lawson said of the Cal transfer feeding lobs to various Jayhawks.
