After a promising freshman year was cut short due to a wrist injury last season, Kansas big man Udoka Azubuike is back in action and looks primed to make a splash in the college basketball world in 2017 if early returns are any indication.
The Jayhawks big man made a big impression on Wednesday night in Italy when he nearly brought down the goal on two separate occasions in two goal-rattling dunks that forced officials on site to reinforce the base.
Another one... This time the whole basket almos came down. #KUbball pic.twitter.com/Eis9fwC5pi
— Matt Tait (@mctait) August 2, 2017
Anyone think it's gonna happen??? No. 3 for the #KUbball big fella pic.twitter.com/3rdftpgC4y
— Matt Tait (@mctait) August 2, 2017
They legitimately just reinforced the basket & Self came over to take a look. #UdokaEffect #KUbball pic.twitter.com/KWml5nntJw
— Matt Tait (@mctait) August 2, 2017
That's not something you see everyday. But then again, it's not everyday you see a 7-foot, 285-pound center with that type of agility, either.
"We almost didn't have a game because of him," KU coach Bill Self told the Kansas City Star. "It wasn't that he dunked it so hard; it's because he hung on the rim. Two-hundred eighty-five pounds hanging on the rim almost pulled it down twice."
After the brief delay, KU and Azubuike surged to claim a decisive victory, 90-56, over Stella Azurra/HSC Roma in its opening exhibition game on the Jayhawks' tour of Italy.
Azubuike had 13 points in the win and two rim-rattling dunks that might send a message to the Big 12 -- the conference Self's Jayhawks have now won 13-straight years and counting.
