KU Jayhawks freshman center Ernest Udeh ready to ‘go out there and do my job’ at Baylor

Kansas freshman center Ernest Udeh entered Saturday’s Big 12 basketball battle against TCU having played a grand total of one second — one possession in the league opener against Oklahoma State — in six conference games.

The 6-foot-11 McDonald’s All-American shook off the rust, scoring one point, blocking one shot, grabbing two rebounds and swiping two steals (and committing three fouls) while playing seven minutes in KU’s 83-60 blowout loss to the Horned Frogs at Allen Fieldhouse.

“I’ve got to remind myself all the time, regardless of the situation (to) make sure if my name is called I’m ready to go out there and do my job,” Udeh said after Saturday’s loss dropped the Jayhawks to 16-3, 5-2 Big 12, entering Monday’s game against Baylor (14-5, 4-3).

Tipoff for the Big Monday clash between the last two national champions —Baylor in 2021, KU in 2022 — is set for 8 p.m. at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas, with a live broadcast on ESPN.

Udeh, who was fouled on the only shot he took during Saturday’s game, said he’s well aware what it will take to get playing time at Baylor, as well as down the line.

“Coach (Bill Self) tells me every day in practice be more aggressive, block more shots, get more rebounds, everything he’s been telling me since day one,” Udeh said as a postgame guest Saturday on the Jayhawk radio network.

“I make that a focal point, also screening. Hit my guy and be able to get out quick. That’s something I’ve been getting better at,” Udeh added.

Udeh is part of a KU big-man group from which just one player has been accumulating much playing time. Sophomore forward KJ Adams, who was in foul trouble Saturday, scored four points and grabbed five rebounds with four fouls in 23 minutes.

Sophomore forward Zach Clemence had two points and three rebounds in seven minutes and freshman forward Zuby Ejiofor committed one turnover in three minutes. Cam Martin, who has battled a shoulder injury in this, his super-senior season, did not play.

“In practice, the main focus is how can we get better today,” Udeh said. “When you say (I’m) competing against other teammates, it’s not really a focus how can I outperform guys, (but) more so me doing my job, doing what I’m supposed to do.

“When you do what you are supposed to do, you are going to get on the court. Regardless of the situation, regardless of where you are, that’s how the world works.”

Udeh said he’s been making sure to listen to words of advice from veteran starters Jalen Wilson, Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar.

“First of all,” Udeh explained, “I’m a basketball player. When you are on a team with guys who have been here before and know exactly what they are doing, you want to be a student of the game.

“That goes for (listening to) coaches and players as well. They are my leaders. They guide me in the right path.”

On Monday, KU will face a Baylor team that was picked to win the Big 12 in the league’s preseason poll. The Bears, ranked No. 21 in last week’s AP poll (KU was ranked No. 2), are on a roll, having won four straight league games, including Saturday’s 62-60 victory over Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.

On Saturday, senior guard Adam Flagler led the way with 16 points and five assists, while junior forward Jalen Bridges had 11 points and eight rebounds. He was 3-of-5 from three-point range. Freshman guard Keyonte George scored 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Senior forward Flo Thamba scored six points with 10 rebounds, helping Baylor outrebound OU 39-30. Baylor scored 30 second-chance points to OU’s 12.

During its current winning streak, Baylor has won at Oklahoma, at Texas Tech (81-74) and at West Virginia (83-78), as well as at home against Oklahoma State (74-58).

Asked about what KU must do to beat the Bears, Udeh said: “Defense wins championships. I always have believed that. It’s never about how many points you can score, it’s always about making sure the other team doesn’t score, making sure the other team plays bad. Stay locked in defensively, make sure we know our assignments, know how to rotate, rebound, trap.”

KU coach Self noted: “The league is like this. We will not be favored in Waco (Monday) or Lexington (Kentucky, on Saturday vs. UK). After that, we get a chance to play a home game that’s a coin-flip (Jan. 31 vs. K-State). We won’t be favored in Ames (Feb. 4 vs. Iowa State). Then we play Texas here (Feb. 6). It’s a monster league. It’s not like you can throw a bottom-feeder in the schedule to get right.

“We’ve got to be mature, tough, play one possession at a time. It will not end for us well if we do not make other people play poorly. We don’t have enough offense (to win), if we don’’t do that.”