las vegas — Kansas star center Hunter Dickinson The No. 1 Jayhawks’ were fired in the second half. 75-72 win Against No. 11 Duke Tuesday night after kicking Malik Brown On the face when both were on the floor.
With 10:26 left, Dickinson misses a short jump hook over Brown. Both players fell to the court fighting for the rebound, with Dickinson fouling Brown. While they were down, Dickinson kicked out and made contact with Brown’s face.
After a lengthy monitor review, Dickinson was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected. He initially stayed in the bench area with his teammates before being taken to the locker room.
“I thought it was a good call,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “I thought a flagrant 2 might be a little more severe. I thought it was definitely a flagrant 1. … I didn’t think at the time that it warranted a level 2, but I think it did.” It needs to be called.”
“The explanation was that it was intentional and his head went to the ground, which is probably correct,” Self later added. “But I didn’t think it was enough to guarantee it. But the most important thing is that it happened and it will be the best thing he did to us because it will teach him a good lesson and also. ” Some will give other kids some confidence.”
Duke coach Jon Shear said he only saw the incident on the screen but agreed with the call.
“I haven’t seen it on screen other than him kicking it in his face,” Scheer said. “So I think that warrants a clear 2. But again, I didn’t get a good look or anything, but for me it was really easy for me.”
Kansas led 57-55 at the time of Dickinson’s ejection. The two teams went back and forth the rest of the game, with Duke briefly holding a one-to-two lead. Cooper Flag 5:53 Dunk with the rest. Kansas answered with one. Raylan Griffin A 3-pointer on the next possession, and Griffin made a three-point play a minute later to extend the lead to four.
Duke had several chances to tie or take the lead in the final minutes of regulation, but the flag and Who is Connell? The two turned it over and Knoppel’s 3-pointer at the buzzer didn’t fall.
Dickinson, who entered the game averaging 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds, had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists before his ejection. He was productive but struggled to finish on the edge against Brown’s length. Khamen Malouch.
Dickinson out, with center back up Flori Budonga Played the rest of the game. The freshman finished with 6 points and 8 rebounds in 16 minutes, which came with two key offensive rebounds late in the game and a steal in the final minute.
“I thought he played really well,” the senior forward KJ Adams Jr. said. “Obviously it’s a Boomer who’s an All-American. [in] Hunter had to go out, but it makes me happy that Flo got a chance to show the world what he can do and it’s amazing what he’s done out there, especially as a freshman coming into that big environment. , a great game, and he really did well.”
This report used information from The Associated Press.