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Braun, who is ‘climbing up some draft boards,’ scores 31 for KU in win over St. John’s

Christian Braun flashed three fingers over his head then turned to Kansas’ basketball bench, nodded and smiled after cashing one of the 10 shots he hit en route to his career-high 31 points in the Jayhawks’ 95-75 victory over St. John’s on Friday night at UBS Arena adjacent to Belmont Park, home of horse racing’s Belmont Stakes.

“I think any time you show personality it’s important for any team,” KU coach Bill Self said after the Jayhawks won the game that’s part of the “Big East-Big 12 Battle,” a series of 10 games played yearly between teams in the two conferences.

It also was the first-ever basketball game played in an 17,400-seat arena built for the New York Islanders. It opened in November.

“Energy is contagious. We’ve got some guys who can provide it,” Self added. “Remy (Martin, 12 points Friday) obviously is a showman, can do that. Ochai (Agbaji, 23 points, seven rebounds) is not one of those guys very often. Juan (Harris, four assists, no turnovers) is not. David (McCormack, 15 points, career-high tying 13 rebounds) is a little bit.

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“I think C.B. is much better when he is showing how much he’s enjoying being out there,” Self added of the 6-foot-7 junior guard out of Blue Valley Northwest High School.

Braun — his old career high scoring mark was 30 points against St. Joseph’s last season — hit 10 of 16 shots. He was 2 of 4 on three-pointers and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. He played 34 minutes.

He also guarded St. John’s standout guard/forward Julian Champagnie the first half, holding Champagnie to four points the initial 20 minutes. Champagnie heated up the final half, scoring 20 points as St. John’s cut a 13-point deficit down to three at one point before KU responded with an 11-0 run that put the game away.

“Even though he’s not on all the boards, he’s climbing up some draft boards himself,” Self said of Braun, who like Agbaji, is considered by some a possible pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

“He’s a good player,” Self added of Braun. “He does a little bit of everything, a lot of everything. He’s a good rebounder. Obviously he can shoot the ball. He’s strong, can finish around the rim. He’s playing the best he’s played since he’s been here with us. He was our best player today. Ochai got us off to a good start. Ochai is playing at a high level.”

Agbaji in the interview room after the game was asked about Braun’s seeming to enjoy himself on the court at all times this season, gesturing to the bench a lot and smiling a lot.

“What’s it called? Chris Teahan on our team always calls it, ‘Freshman year Christian,’ when he was a little like … I can’t say the word,” Agbaji said with a smile, not wanting to perhaps use questionable language with the cameras rolling.

“He was ‘that man,’” Agbaji added of Braun as a flashy freshman. “He thought he was ‘that guy.’ He had that confidence with him. Everyone followed that too,” Agbaji noted.

Pressed on his comment, Agbaji said the initials for Braun’s demeanor his freshman year were ‘B.A.’ leaving it up to others to guess at the meaning.

Braun was modest when asked what it was like to score 31 points in a major college game in New York. He missed a late three that would have given him 34 points.

“Their crowd was really good tonight,” Braun said. “We tried to quiet them down, making all that noise. Really we were just trying to get a win,” he added.

“Ochai played a great game. They were focusing on him. That opened the lanes for me. Dave (McCormack) played a great game today. Our emphasis was defense and playing better to start halves.”

Self grinned when asked if he noticed Braun’s fun-loving behavior en route to his 31.

“I noticed it some,” Self said. “He dunked the ball. At least he didn’t get a technical. That was positive.”

KU is set next to meet UTEP at 7 p.m., Tuesday, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

NOTE: KU coach Self said freshman Bobby Pettiford, who had zero points and zero assists in seven minutes, was laboring during the game. “He has an abdominal strain,” Self said. Self said the injury is related to the hip injury that has limited Pettiford some this season. “The court was so slippery he said he didn’t trust it (slipping),” Self said. The Jayhawks, as well as Champagnie after the game indicated the court in the hockey arena was slick. ... Late in the game, St. John’s coach Mike Anderson received a technical foul for storming onto the court yelling at a referee. Also, Posh Alexander was called for a technical as it appeared he bumped into a referee while also complaining over the same call with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left. Braun followed the T’s by hitting four foul shots.