16 February 2024
LAWNRECE (KSNT) – Kansas men’s basketball fifth-year senior Kevin McCullar Jr. has took a big step forward in the 2023-24 season.
The veteran is the Big 12’s leading scorer, averaging 19.5 points per game.
Unfortunately, McCullar Jr. has sat out the last two games (a 64-61 home win over No. 13 Baylor and 79-50 road loss at Texas Tech) with a lingering knee injury.
Head coach Bill Self said today he’s “anticipating” McCullar will “hopefully” play in the sixth-ranked Jayhawks Saturday matchup at No. 25 Oklahoma.
“Depending on how [McCullar Jr.] practices Thursday, if he’s able to continue to go on Friday, I would anticipate him to be able to be out there some,” Self said. “I don’t know the exact role, or how much he’ll play.”
McCullar Jr. is a well-missed player as Kansas’ Big 12 road record sits at a meek 1-5 in the 2023-24 season.
“We don’t have as much margin for error as some of our other teams – especially when you take away an All-American type performer,” Self said. “But that happens, everyone deals with that kind of stuff.”
Fellow Jayhawk star, center Hunter Dickinson, recognizes the void of McCullar Jr.’s presence on the court.
“It can be tough, because he’s one of those guys who’s kind of like a pressure release almost. Where when the shot clock is going down and he has the ball, you can feel pretty confident that he’s gong to come up with a decent shot,” Dickinson said. “I think that that’s something that when you have a guy that’s averaging over 19 points a game, it can be some big shoes to fill.”
No. 6 Kansas next plays at No. 25 Oklahoma on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.