12 March 2024
LAWRENCE (KSNT) – The Jayhawks will be without their two best players in Kansas City for the Big 12 tournament.
Neither senior wing Kevin McCullar or senior center Hunter Dickinson will play in the conference tournament, Bill Self said on Monday’s ‘Hawk Talk,’ a radio show with voice of the Jayhawks Brian Hanni.
Dickinson dislocated his shoulder in KU’s final regular season game, a loss to Houston. McCullar has been battling a knee injury for much of conference play. He played in only four of KU’s final eight games, sitting out the second half in Houston.
Self, who has been at Kansas for more than 20 years, said on Saturday that Dickinson’s availability for the conference tournament could play a factor in what the team decided to do with McCullar.
Self said he does expect both players to be available for the NCAA tournament. The duo was both named First-Team All-Big 12 on Sunday.
Dickinson, who did not miss a regular season game for KU, is averaging 18 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. McCullar has was healthy enough to play in 26 of KU’s 31 games. The former Texas Tech Red Raider averages 18.3 points, 6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Dickinson will not need surgery on his injured shoulder, the KC Star reports.
KU plays its first Big 12 tournament game on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The ‘Hawks are the sixth-seed in the tournament and will meet the winner of eleventh seeded Cincinnati and No. 14 West Virginia.
Click here for more of the Big 12 men’s basketball bracket.