As Kansas targets a fifth national championship, it will have to do so without leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr.
The Jayhawks ruled McCullar out for the entire NCAA Tournament with a knee injury, according to Jordan Guskey of The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Bill Self said Kevin McCullar Jr. has been ruled out of the NCAA tournament#kubball
— Jordan Guskey (@JordanGuskey) March 19, 2024
McCullar is averaging a team-high 18.3 points per game on 45.4% field-goal shooting and 33.3% 3-point shooting. He also adds 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Here’s what to know about McCullar’s injury and what that means for the Jayhawks, who hold a No. 4 seed for March Madness.
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What is Kevin McCullar Jr.’s injury?
McCullar has been in and out of the lineup as he deals with what Kansas described as a “bone bruise” in his knee. He missed the Big 12 Tournament due to the injury.
The fifth-year guard will not play in the NCAA Tournament as he continues his recovery, Kansas head coach Bill Self said Tuesday.
That leaves the Jayhawks without their leading scorer — and they could be without their second leading scorer in Hunter Dickinson as well. The senior center also missed the Big 12 Tournament with a shoulder injury, and his status is questionable for the Big Dance.
But Self provided an reassuring update on Dickinson on Selection Sunday.
“(Dickinson)’s doing great,” Self said. “He’s actually practiced the last two days, non-contact, so we’ve done a lot of dry stuff so that way he can be out there. And then he’ll go contact (Monday).”
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Kansas March Madness schedule
The Kansas Jayhawks earned a No. 4 seed for the 2024 NCAA Tournament and will face the No. 13 seed Samford Bulldogs in the round of 64.
Kansas and Samford will face off at 9:55 p.m. ET Thursday, March 21.
| Round | Opponent | Time (ET) | Location |
| Round of 64 | No. 13 Samford | 9:55 p.m. | Salt Lake City, Utah |
