Bill Self optimistic Kevin McCullar, Jamari McDowell will play vs. Oklahoma
As they come off their worst loss of the season, No. 6 Kansas can use all the help that they can get in Norman this weekend in order to get back atop the Big 12. Bill Self believes that aid will be coming too based on the latest on statuses of two of his players.
Self shared an update on Kevin McCullar Jr. and Jamari McDowell during his press conference on Thursday. At this point, he plans on the Jayhawks having both available in their lineup against Oklahoma this weekend.
“I’m anticipating that, hopefully, both will (be available),” said Self.
The simple answer came regarding McDowell. The freshman, who is playing under 10 minutes a game off the bench, should almost certainly be good to go inside the Lloyd Noble Center tomorrow afternoon.
“Jamari shouldn’t be an issue at all,” Self said.
However, the more important and more complicated matter comes with McCullar. McCullar, Kansas’ leading scorer at 19.5 points per game to go with 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals, hasn’t played in the team’s last two games due to injury.
The question now is how his body handles everything ahead of tip-off against Oklahoma in the Top-25 matchup. Even if he can play, though, Self isn’t sure what the Jayhawks will get out of him.
“Depending on how Kevin feels through practice on Thursday? And if he’s able to continue go on Friday? I would anticipate him being able to be out there some,” said Self. “I don’t know the exact role or how much he’ll play.”
At 7-5 in the league, Kansas finds itself as the fifth seed in the conference with six games to go. Playing .500 basketball over the past month has put them in that spot yet there’s still a path over the next three weeks to correct it.
That includes Saturday’s matchup with OU, a game which will be more attainable if Self is right and Kansas can get both McCullar and McDowell back in the rotation.
Self reacts to shooting at Chiefs’ parade
Bill Self felt the horror from afar following the mass shooting at the Super Bowl parade for the Kansas City Chiefs’ on Wednesday. Another incident of indiscriminate violence saddened him as it marred what should’ve been a happy day for all.
“It was awful,” Self said. “I didn’t know about it live. A lot of people were obviously watching and knew about it live. I found out about it just a few minutes later. And I’m sure I knew a ton of people at the parade. I haven’t talked to those people, asking them ‘Did you go?’ or whatever. But, yeah, just horrific.”
“We’re in such a sad state, as everybody knows, that the most family-friendly, wholesome thing that you could do to make your city look good and show your support of people that bring joy to you now has just been minimized so much because of all the safety issues that go along with it,” said Self. “Whether it’s a concert, parade or even attending a movie or going to school? These certainly aren’t looked at in the same way back when I was growing up. It’s sad that it has become that.”
The head coach then took a broader, more reflective tack.
“Even something that has been transpiring in a grocery store, at a post office, in a school, or now a parade? Or things like that? It makes you wonder if doing those things are really worthwhile,” Self said. “I certainly hope that it can be improved and corrected and there are some things that can be done to make people more comfortable and wanting to live in a way where they don’t have to worry about the most innocent of things. It certainly will change the outlook of many people and already has. But, certainly, yesterday was another indication that we’re not moving in a very good direction.”