Kansas basketball needed a walk-on player from the Jayhawk football team to win the Big 12 tournament opener. Fans on social media sent love to James Sosinski.
The Kansas basketball team has been thin in the front court all season. The Jayhawks did not need their All Big 12 second team center out as post season play begins. Udoka Azubuike is out of action for the Big 12 tournament with a knee sprain and coach Bill Self needed help. The good news, walk-on practice player from the football team James Sosinki was ready.
Mitch Lighftoot got the start in place of the 7-foot Azubuike. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Arizona played 23 minutes and scored the Jayhawks first basket in Thursday’s quarterfinal win over Oklahoma State. Lightfoot was active on defense, scored 8 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and missed his only free throw. He also fouled out.
Silvio De Sousa looked confident in his 17 minutes of action. The freshman used his big body to block out for 8 rebounds and score 6 points. Officials called four fouls on De Sousa. With Dok resting his knee on the bench, the Jayhawks didn’t need their primary front court replacements to get in foul trouble.
Combine his neck with Sosinski’s and you have two normal sized necks. pic.twitter.com/pQfGSgQDed
— Bad News (@sheriffwoody12) March 9, 2018
Sosinski sighting
— Jayhawk Junkies (@JayhawkJunkies) March 8, 2018
Just a minute but an important minute
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Just before halftime, just after ESPN’s announcers showed and talked about walk-on Sosinski, coach Self needed him. The 6-foot-7 tight end for Jayhawk football coach David Beaty looked confident as he joined the players on the Sprint Center basketball court. Social media exploded with a variety of comments. Sosinki did just what the Jayhawks needed.
As a matter of fact, the stat sheet shows Sosinki played just one minute and committed a foul. It was a big moment for the red-shirt sophomore. He filled the lane perfectly against Oklahoma State’s 6-foot-11 Yankuba Sima. Unfortunately, Sima, a 48 percent free throw shooter, made a couple charity tosses. The Jayhawks still took a lead into the halftime locker room. Self didn’t need Sosinki in the final 20 minutes Thursday but Sosinki proved he is more than ready to help this team win.