The performance of Kevin McCullar will be the deciding factor as to whether Kansas basketball can secure its second national title in three years.
The Kansas Jayhawks are projected to enter the preseason as the No. 1 team in the nation. Although KU will need everyone to contribute in order to win another national championship, the X-factor of this squad is super senior wing Kevin McCullar.
McCullar, who surprisingly withdrew his name from the NBA Draft in May, is the player that put this Jayhawks squad over the top. A transfer from Texas Tech, he’s entering his fifth and final season of collegiate basketball after averaging a career-high 10.7 points per game last season. He also posted an average of 7 rebounds and 2 steals.
The reason he is KU’s most important piece is that he is the team’s glue guy. McCullar was arguably the best defensive wing in the Big 12 last year, and he will only continue to build on his game for NBA scouts. While players like Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson are more well-known names, the performance of McCullar could be a deciding factor for KU’s success.
Even though McCullar isn’t considered the star of the show, he is still mentoring his teammates early in the offseason. In fact, he had high praise for the Virginia native in an interview with The Kansas City Star.
“He does everything well. He’s not just going to be a big guy who is going to be on the post,” McCullar added. “He can step out and shoot it. It’s not just about his scoring ability. The way he rebounds the ball and the way he sees guys on the offensive end passing … it is pretty nice.”
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He thinks that Kansas is in a much better spot than they were last season. “We have every piece that we need this year. It’s about us buying in and me being a leader and being one of the guys on the team that’s going to have to go and do it.”
In order for the Jayhawks to win their third national championship since 2008, glue guys like McCullar and Dajuan Harris will have to show out during March Madness.
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