Coming off a disappointing road loss to Creighton, the Kansas basketball team has an opportunity to right the ship against Mizzou in the Border Showdown. Bill Self and the fanbase would love nothing more than to bounce back and crush their bitter rivals in their home arena.
With only three games remaining on the nonconference slate before a long break, the Jayhawks should be well-rested heading into league play. However, they were dealing with injuries last time out, missing two key players on the court. Will either of them return to compete vs. the Tigers? Find out in our injury report below.
Kansas basketball injury report vs. Mizzou
Rylan Griffen: Probable (Flu)
Shakeel Moore: Out (Foot)
Kansas certainly struggled with the absence of Rylan Griffen last time out, who was unable to play in the contest after contracting the flu. They could have used his perimeter shooting and defense on the wing in the loss. Regardless, Coach Self told reporters postgame that KU is expected to get its standout transfer back on Sunday.
“He had symptoms yesterday,” Self said. “That’s why he didn’t come. I’d like to say we could have used him tonight, but the reality of it is, I don’t know if he would have been actually able to go. We will practice again on Friday and we anticipate him being out there.”
Jayhawk fans shouldn’t count on seeing Mississippi State transfer Shakeel Moore on the court this weekend — or anytime soon. Coach Self revealed that Moore suffered a setback in his recovery from surgery on a broken ankle. This latest development could sideline him well into the season, potentially keeping him out even beyond the start of conference play.
Although the opponent isn't nearly as formidable, the Jayhawks should benefit significantly from having Griffen back in the lineup against Mizzou. He seems to be on the right track and feeling better. If Griffen does return, it could lead to slightly reduced workloads for AJ Storr and Rakease Passmore.