After a week-long rest between games, the Kansas basketball team dominated Texas in the two schools' final meeting before they depart for the SEC. The Jayhawks left Allen Fieldhouse with a convincing 86-67 victory, improving their overall record to 21-6.
While Kansas had one of its best all-around performances of the regular season, they were without potential All-American and leading scorer in the Big 12, Kevin McCullar. The super senior guard reaggravated a knee injury when he returned against Oklahoma last week and missed yesterday's contest.
Nicolas Timberlake started in McCullar's place, scoring 13 points and grabbing three rebounds on 3-for-6 shooting in 33 minutes. The Jayhawks also saw increased bench production thanks to some electric plays by freshman guards Jamari McDowell and Elmarko Jackson.
Even with McCullar's absence, KU played one of its best games of the year. The team is 3-1 when he does not play, including a win over Baylor at home. However, CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein was not moved after the game. He posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) that raised some eyebrows after the win.
"Allen Fieldhouse always solves a lot of problems, but I'm officially very concerned about Kansas moving forward with Kevin McCullar's knee situation," Rothstein tweeted. "The Jayhawks have a small margin for error with him. Without him? Can lose to anyone on a neutral court."
Allen Fieldhouse always solves a lot of problems, but I'm officially very concerned about Kansas moving forward with Kevin McCullar's knee situation. The Jayhawks have a small margin for error with him. Without him? Can lose to anyone on a neutral court.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 25, 2024
The tweet is odd for a number of reasons. Fans have called out Rothstein and his disregard for Kansas basketball multiple times in the past. Posting that after a 19-point win over a team that will likely make the NCAA Tournament makes it seem as though he just wants to doubt them.
He mentions Allen Fieldhouse as if Kansas didn't just defeat a ranked school away from home. More importantly, it doesn't take a sophisticated basketball mind to figure out a team will need some soul-searching when the leading scorer in the NCAA's best conference goes down to injury.
McCullar could be out for an extended period of time, and head coach Bill Self will need other players to step up until he returns. Regardless, there was no reason for Rothstein to send out that tweet.