After a stretch of poor performances, it has become evident that the Kansas basketball team direly needs Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar at full health if they are going to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The pair of All-Big 12 First Team honorees missed the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament before the Jayhawks were subsequently eliminated by Cincinnati in a blowout loss. Dickinson dislocated his shoulder in the regular season finale at Houston, while McCullar has nursed a bone bruise in his knee for two months.
On Selection Sunday, Kansas learned they would open March Madness with a game against No. 13 Samford this Thursday. While the Jayhawks' recent struggles have made them a popular first-round upset pick, head coach Bill Self had some encouraging news for the Jayhawk faithful during his press conference earlier this week.
"Dickinson is doing great,” Self said. “He’s actually practiced the last two days, non-contact. We’ve done a lot of dry stuff so that way he could be out there. That way, he’ll go contact ”
If Dickinson followed his initial practice schedule, he should be near 100% by now and taking contact in practice. Self noted last week that he was progressing very quickly in his recovery. There have not been any reports suggesting Dickinson would be in any way limited against the Bulldogs.
“Kevin, I haven’t seen do anything,” Self said about McCullar. “The entire game plan on him was hopefully on Monday, he’ll be good to go. If he’s not good to go then he won’t be and we’ll hope on Tuesday.”
While his comments about McCullar might seem more vague, Self is likely referring to the treatment plan the medical staff gave McCullar to rest his knee. He was not with the team because he was taking an extended break rather than undergoing rigorous rehab like Dickinson.
Returning the two potential All-Americans is a must for Kansas basketball, but they appear to be on the right track to return. Kansas and Samford will meet at 8:55 p.m. local time after Gonzaga and McNeese State finish their game.
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