Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr., Hunter Dickinson out of Big 12 tourney

Field Level Media|published: Mon 11th March, 20:49 2024

Dec 16, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) and guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) celebrate in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. credits: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Injured Kansas stars Kevin McCullar Jr. and Hunter Dickinson won't play in this week's Big 12 tournament, but coach Bill Self said on Monday that he expects the pair will play in the NCAA Tournament next week.

McCullar missed the second half of the No. 14 Jayhawks' 76-46 loss to No. 1 Houston on Saturday after aggravating a knee injury, while Dickinson dislocated his right shoulder in the second half.

On his weekly radio show Monday, Self added that the plan for McCullar and Dickinson, who are among the 15 finalists for the Wooden Award, is to return to practice by early next week.

"We should be the most healthy we've been in a long time when the NCAA Tournament starts," Self said.

Self said that Dickinson didn't tear his labrum and won't require surgery.

"Actually, he's far better off than what the doctors and the trainers even imagined," Self said. "He's got good range of motion, he's already started rehab, all those things."

McCullar has been dealing with a bone bruise since January and he hurt the knee again in Tuesday's game against Kansas State. He played through pain in the first half on Saturday before exiting.

Dickinson had 11 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes before exiting. He is averaging 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in 31 games.

McCullar was scoreless on 0-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes. He is averaging 18.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 26 games.

Sixth-seeded Kansas (22-9), which will play the winner of No. 11 seed Cincinnati and No. 14 seed West Virginia on Wednesday in Kansas City, has lost five of its past nine games.

—Field Level Media