LAWRENCE, Kan.: Bill Self was downright curious to see what Kansas would appear like within the Big 12 Tournament when accidents to Hunter Dickinson and fellow All-American candidate Kevin McCullar Jr. dominated them out for the video games in Kansas City.
Turned out to be recreation — singular — as a result of the undersized, depth-challenged Jayhawks had been blown out by 20 by Cincinnati earlier than they might even unpack their luggage. And as curious as Self may need been final week, the sport underscored simply how little he needs to place a workforce on the ground with out Dickinson and McCullar for the NCAA Tournament this week.
“Gosh dang it, if we can get whole we can play with anybody. We’ve proven that,” mentioned Self, whose workforce is seeded fourth within the Midwest Region and caught with a tricky opening recreation in opposition to No. 13 seed Samford on Thursday in Salt Lake City.
Problem is the Jayhawks haven’t been wholesome shortly. While the shoulder damage that sidelined Dickinson occurred simply over every week in the past in a 30-point loss to Houston, the knee damage that benched McCullar has been lingering for weeks.
The 7-foot Dickinson did some non-contact work over the weekend, and Self anticipated to place in a full follow Monday and be prepared for the NCAA tourney. He additionally was optimistic — although removed from sure — that McCullar would be capable of play.
“The entire game plan on (McCullar) was hopefully on Monday he can be good to go and if he’s not good to go, then he won’t be, and then we’ll hope on Tuesday. But I don’t know as much about Kevin as I do Hunt,” Self mentioned. “When we get Hunter back, I think he automatically gives you confidence. He’s different that way, and he’ll give us more this time of year than ever.”
The Jayhawks aren’t the one workforce fretting their well being, although. Whether it’s top-seeded groups equivalent to Purdue and Houston or bubble groups equivalent to Colorado and Northwestern, lots of their NCAA tourney hopes may relaxation with the coaching room.
Houston misplaced Terrance Arceneaux to a torn Achilles tendon in December, Ramon Walker Jr. to a torn meniscus in February and Joseph Tugler to a damaged bone in his foot every week later. So, the Cougars’ entrance line already was skinny even earlier than J’Wan Roberts damage his proper leg of their Big 12 semifinal win over Texas Tech. Roberts began the title recreation in opposition to Iowa State however didn’t play within the second half, when the Cougars had been clobbered 69-41 on Saturday evening.
Purdue, which like Houston earned a No. 1 seed, will probably be intently monitoring the calf of All-Big Ten guard Braden Smith. He damage it in a convention quarterfinal win over Michigan State however didn’t seem too bothered by it in a semifinal loss to Wisconsin.
“He’s a tough guy,” mentioned Zach Edey, the Boilermakers’ all-everything heart. “I’ve never questioned if he’s going to play, if he’s going to be fine. In high school, he played like, half a season with a broken foot. He can go through pain. I have trust in him.”
Tyler Kolek has missed six straight video games for Marquette, seeded second within the South Region, because the All-American guard damage his indirect in opposition to Providence on Feb. 28. That consists of all three video games the Golden Eagles performed within the Big East tourney.
“The plan is for him to play,” mentioned Marquette coach Shaka Smart, whose workforce faces No. 15 seed Western Kentucky on Friday in Indianapolis, “but he’s got to go through a progression this week.”
The Golden Eagles additionally will probably be monitoring the standing of huge man Oso Ighodaro, who didn’t play down the stretch in opposition to UConn within the Big East title recreation after banging his left knee, and guard Stevie Mitchell, who has performed via a shoulder damage.
Texas Tech, seeded sixth within the South, has been with out 7-foot heart Warren Washington for a month due to a foot damage, whereas Darrion Williams damage his ankle within the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tourney in opposition to BYU. Williams tried warming earlier than the semifinals however didn’t play within the lopsided loss to Houston.
Meanwhile, BYU ahead Aly Khalifa damage his ankle within the second half of its loss to the Red Raiders. The Cougars, seeded sixth within the East, already had been with out Mark Adams Jr. and Dawson Baker for a lot of the season due to accidents.
Colorado will play Boise State in a First Four recreation Tuesday evening not sure of the standing of guard Julian Hammond III (knee) and ahead Cody Williams (ankle). The winner of that recreation will play No. 7 seed Florida, which misplaced Micah Handlogten to a damaged leg within the opening minutes of the Gators’ SEC closing loss to Auburn on Sunday.
Ninth-seeded Northwestern, lacking guard Ty Berry after a season-ending meniscus tear, hopes Matthew Nicholson is obtainable in opposition to No. 8 seed FAU on Friday in New York. The heart has been coping with a foot damage the previous two weeks.
Nevada was waylaid by the flu bug forward of the Mountain West Tournament final week — Wolf Pack coach Steve Alford guessed 5 or 6 gamers had it. They are all wholesome, although guard Hunter McIntosh stays iffy with a knee damage.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
