Did KU hoops’ Kevin McCullar (groin strain) consider sitting out vs. Seton Hall? ‘Nah’
Kansas senior men’s basketball guard Kevin McCullar wasn’t tempted to sit out a second game in a row Thursday night just to make sure his strained groin was completely healed.
“Nah,” the 6-foot-6 former Texas Tech combo guard said with a smile, asked if there was ever a doubt he wouldn’t partake in Thursday night’s 91-65 rout of Seton Hall because of the groin injury he sustained in the first half of KU’s loss to Tennessee last Friday.
McCullar missed Monday night’s win over Texas Southern.
“It was just, ‘Listen to my body.’ I’ve been through more severe stuff than that (at Tech, where he had an ankle injury that forced him to miss some games last season). This was just a little tweak,” McCullar said. “I got in the training room and thanks to ‘Cheddar’ (trainer Bill Cowgill), he got me back right. I’ve been working my tail off. I’ve been through adversity before. I’m used to it. I had a good game tonight and we came out with a W.”
The transfer from San Antonio, Texas, looked 100% healthy on Thursday. He scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting (3-of-4 from three) with 10 rebounds and four of KU’s 15 steals in the Jayhawks’ runaway victory in the Big 12/Big East Battle.
McCullar played 35 minutes and was a steadying force on both ends all night, as KU improved to 8-1 overall. Seton Hall dropped to 4-4.
“I thought he was great. I thought it was the best offensive game Kevin has played all year,” KU coach Bill Self said.
McCullar’s KU career high is 18 points, which he notched against Wisconsin in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis. He had 24 points for Texas Tech in a win over Grambling last November.
“He was efficient. He got us off to a great start. He was confident,” Self said. “Defensively, his hands are so good. He got four steals. I thought it was the best offensive game he’s had. And (in the) least efficient offensive game other than Tennessee that Gradey (Dick, 15 points) and Jalen (Wilson, 15 points, 13 boards) played, Kevin kind of stepped up in that situation.”
Self said he did not consider holding McCullar out a second straight game.
“He practiced yesterday. If he hadn’t practiced yesterday I may have,” Self said. “Bill (Cowgill) said he was good to go. I knew we were going to play him today.”
KU freshman big man Ernest Udeh, who scored a career-high 10 points for the Jayhawks, spoke of McCullar’s performance and importance to the team after the game.
“It’s a great thing. Kevin is a veteran. At the end of the day he knows what he’s talking about,” Udeh said. “I just got here. Regardless, whatever he says I’ve got to listen and take it all in. He’s talking to me every day, mental things, keep my head in it. I really appreciate that from him. He’s my brother, family, so yes I appreciate it.”
McCullar interjected a response upon hearing such praise. “Aww …” McCullar exclaimed with a smile.
The Jayhawks on Thursday had six players score in double figures for the first time since Nov. 15, 2019, vs. Monmouth. McCullar led the way with 17. Dick added 15, while Wilson (15), KJ Adams (11), Dajuan Harris (11) and Udeh (10) scored in double figures.
Against Monmouth, the six double-digit scorers were Isaiah Moss (21), Devon Dotson (17), David McCormack (17), Udoka Azubuike (12), Christian Braun (11) and Silvio De Sousa (11).
KU’s 15 steals were most by a Jayhawk team since the Jayhawks had 15 on Nov. 11, 2011 vs Towson.
“We made shots early from three that gave us a little bit of a lead,” said Self. The Jayhawks hit 4 of 11 threes in the first half (Seton Hall was 0-for-7) in building a 40-29 halftime margin.
“We never guarded them (Seton Hall hit 43.8% of its shots including 4 of 19 threes, 19 of 32 free throws). We rebounded the ball decent (37 rebounds to Seton Hall’s 25). We got a lot of steals. If you could get a team to promise not to set one ball screen, our defense would be a lot better. That would be all you’d have to do. We did some good things other than that. Offensively, even though it was not our best, we had a lot of guys contribute and we had some balance,” Self added.
Kadary Richmond had 17 points, but also had seven turnovers for the Pirates. Tyrese Samuel added 16 points.
KU will next meet Missouri at 4:15 p.m. a week from Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
“There’s no reason we shouldn’t be rested before we play Mizzou,” Self said, “and there’s some things we definitely need to work on. Hopefully we’ll be better equipped when we go over there.”
This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 12:18 AM.
