‘Happy and having fun,’ KU’s Kevin McCullar getting ready for Senior Night game Tuesday
Kevin McCullar’s senior season at the University of Kansas has sped by in the blink of an eye.
“Every time I step on that court playing for KU, it has been a blessing. It’s gone by super fast. It’s the fastest season I’ve ever had. It’s crazy I’ll be playing Tech, too, in my last home game,” McCullar, KU’s 6-foot-6, 210-pound transfer guard formerly of Texas Tech said Monday afternoon on the eve of his final home game as a collegian.
Tipoff for the battle between the Red Raiders (16-13, 5-11) and No. 3-ranked Jayhawks (24-5, 12-4) is 8 p.m. with a live broadcast on ESPN.
McCullar, who averages 11.1 points a game on 43.8% shooting on offense while being known as one of the top defenders in the country, will give a Senior Night speech after the KU-Tech game as well as forward Jalen Wilson. There also could be a trophy presentation late Tuesday night. If KU wins, it would assure itself at least a tie for the Big 12 regular-season men’s basketball crown.
“Happy and having fun,” McCullar said Monday in summarizing his one campaign in Lawrence.
The San Antonio native will be playing his final home game as a Jayhawk in front of his mom, grandmother, dad and sister making the trip from Texas.
What can they and 16,300 fans expect in Kevin’s address to the spectators?
“I’ll definitely freestyle it, kind of take from the heart I guess,” McCullar said.
He’s quite a defender
Suffice it to say McCullar has had a major impact on KU’s program since arriving for summer school classes on KU’s campus in June.
His defense has been as strong as it was last season at Tech, maybe better.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever coach somebody with a defensive IQ like Marcus Garrett, but he’s got ‘it,’” KU coach Bill Self said, extending the highest compliment imaginable to McCullar, since Garrett is one of Self’s favorite players in 20 seasons at KU.
While acknowledging that “Marcus is the best defender I’ll ever coach; we’ll never have another one like that,” defensive-minded coach Self gushes about McCullar in similar terms.
“Understanding, covering for mistakes, knowing when to bluff and when to get back … this dude is at a different level,” Self said. “He sees it like a professional when it comes to that end of the court. He’s a terrific basketball player.”
McCullar is KU’s third leading scorer. He has a team-leading 60 steals (two more than Dajuan Harris) on the defensive end.
He also contributes 7.3 rebounds per game (second to Wilson’s 8.4 rpg) with 71 total assists, 60 turnovers and 19 blocks.
As far as that Garrett comparison … the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Garrett, who plays in the NBA G League, averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists during his senior year (2020-21) at KU with 47 steals, 106 assists and 56 turnovers.
“I remember playing against Marcus my freshman year at Texas Tech,” McCullar recalled. “He was an all-around defender. On the scouting report, coach Beard (Chris, former Tech coach) who was there at the time, he was telling us he (Garrett) was one of the best defenders he ever coached against.
“Hearing that praise from coach (Self) is great. It’s a great feeling. I still have a lot of work to be done (but) that’s a big shout out,” McCullar added.
Some of McCullar’s highlights
Here are just a few of the McCullar highlights that have led to KU victories:
• He blocked Bryce Thompson’s potential overtime-inducing layup in the final seconds of KU’s 69-67 win over the Oklahoma State on Dec. 31 at Allen Fieldhouse.
• He had five steals (to go with 21 points) in KU’s 95-67 rout over rival Missouri on Dec. 10 in Columbia.
• He hit a crucial three late and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 77-68 road win over Kentucky on Jan. 28.
• He blocked a shot and tied up TCU’s Damion Baugh (KU got the ball on the alternate possession) with the Jayhawks up three late in a 63-58 win at TCU on Feb. 20. Following the great defensive play McCullar, a 77.7% free-throw shooter, then hit two free throws with 1.5 seconds left to give KU a two-possession advantage.
• He hit a three with 11.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in a 69-68 win over Wisconsin on Nov. 24.
• He was fouled on a successful drive to the hoop, scored and cashed a free throw to give his team a 75-73 lead with :42 left in a 79-75 home win over Oklahoma on Jan. 10.
Obviously he’s been the difference in winning and losing several games just as Garrett was in his four years at KU.
High praise from Hall of Famer Self
“To me Kevin was the perfect fit for us (he chose KU over runnerup Gonzaga out of transfer portal) because he fit the way how we played,” Self said. “He can be an emergency point guard, could be a 4-man, a 2 a 3, handles it well enough. He’s long enough, big enough to do all the spots. He’s certainly impacted us in a positive way.
“The way he’s fit in and the way that he’s basically made it so much easier on everyone on the defensive end. … Our defense to me has not been great. We are ninth in country in defensive efficiency. We’d have no chance to even be close (to that) if it weren’t for Kevin. There’s big dropoff when he not in the game defensively. That’s a primary reason why he spends a majority of time in the game.”
Self noted that McCullar is a good example for younger players.
“He plays with a joy, plays with a a passion,” Self said, noting, “he and Jalen (who hails from Denton, Texas) are ridiculously close. As they say in Oklahoma they are ‘tighter than 7 and 8.’ You can tell they are. They really are close. I do think all the guys love these guys (the two seniors). We have a pretty close-knit group. Kevin has fit in well. He’s a good leader. Everyone totally respects his abilities and voice. He’s done a good job in the locker room as well.”
Teammates do love McCullar
Of McCullar, freshman Gradey Dick said: “He’s been huge. He’s got that experience, has been here before and just knows how to play the right way as well as helping us all on and off the court.”
Noted junior point guard Dajuan Harris: “He does everything. He rebounds, plays defense, (and) he can score and is a leader along with me, J-Wil and some other guys.”
One and done at KU
McCullar and Wilson, for that matter, both made it clear Monday this will be it for them at KU as they turn pro after the season. Both will leave some collegiate eligibility on the table: Wilson two years; McCullar one.
“I tried to come in here and try to execute this year, try to help us win games, see where the chips fell. I just went with that,” McCullar said.
Asked jokingly by a reporter if the duo for some reason gives sub-par speeches after Tuesday’s game they might return to give encore talks on Senior Night after the 2023-24 campaign, Wilson said: “I think my speech will be pretty good. I’m comfortable talking to the fans. I’m doing one speech.”
McCullar chimed in: “Yeah the speech should be pretty good. My Senior Night (speech).”
