Why Bill Self gave Melvin Council Jr. a day off — and how the KU guard responded
After a dream senior regular season, Melvin Council Jr., Kansas’ team leader in minutes played, struggled big-time in last week’s Big 12 postseason tournament.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard from Rochester, New York, combined for just 11 points on 4-of-26 shooting in a win over TCU and blowout quarterfinal loss to Houston. That included going 1-for-8 from 3.
The Jayhawk iron man’s rare off night Friday night against Houston — he missed 13 of 14 shots and scored four points while playing 35 minutes in a 69-47 setback to the Cougars — prompted coach Bill Self to rest Council not only on the team’s off day Saturday but during Sunday’s intense practice.
“He actually wanted to practice. They didn’t let him, so that was hilarious,” sophomore guard Jamari McDowell said. “He was just in there (practice gym) giving out water and hand claps and stuff like that, brining energy.”
Council says he’s feeling as invigorated and motivated as ever heading into KU’s first regional NCAA Tournament game against Cal Baptist (8:45 p.m., Friday, Viejas Arena). But he confessed to being shocked at having a mandatory rest day Sunday.
He’s averaged 34.8 minutes per game this season after averaging 37.1 per game last season at St. Bonaventure.
“I was kind of upset because I didn’t know I was going to get a day off,” Council said Thursday during KU’s interview session at Viejas Arena. “I wanted to be there with my brothers. I’m good, though. Coach knew what was best for me. I’d say it was an honor he did that, but I was kind of hurt, too at the same time.”
Council watched intently from the sidelines at practice.
“Most definitely, rebounding and clapping,” he said, “keeping the energy alive. I was being a water boy, yeah, but it was good.”
KU coach Self said he feels Council appears “fresh as a daisy. He’s logged the most minutes, I guess, of anybody. He plays at a pretty high pace. And when he’s best, he’s got energy. I felt he looked tired (last weekend.”
Council, who may a take a turn or two guarding high-scoring Cal Baptist guard Dominique Daniels Jr. on Friday, said it’s no big deal to play almost the entire game, every game.
He’s averaged 12.9 points per game on 39.6% shooting (31.3% from 3) this season for the No. 4 seeded Jayhawks, who take a 23-10 record into the game against the No. 13 seed Lancers (25-8) of the Western Athletic Conference.
“I’ve been doing that since I was young,” he shrugged.
Self on Thursday praised Council immensely during KU’s media availability.
“Melvin’s our energizer,” Self said. “Personality … people feed off his energy and personality more so than anybody on the team. When you talk about portal gets, to me, he’s probably about as good a portal get for us as anybody’s had as a portal get. Because without him, especially not having Darryn (Peterson) full speed (much of the season), he’s saved us.”
Council does have NCAA Tournament experience. He scored 21 points and led Wagner to a 71-68 win over Howard in the 2024 First Four in Dayton, Ohio. Wagner lost in the first round to North Carolina 90-64 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Not a lot of people know that,” Council said with a smile. “So I’m not nervous at all. I’m just excited to play, new team, new group of brothers, and I can’t wait.”
He said he’ll have no problem getting over his subpar performance in the Big 12 tourney. That has nothing to do with the Big Dance, he said.
“I’m just being myself. My energy is not going to change. The whole pace of the basketball won’t change throughout tomorrow, and I can’t wait,” he said. “I don’t like losing. Nobody does, so we’re going to fight. Anything we got to do to win, we’ll do it.”
He said the players are in a great frame of mind for the NCAAs. If KU beats Cal Baptist it would meet either St. John’s or Northern Iowa in Sunday’s Round of 32. The winner advances to the Sweet 16 in Washington, D.C.
“We’ve got new players and everybody thinks Kansas can’t do it. We still have to reach our ceiling,” Council said. “Hopefully we reach our ceiling in March. Outside noise is blocked because we know what we’ve got and what the coaches have got.”
Council’s teammates know what they’ve got in Council: a team-oriented player with an infectious personality who can be relied upon to play a lot of minutes.
“He’s full of energy any time in the day, any time of the night. It’s something we can depend on. We look for that energy, especially before the game,” McDowell said. “He’s somebody we count on and wants what’s best for all of us at all times.”
