Absence of Star Duo – Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar – Costs Kansas Jayhawks Shocking Exit From Big 12

Published 03/14/2024, 9:28 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Kansas Jayhawks bids farewell to this year’s Big 12 tournament. A game that was expected to be an enticing NCAA fixture turned out to be a one-sided affair as Bearcats secured a resounding 72-52 victory over them. The absence of two of their key players made Kansas pay a huge price.

Soon after the game ended, experts gathered to further evaluate this unfortunate situation for Jayhawks. Some insights were also provided on the availability of Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson.

John Martin along with Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman had a thorough discussion on the exit of Kansas from the Big 12. Following their game closely, Goodman went ahead and said, ”One guy showed up for Kansas tonight. It was like playing one-on-five. That’s what I felt like watching this game tonight.” The standout Kansas performance he was referring to was that of KJ Adams Jr. He fought a lone battle and ended the night scoring 22 points, along with grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists.

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Following this, he heaped praises on the junior forward for the kind of exhibition he put forth. He further said, “KJ Adams was a warrior tonight on the glass. Doing everything he could. But ultimately, he needs help.” At the same time, he started pointing out what Jayhawks lacked throughout the night. Continuing his chain of thought, he added, “They don’t have enough. They should have pulled Zach Clemence out of the red shirt three months ago. Zach Clemence would’ve helped tonight.” 

Read More- After an Average Performance in the Big 12, Can the Kansas Still Be Contenders to the Conference Title?

Earlier, the popular basketball analyst shed some light on when the fans will get to see Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson in NCAA action again.

When’ll twin stars return to Kansas Jawhawks?

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Both these standout athletes have been forced to sit out the Big 12 tournament due to their respective injuries. While McCullar is currently recovering from his knee injury, the towering senior is having issues with his shoulder. Giving an update on that, Goodman said, “I talked to Kevin McCullar and he told me he’ll be back. This was more of a precautionary deal. Just to get the rest he needed. Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson are going to play. They’re gonna play in the NCAA tournament.” 

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Despite this update, the latest defeat serves as a huge disappointment for Jayhawks’ fans. Nonetheless, they will be glad to know that Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson will soon be stepping onto the court. It will be exciting to see how their comebacks will impact Kansas in the NCAA tournament.

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Read More- With Kevin McCullar, Hunter Dickinson, Are Kansas Jayhawks 2024 NCAA Title Contenders?

What are your thoughts on their return? Tell us in the comments section.

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Written by:

Shahryar Fazal

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Shahryar Fazal is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. His specialisation lies in his scrupulous Live Coverage of the events like NCAA and WNBA tournaments. A former sportsman himself, Shahryar used to contribute stories for publishing houses like TOI before taking up American sports as his field of interest.
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Edited by:

Bilal Handoo