It’s been five long years since Kansas University’s football team last played in a bowl game.
That drought may end next season, says Mario Kinsey, KU’s freshman football quarterback/basketball point guard from Waco, Texas.
“I am very hungry for a bowl game,” said Kinsey, who watched with interest as seven Big 12 teams played in bowls this past postseason. “I watch games on TV and see Big 12 schools in a lot of bowl games. We are one of the teams not in a bowl game. I hope next year things go right and we can go to a little bowl and work our way up,” added the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder.
Kinsey he’s expected to contend for a starting berth at QB next season is backup point guard for the Jayhawks, who are 11-1 entering Saturday’s Big 12 opener at 6-5 Texas Tech. Tipoff is 8:05 p.m. at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
“I am very happy with everything,” Kinsey said. “I just wish I could do more more assists, more rebounds and steals and use my quickness more than I have so far.”
Kinsey, who has been slowed by the flu and a pair of anterior compartment syndrome surgeries, has averaged 2.1 points and 1.3 assists per game in nine games.
He’s hit five of 21 shots (.238) and one of seven threes while registering eight steals, 12 assists and 17 turnovers.
“I am very disappointed in my stats,” Kinsey said. “I feel it’s because of the injuries and stuff. I’ve not been able to go in the gym by myself when nobody else is around and just work out. I feel in the Big 12 my shooting will be much better.”
That’s because he’s getting healthier and healthier. Anterior compartment surgery is serious business.
“I am somewhere between 90 and 95 percent,” Kinsey said. “Hopefully by the Oklahoma game (a week from Saturday) I will be back 100 percent. The flu bug is still in me just a little bit. My legs are fine. I think they are back under me.”
He says college basketball is much different from Texas high school hoops.
“Now that I know what college basketball is all about, I think things are going to improve for me,” Kinsey said. “My role is to go into the game for Kirk, pick up where he left off and make no turnovers.”
Kinsey has some extra incentive heading into Saturday’s Texas Tech game.
“It’s very exciting to go home and play,” said Kinsey. “My mom has not been able to come to a game yet. She is sick and won’t be able to make it to Lubbock. But she’ll be there for the Baylor game (Feb. 12 in Waco).
“It’ll be a thrill to have my mom see me play my first game. My dad and brother will be in Lubbock and my uncle.”
He’s sad that his 3-year-old daughter also won’t be in Lubbock on Saturday. He’ll be reunited with his daughter at the game in Waco. His daughter is very important to him, Kinsey crediting Christmas and spending time with his daughter as a cure for some homesickness.
“I’d like to play well in Texas in front of some of the people who saw me play in high school,” Kinsey said.
Recruiting: KU signee Keith Langford of North Crowley High in Crowley, Texas was MVP of the Texas Whataburger Tournament in which the shooting guard averaged 25 points in four games and scored 29 points in the title game.
His North Crowley High team is 17-5 overall.
