Indianapolis — Kansas forward David McCormack has rejoined his teammates after arriving in Indianapolis on Friday morning, KU coach Bill Self told the Journal-World.
“Yes. The eagle has landed,” Self wrote in a text message.
McCormack, who stayed back in Lawrence this week as part of his COVID-19 quarantine, has been cleared to play in Saturday’s 12:15 p.m. opening-round NCAA Tournament game against Eastern Washington at Farmers Coliseum.
However, how much he plays, and how effective he will be, still remains uncertain.
Earlier this week, Self said the third-seeded Jayhawks were preparing for their first-round game with EWU as if they would have McCormack in extremely limited fashion and that getting him for anything close to his normal workload would be “a bonus.”
McCormack, in 27 games so far this season, is the Jayhawks’ second leading scorer (13.4 points per game) and second leading rebounder (6.1) in 23 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., missed KU’s lone Big 12 Tournament game against Oklahoma after entering into COVID-19 protocols early last week.
McCormack and roommate Tristan Enaruna both stayed back in Lawrence while the Jayhawks competed in Kansas City, Mo. KU then left for Indianapolis on Monday and the team has been preparing, and testing, throughout the week in Indiana.
Even if just mentally, getting McCormack back qualifies as a big lift for Kansas, who will be playing both small and shorthanded when it opens this year’s tournament.
Both Enaruna and starting wing Jalen Wilson have been ruled out for Saturday’s game because of COVID-19 issues. If Kansas advances, Wilson could rejoin the team on Monday for Round 2. Enaruna is expected to be out until at least the Sweet 16 if the Jayhawks can get there.
According to statistics released by the NCAA on Thursday, more than 9,100 tests administered this week to all Tier 1, 2 and 3 individuals in Indianapolis for this year’s NCAA Tournament produced just eight positive results.
That’s a positivity rate of less than 0.1%.
