One day before what is expected to be their final games as Jayhawks inside Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas veterans Jalen Wilson and Kevin McCullar Jr. made it clear that Tuesday’s clash with Texas Tech would be it.
“I’m doing one speech,” Wilson said while smiling.
“Yeah, tomorrow’s my Senior Night,” McCullar added.
With that, the stage was set for the two Texans who grew up close friends but never played together until this season, to go out on the highest of notes in their final home games as college basketball players.
With a win, the third-ranked Jayhawks can clinch a share of the Big 12 Conference’s regular season title. And while the excitement and emotions of Senior Night will add to the memorable evening, Wilson said the chance to win a title was tops on his priority list.
“I don’t really feel any more pressure as far as what we have at stake,” Wilson said. “I could see if we needed a team to help us out. But if you (said) all we’ve got to do is win a game on Senior Night to win the conference, I’d put the house on that.”
The Jayhawks have won 39 consecutive Senior Nights, dating back to the 1983-84 season. And in that time, Kansas has said goodbye to some legendary players in this very game. Not many of them have had the impact of Wilson, KU coach Bill Self said Monday.
“Very few have left a place a lot better off than they found it like Jalen has,” Self said. “So, I’m very excited for him.”
Although six Jayhawks are on track to graduate in May — McCullar, Wilson, Dajuan Harris Jr., Cam Martin, Joe Yesufu and Michael Jankovich — only McCullar and Wilson will give senior speeches. Most of the rest of the group is either expected to return next season or already has done a senior night ceremony
Both Tuesday night honorees said they would have a lot of family in town and they expected handling their emotions to be a key part of coming out on top against a Texas Tech team that has won four of its last five games, with wins over Kansas State and Texas included in that stretch.
“My emotions will probably be all over the place,” Wilson said. “Maybe bawling, maybe not. I don’t know. I’ve kind of just been playing it (in) my head over and over again. I should be OK; but if my momma starts crying I’ll probably start crying, too.”
One thing Wilson said would keep his emotions in check is focusing on the job he has to do for this team to win. Wilson has been the unquestioned leader of this Kansas team, and he said that was something that was important to him as soon as the shine of last season’s national title dimmed.
“I knew a lot of people counted us out as far as losing all the guys that we did,” Wilson said. “I don’t think if you had asked a lot of people if we were going to be on top of the conference right now that they would agree with you. I knew it was going to be a big role to fill and I just wanted to accept that challenge. I just felt like that was my calling, to come back and be a leader and want to win again. I just wanted to maintain that greatness that we had last year.”
McCullar said he felt fortunate to be a part of the Kansas tradition and that it was wild that his final home game at Kansas would come against his former team in Texas Tech. To do all of it next to his old friend only made the experience that much more special.
“Playing for KU (has) been a blessing and it’s gone be super-fast,” McCullar said. “It has been fun, though. “We’re playing for a championship. That’s what I came to Kansas to do, so I know we’re going to leave it all on the line for that.”
Harris expected to play
Self said Monday that he was hopeful that point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. would practice Monday and that he anticipated everyone, nicked up or not, to be “full go” for Tuesday’s game.
Harris left the end of last Saturday’s win over West Virginia with a foot injury. Like McCullar, he also had been playing through a sore ankle.
Both played in the win over West Virginia and the entire team was given the day off on Sunday, with only a film session as their only scheduled team activity.
KU-Texas Tech series
Kansas leads the all-time series with TTU 42-7, which includes three consecutive wins, victories in seven of the last eight matchups and Kansas prevailing 25 of the last 28 times the two teams met.
Earlier this season, KU traveled to Lubbock, Texas, and knocked off the Red Raiders in a game that came down to the final seconds. Both teams have changed since that game in early January, which Self said felt like “two seasons ago,” and both are playing for a lot in the rematch.
KU is battling for a title and a No. 1 seed. And Tech is fighting to sneak its way into the NCAA Tournament field.
KenPom.com lists KU as a 10-point favorite and gives the Jayhawks an 83% win probability rate.
No. 3 Kansas
G – Dajuan Harris Jr., 6-1, 175, Jr.
G – Kevin McCullar Jr., 6-6, 210, Sr.
G – Gradey Dick, 6-8, 205, Fr.
F – Jalen Wilson, 6-8, 225, Jr.
F – KJ Adams, 6-7, 225, Soph.
Texas Tech
G – Pop Isaacs, 6-2, 170, Fr.
G – De’Vion Harmon, 6-2, 205, Sr.
G – Jaylon Tyson, 6-6, 210, Soph.
F – Kevin Obanor, 6-8, 235, Sr.
F – Fardaws Aimaq, 6-11, 245, RS-Sr.
Nick Krug
