SAD NEWS: This Is The End Of The Journey Am Done I Won’t Play Again Kevin McCullar ” Says As He Depart To .…

Kansas guard Kevin McCullar, who has missed significant time due to a bone bruise in his left knee, won’t play in the NCAA Tournament, coach Bill Self announced on Tuesday. “Kevin is not going to play,” Self said. “Kevin says his knee pain has not subsided any and it’s too bad for him to be able to contribute. So Kevin will not play.”

And it’s not just for the opener. He’s out for March Madness. “He’s out,” Self said. “We’re shutting him down for the tournament. If we are fortunate enough to win two games, we’d have done it without him. You know, he hasn’t practiced in six weeks, basically.

He hasn’t done more damage to his knee. He tried to do it (play) and said he just couldn’t go.” The loss is a significant one for the Jayhawks. McCullar averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Jayhawks this season. He was named an All-America honorable mention by the AP on Tuesday.

After the news broke on Tuesday, McCullar took to the social-media platform X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his efforts to play. “In regard to me not playing in March Madness, if I could play, I would,” McCullar said. “I am more dev

astated than anyone, knowing that I can’t play and compete alongside my team and that my college career has now come to an end. “I have done everything that I possibly could have done to get back playing at a high level to help my team. This included 6-7 hours a day with the training staff at Kansas for over a month now, while not participating in practice but competing in games.

” He continued. “While trying various treatment options, it is simply not where it needs to be to play the game,” McCullar said. “With a collective agreement between myself, the coaches and the Kansas team doctors, it was decided that I should not play.” The super-senior guard will remain with the team as long as the Jayhawks remain in the tournament. He will not require surgery, according to Self.

Either Elmarko Jackson or Nick Timberlake will start in McCullar’s place. McCullar and KU center Hunter Dickinson missed the Big 12 Tournament last week in Kansas City. Self had previously stated he hoped both could play in the NCAA Tournament. Dickinson, it appears, will attempt to play. “Hunt looks great,” Self said.

”He’s practiced basically every day since Saturday, non-contact, and then the last two day have been full contact.” McCullar did attempt to play in KU’s regular-season finale against Houston, but he appeared for only 15 minutes. He did not score in that time, and he sat out the second half with pain in his knee. Afterward, Self said he wished McCullar hadn’t played at all. “He tried,” Self said of McCullar on Tuesday.

“He was going through rehab. It just didn’t get any better. The other weeks, it progressively got a little bit better; this week it just didn’t. (After) consultation with doctors and Kevin where he is mentally and physically right now, it’s best for him to go ahead and shut it down — unfortunately for us, more so for him. But it was really no decision to be made because he can’t go.” The No. 4 seed Jayhawks will continue to prep for a Thursday matchup with No. 13 Samford (29-5) in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64.