Kansas basketball coach Bill Self dropped some tough news before the Jayhawks’ exhibition tilt against Duke on Sunday, revealing that sophomore guard Kohl Rosario suffered a concussion in practice recently. The injury is no joke: Rosario caught an elbow to the mouth, needed 14 stitches, and underwent some oral surgery. That’s a brutal blow before the season even truly gets going.
Rosario’s Rough Start and Kaufman-Renn’s Ankle Scare
Rosario’s concussion immediately sidelined him from the exhibition game, and Self indicated that he’s likely going to be out until at least mid-week. When you’re talking about an elbow to the mouth that requires 14 stitches and surgery, “mid-week” feels like an optimistic target. This kid just took a serious shot, and it’s a stark reminder that even practice can be incredibly physical. Losing a guard like that right at the outset, even for an exhibition, highlights the fragility of a roster, and it forces a team to adapt immediately.
Adding to the early season injury concerns, fifth-year forward Trey Kaufman-Renn also sat out the Duke exhibition. Self clarified that while Kaufman-Renn wasn’t going to be thrown into the game just to get in shape, he too was “nicked up” in a recent practice. Post-game, Self elaborated, explaining that Kaufman-Renn turned his ankle. Good news is, he practiced Saturday, and Self expects him to “be fine” and “hopefully 100% and be ready to go.” The caveat, though, is his conditioning isn’t great. Self was smart not to put him out there, worried about him pulling a groin or something and setting the team back even further. It’s that delicate balance of getting guys ready without risking more serious injury.
What These Early Injuries Mean for the Jayhawks’ Schedule
While Coach Self notes that Kansas is “relatively healthy overall,” these two players “have the potential to contribute when fully available,” and there’s a lot of “anticipation surrounding what Kaufman-Renn could mean for the team this season.” The Jayhawks are ranked tied for #18 in the preseason coaches poll, and they’ve got some big aspirations, both in the Big 12 Conference and nationally. They lost both their major preseason exhibitions, falling to #2 Duke 90-84 and #11 Louisville, but those were close games against top competition. It shows they can compete, but they need their roster healthy and clicking.
Kansas has a bit of breathing room before the schedule gets truly brutal. The regular season tips off on November 2 at home against Fordham, followed by another mid-major game on November 6 at home against Middle Tennessee. After that, though, things get tough fast. They’ll face #23 Kentucky in the Champions Classic on November 10 in Chicago, and then head to Las Vegas for the Players Era event as November rolls on. Getting Rosario and Kaufman-Renn back to full strength and game-ready is going to be critical as they prepare for that gauntlet. You’ve gotta wonder how quickly they can integrate back into the system once they’re cleared to play, especially with the conditioning concerns for Kaufman-Renn.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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