No. 15 Kansas just took a massive hit: starting guard Melvin Council Jr. is out until around the start of Big 12 play after he broke his right foot in practice Monday. This is a gut punch, especially with their brutal nonconference schedule lurking and the No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats coming up fast.
A Crushing Blow to the Jayhawk Backcourt
Council snapped the fifth metatarsal in his foot during Monday’s practice and is headed for surgery in the next few days. Coach Bill Self confirmed the news, saying they “expect a full recovery” and are “hopeful he will return around the start of the conference season.” That means no Council until at least January 2, when the Jayhawks open Big 12 play at home against West Virginia. This isn’t just a tough break, it’s a huge problem. Council isn’t just some guy, he was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season, starting all 35 games and putting up a stellar 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. Even in their 2-0 start this season, he was averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 boards. The dude is crucial, and he is playing this season under an injunction against the NCAA, arguing his junior college years shouldn’t count against his Division I eligibility. That’s a whole other layer of wild. Now, his team has to navigate a gauntlet without him.
Who Steps Up? The Nonconference Gauntlet is Here
Self is now scrambling for a new starter in the backcourt to play alongside freshman Taylen Kinney. The obvious candidates are sophomore Leroy Blyden Jr. and senior Keanu Dawes, who both saw significant minutes off the bench in their last game, an 89-45 blowout win over Middle Tennessee. Don’t forget freshman Tyran Stokes either, who chose Kansas over Kentucky and could definitely take on more ball-handling duties. It’s a trial by fire, because Council is missing a nasty nonconference stretch that includes Villanova, UConn, Ohio State, and a huge tilt against UNLV. Oh, and did we mention No. 24 Kentucky in the Champions Classic? Yeah, that’s Tuesday. The Jayhawks also have former Purdue star Trey Kaufman-Renn, who joined the team just before the season started and is also playing under an injunction. Talk about depth challenges right out of the gate.
This squad has to be ready to roll immediately. No. 15 Kansas and No. 24 Kentucky tip off Tuesday at about 9:30 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago. You can catch the action on ESPN. Without Council, every possession, every rebound, every assist is going to be under the microscope. Let’s see who rises to the occasion.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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