Kansas basketball is kicking off its regular season tonight against Fordham, but whether fifth-year forward Trey Kaufman-Renn or sophomore guard Kohl Rosario will actually hit the court is still a massive question mark. These two guys have the capability to be huge contributors, and everyone’s watching how Kaufman-Renn especially can raise the ceiling for the No. 18 Jayhawks. You’d think coach Bill Self would have a solid read by now, but the situation is more tangled than a fresh ball of yarn.
Kaufman-Renn’s Status: Coach Says He’s Playing, But What Are the “Unknowns”?
Trey Kaufman-Renn, the transfer from Purdue, has been on a wild ride already. He didn’t even play in the final preseason exhibition against Duke last month, thanks to a late arrival and then getting “nicked up” in practice. Now, before tonight’s opener, Coach Self dropped a quote on October 28th that has us all scratching our heads. “I have a better feel for Trey, even though I’m going to wait to say anything for sure publicly, just because there’s still some unknowns that I need to visit with to make sure that the way I see it is right,” Self said. He then clarified that these “unknowns” could be about conditioning, injury, *and* eligibility due to an ongoing court case in Indiana. But get this: Self still said, “I’m planning on playing him.” So, he’s planning on playing a guy with conditioning questions, an injury, and a legal cloud hanging over him. Talk about high stakes for the opener!
Rosario’s Concussion: No Clearance Yet
While Kaufman-Renn’s situation is murky, Kohl Rosario’s path back seems a bit clearer, though not in a good way for tonight. The sophomore guard also sat out the Duke exhibition game after suffering a concussion in practice. Self’s update on Rosario was blunt: “Kohl, I’m hopeful. But he still has symptoms. So, with that being said, he won’t get a chance to get out there until he’s passed all those tests.” The hope is he might be back on the court by the end of this week, but tonight? Forget about it. It’s a tough blow for a guy who definitely has the potential to contribute this season, but player safety absolutely comes first.
Self’s Early Rotation Plans & Freshman Watch
Beyond the two big question marks, Coach Self gave us a peek into his early-season rotation strategy. He’s looking to run a deep bench, playing at least 10, maybe even 11, guys in the opening games. The 11th man will be getting limited minutes, but a 10-man rotation is a good starting point. Self isn’t messing around with starting lineups in the regular season like he did in preseason; he’s going with the five who practice best together. If it doesn’t click, *then* he’ll change it.
And if you’re looking for an early name to watch, freshman guard Trent Perry is already making some serious noise for a rotation spot. Self is stoked on Perry’s activity, athleticism, and how he handles big moments. He was totally unfazed by those high-profile exhibition games against No. 2 Duke and No. 11 Louisville. If KU needs big bodies and athleticism, Perry’s the guy.
Tonight’s tip-off against Fordham is set for 7 p.m. (CT) at Allen Fieldhouse. It’s the official start to the season for the No. 18 Jayhawks, and even with these “unknowns” swirling, we’re finally going to see what this team looks like when it really counts. Keep an eye on that starting five, and definitely watch for Trent Perry to make some noise.
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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