Mitch Lightfoot is a key off the bench for KU (KU Athletics)
By KEN DAVIS
No matter the situation, it is standard procedure in the NCAA tournament to take one game at a time. The team that looks too far ahead and peeks at the possible matchups in its bracket can quickly fall into trouble.
That even applies to the No .1 seeds, like Kansas, against a No. 16 seed, like Texas Southern. Those two will tip-off against one another Thursday night (9:57 p.m., truTV) in Fort Worth, Texas.
There is a sub-plot for Kansas coach Bill Self and it involves the knee injury to super senior forward Mitch Lightfoot. Lightfoot, who sustained the injury in the second half of Saturday’s Big 12 championship game against Texas Tech, remains listed as “day-to-day” but it appears he might be able to give Self and the Jayhawks some minutes.
Self’s management of the situation could be a key as the Jayhawks move on.
Assuming the Jayhawks win, the stats on Lightfoot’s time card may be more important to Kansas in the second round. Lightfoot has played well in recent games and his ability to contribute takes pressure off starter David McCormack, who has been battling a foot injury all season.
Lightfoot did practice Wednesday at Dickies Arena. But Self likely won’t know how much Lightfoot’s knee can tolerate until game time.
“Did not go full, but he did do some contact stuff, but it was limited,” Self said during KU’s press conference Wednesday. “So we’ll wait and see how he feels tomorrow. But we’re hopeful he’s available to us. Like I said before, we’re not going to put him out there if we think there’s . . . if that puts him in some form of risk. But he’s made tremendous improvements since Saturday.”
Gary Bedore of The Kansas City Star filed this report on Lightfoot: “Wearing a black left leg sleeve and knee brace, Mitch Lightfoot accepted passes from big man coach Norm Roberts and attempted some short jumpers and hook shots during the Kansas men’s basketball team’s 30-minute workout.”
Lightfoot was getting consideration for the Big 12 all-tournament team after his games against West Virginia and TCU. He had 10 points, five rebounds and five blocks in almost 23 minutes against the Mountaineers. He followed that with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in 25 minutes against TCU.
That allowed McCormack a chance to rest. He played 10 minutes against West Virginia and 13 against TCU. But in the championship win over Texas Tech, Lightfoot was limited to 10 minutes and scored just two points. McCormack, rested from his lighter duty in the first two games, played 29 minutes, had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
“I go in the game just ready to play,” McCormack said Wednesday. “I always come prepared to play. We haven’t talked about anything about minutes, but I’m here for the team and I’m here to win.”
If Lightfoot is limited, and the score allows, Self could opt to give time to freshmen KJ Adams and Zach Clemence. That would benefit McCormack as the Jayhawks enter second-round play against San Diego State or Creighton.
“They both have done a lot better job being tenacious on the boards,” McCormack said of the freshmen. “You know, Coach always preaches that if you take away second chance opportunities and defensively rebound, we can push in transition.
“And offensive rebounding just gives us second-chance shots and, you know, proves how strong you are as a big man. They’ve done a much better job.”
David McCormack got valuable rest in the Big 12 tournament
Clemence seems to be healthy after missing time in mid-season with an injury. In addition to his size, Clemence has shown the ability to offensive rebound and hit outside shots. Adams is a strong player who is prone to picking up fouls, but he has had good moments this season.
Both will be key components for the Jayhawks next year and would benefit from minutes in NCAA play.
“Zach is honestly his own character,” McCormack said. “He’s got really comfortable with the team and acclimated to the way our playing style is. He found his niche.
“KJ comes in as a ball of energy, rebounds, screens, blocked shots, does whatever he can to put us over the top in the game. And he really does a great job, as well, at defending. As soon as he comes in, we’ll switch five and whoever it may be, he’s going to give it his all.”
With Ochai Agbaji, Jalen Wilson, Christian Braun, Dajuan Harris and McCormack set as the KU starters, Self will turn to Remy Martin, Jalen Coleman-Lands, and Joseph Yesufu for more depth off the bench.
Martin, the Arizona State transfer who was Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, looked like himself again in the Big 12 tournament and could be a key as the Jayhawks make a push to the Final Four again.
“He’s healthy,” Self said. “He looks fast. He’s got energy. His body’s rested. You know, let’s just be candid, because he couldn’t do anything for about a month and a half. So I think he’s poised to give us an element that we haven’t had consistently all year long.”
Lightfoot gives KU an emotional lift
Speak Your Mind