Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas is back to business in the Big 12, laying beatdowns on Texas Tech and most recently Baylor, who they defeated 61-44 on Monday night en route to a 3-0 record in the conference.
As good as Kansas head coach Bill Self must feel to be returning to prominence a season after losing great players like Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson, Self and the rest of the Jayhawks fanbase weren’t overly celebratory after their latest loss.
After leading a 5-0 run by himself with about 2:45 to go in the game, freshman sensation Ben McLemore tweaked his ankle. Already having contributed a game-high 17 points, McLemore was down, writhing in pain, screaming loud enough to represent all of Lawrence’s frustrations.
While the extent of the 6-foot-5 stud’s injury is not yet known, the lone freshman – as well as non-senior – in Kansas’s starting lineup is also the team’s leading scorer, and one of the reason’s they’ve taken the number-four spot in the nation. McLemore has impressed the country with his deft shooting and incredible athleticism, having scored in double-digits in all but two of his collegiate contests, while shooting 50-percent from the field, and 43-percent from three.
The Jayhawks didn’t score another basket after McLemore’s exit, and will depend heavily on fellow freshman Perry Ellis and Kevin Young to step up their scoring if McLemore and his 16.4 points per game aren’t able to return to Self’s lineup in the immediate future.
McLemore’s pro stock has only gone up since the season has begun, and it would truly be sad not only for Kansas, but for college basketball if this injury sidelines him for an extended period of time.
We’ll keep you posted.
For hoops, hip-hop and other random sports and pop culture commentary, follow Jared Mintz on Twitter @JaredMintzTruth
