Rest rejuvenates Melvin Council Jr. for Kansas' NCAA Tournament run. Can he regain his energy and lead the Jayhawks' charge?
Fresh Legs Key for Melvin Council Jr. as Kansas Opens NCAA Tournament
As Kansas men's basketball prepares to open the NCAA Tournament, all eyes will be on whether senior point guard Melvin Council Jr. can bounce back from a tough showing in the Big 12 Tournament.
Council, who leads the Jayhawks at 34.8 minutes per game, did not play his best in Kansas City. He shot just 4-for-26 across two games, including a 1-for-14 performance in a loss to Houston. After logging 40 minutes against TCU and 35 the following day, fatigue appeared to play a role. Kansas head coach Bill Self believes it did.
“I actually think it is a little bit,” Self said. “We’re beating him up, we’re wearing him out. His body’s never been through anything like this before.”
That workload has been a constant all season. Council is asked to control the offense, defend opposing guards, and rarely comes off the floor. With the NCAA Tournament now underway, Kansas is banking on rest to reset its point guard.
The timing could work in the Jayhawks’ favor.
Kansas did not advance to the Big 12 championship game, giving the team, and especially Council, extra recovery time. A Friday night tipoff in the Round of 64 added another day. Self took advantage, giving Council multiple days off leading into the trip to San Diego.
“I think the extra day was good for us, especially for one player more than anyone else, Melvin,” Self said. “You could probably tell his body was getting a little run down.”
By the time Kansas returned to practice, the difference stood out.
“He looked fresh as a daisy,” Self said. “When he’s best, he’s got energy.”
That energy will be tested immediately.
Council is expected to draw the primary assignment on Cal Baptist star Dominique Daniels Jr., who averages 23.2 points per game and ranks among the nation’s top scorers. Balancing that defensive responsibility while running Kansas’ offense will be critical.
For Kansas, a strong start likely begins with its point guard. If the added rest translates, Council could be in a position to look much closer to the player the Jayhawks have relied on all season, and that could make all the difference in March.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.