A bench spark ignites a near-comeback. Kohl Rosario's hustle and clutch plays injected life into Kansas during a crucial NCAA Tournament stretch.
Reserve Spark: Kohl Rosario Provides Energy In Crucial Stretch
With its season on the ropes in March Madness, Kansas was searching for anything: energy, momentum, a pulse. It found it, briefly, in an unexpected place.
Reserve forward Kohl Rosario, who had not played in the Jayhawks’ previous NCAA Tournament game, delivered a jolt during a critical second-half stretch Sunday, helping fuel a comeback that nearly saved Kansas’ season.
“When my name was called, I was ready,” Rosario said. “I never really checked out of the game.”
That mindset showed. With Kansas trailing by double digits midway through the second half against St. John’s, Rosario entered and immediately made his presence felt. He crashed the glass, stayed active defensively and, most importantly, made hustle plays that shifted the energy on the floor.
His biggest moment came on an offensive rebound that turned into a second-chance basket, a play that helped ignite a run and bring Kansas fans at Viejas Arena to life.
“I saw my guy turn his head,” Rosario said. “As soon as he did, I just went and grabbed the board.”
It was a simple play, but one that embodied what Kansas had been missing earlier in the game. Head coach Bill Self praised Rosario’s effort, especially given the circumstances.
“That’s hard, not playing and then being inserted in and doing what he did in a short amount of time,” Self said. “I thought he was great.”
Rosario’s minutes did not come with big box score numbers, but his impact was undeniable. Kansas cut into a 14-point deficit, turning what had been a quiet, frustrating afternoon into a game that came down to the final possession.
For a stretch, the Jayhawks looked like a different team, more aggressive, more connected, more alive. But the spark did not last long enough.
Kansas ultimately fell 67-65 on a buzzer-beating layup, ending its season in heartbreaking fashion and overshadowing the contributions that made the comeback possible.
Still, Rosario’s performance offered a glimpse of what effort and awareness can provide, even in limited opportunities.
On a day defined by missed chances, his was one Kansas did not waste, even if the result did not follow.
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