Kansas falls in Big 12 tournament with no Dickinson/McCullar Jr.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSNT) - With no Hunter Dickinson or Kevin McCullar Jr., expectations were limited for Kansas men's basketball in the Big 12 tournament.
In the Jayhawks' first game of the tournament against Cincinnati, Bill Self's squad was able to keep the game close after a sloppy first half. Still, the Bearcats finished on top 72-52.
Both teams took a minute to get things going. An Elmarko Jackson dunk that made waves on social media made it a 12-11 game in favor of the Bearcats five minutes into the game.
However, a 19-9 run from Cincinnati to end the first half put Kansas down 38-25 at the break.
The Jayhawks came out of the locker room ready to play, starting on a 7-0 run and forcing a Bearcat timeout. A K.J. Adams jumper with 13:32 to go pulled the Jayhawks within 40-38.
Cincinnati then went on a run of its own - with Bill Self calling a timeout after the Bearcats went up 53-42 with eight minutes to play. It was all Cincy from there - ending the game with a 72-52 loss.
Adams led the Jayhawks in scoring with 22 points as the only double-digit scorer.
The Jayhawks now await its destiny in the NCAA tournament. Selection Sunday begins Sunday, March 17 at 5 p.m.