Kevin McCullar issues statement on missing NCAA tournament

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSNT) - Kevin McCullar Jr. attempted to clear up lot of questions on Tuesday night after Bill Self told reporters the senior guard would not play in the NCAA tournament.

McCullar Jr., in his sixth and final season of college basketball, had his dedication questioned by many after his status for the big dance seemed to change quite a bit since Sunday, when Self seemed hopeful for his availability.

"If I could play I would," McCullar Jr. said in a written statement on X, formerly Twitter. "I am more devastated than anyone, knowing that I can't play & compete alongside my team and that my college career has now come to an end."

McCullar averaged 18.3 points per game in his final season of college hoops, playing in 26 of KU's 32 games.

KU big man Hunter Dickinson, who is expected to play in KU's opening round game against Samford on Thursday, seemed to show support for his teammate in a response to McCullar's post.

"The ones in the locker room know all the work you put in behind the scenes to try to play for us for the last couple months," Dickinson said on X, formerly Twitter. "Love you my brother."

McCullar spent two seasons with KU after playing three for Texas Tech. He will still be with the team, and on the bench, for the big dance.

"I have done everything that I possibly could have done to get back playing at a high level to help my team," he said. "This included 6-7 hours a day with the training staff at Kansas for over a month now, while not participating in practice but competing in games. While trying various treatment options, it's simply not where it needs to be to play the game. With a collective agreement between myself, the coaches and the Kansas team doctors, it was decided that I should not play."