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Kansas' Hunter Dickinson Will Play in 2024 NCAA Tournament Amid Shoulder Injury

Doric SamMarch 21, 2024

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - MARCH 05:  Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts after scoring during the 1st half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Allen Fieldhouse on March 05, 2024 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson won't let his shoulder injury stop him from taking the court in the NCAA Tournament.

Per The Athletic's Brendan Quinn, Dickinson said Wednesday that his shoulder feels "good" and he's prepared to lead the fourth-seeded Jayhawks in their Round of 64 matchup against No. 13 Samford on Thursday night.

Dickinson suffered a dislocated shoulder in Kansas' loss to Houston in its regular-season finale on March 9. There were initial fears that he suffered a torn labrum, but he ended up not needing surgery and was rested during the Big 12 tournament last week.

"The shoulder feels good, good enough to be out there with my teammates," Dickinson said Wednesday in a pre-NCAA Tournament press conference.

While getting Dickinson back will be a boost for Kansas, the team is still shorthanded. Star guard and leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr. was ruled out for the entire NCAA Tournament by head coach Bill Self due to a knee injury.

The Jayhawks lost four out of their last five games and were bounced out of the Big 12 tournament in one-and-done fashion with a 20-point loss to Cincinnati. Due to the team's injuries and recent struggles, Quinn noted that Kansas is viewed by many as "a trendy pick as a potential upset victim in a first-round game."

Dickinson was the Jayhawks' second-leading scorer at 18.0 points per game while leading the team with 10.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. However, Quinn pointed out that his average dipped to 15.8 points down the stretch when McCullar was out of the lineup.

Kansas will need Dickinson to be at his best if it hopes to avoid losing a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.


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