No. 11 Kansas won't have F David McCormack for Big 12 tournament due to COVID-19 protocols
Kansas will be without its second-leading scorer for the Big 12 tournament.
The school announced Tuesday that forward David McCormack would miss the tournament along with guard Tristan Enaruna because of COVID-19 protocols.
McCormack is averaging 13.4 points per game this season. Enaruna is averaging just under three points per game and plays over nine minutes per game.
Per Coach Self:
Due to COVID-19 protocols David McCormack and Tristan Enaruna will not participate in the Big 12 Tournament.— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) March 9, 2021
McCormack was named the Big 12 men's basketball most improved player in 2020-21 on Monday. He's averaged 6.1 rebounds per game and has shot over 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line in 23 minutes per game. McCormack has nearly doubled his scoring average this season and is averaging two more rebounds than he did in 2019-20.
No. 11 Kansas enters the Big 12 tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Baylor and the Jayhawks are the only team that has beaten the Bears so far this season. McCormack had 20 points in that win on Feb. 27 and his absence will be huge if Kansas and Baylor play on Saturday for the Big 12 tournament title. Without McCormack, Kansas will probably have to turn more to sixth-year senior Mitch Lightfoot for more minutes in the frontcourt. McCormack, Jalen Wilson, and Lightfoot are the only forwards who are playing more than 10 minutes per game this season.
The Jayhawks are likely to be no lower than a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. Coach Bill Self said that he expects both players to be back in time for the NCAA tournament before Kansas plays its first tournament game on either March 18 or March 19.
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