Kevin McCullough, a fan favorite who has started 49 of 78 men’s basketball games at Texas Tech over the past three seasons, said Tuesday night while visiting the Kansas Jayhawks at the United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. I think I heard a boo.
Coverage of the Big 12 fight between Tech (10-3, 0-1) and Rank 4 Jayhawks (12-1, 1-0) will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 8pm.
“It’s going to be fun to get back out there and play with them,” McCuller, the 6-foot-6 senior guard from San Antonio, said on Saturday, scoring seven points and grabbing five rebounds from Bryce Thompson. Allen had 0.3 seconds left in KU’s 69–67 victory over Oklahoma State at Fieldhouse. The match was the Big 12 opener for both teams.
“It’s going to be electric. I know they (fans) are waiting for it. It’s the next game on the Big 12 schedule. I know it’s going to be a fight. Fun.” I’m doing it,” added McCullough.
McCuller — who averaged 11.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in 2022-23 — averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in a 27-10 junior season with the Red Raiders before moving to the NCAA. Decided to enter his name in the portal. He missed his eight of his 37 games for Tech due to his ankle injury.
McCuller has been regularly asked about his return to Lubbock since choosing KU over Gonzaga as his destination last spring. McCullar also tested his Waters in the NBA Draft and finally decided he would return to college his basketball for another year.
“It’s going to be a big game. I know there’s a lot of emotion involved,” McCuller said in a recent interview.
“It’s a blessing to be back there and play. I know it’s going to be a hard fight. Nothing but technology and love for everything. I put my heart on that line[there]. So , it’s good to get back out there and compete, it’s basketball after all, so I’m looking forward to it.”
McCuller will be the second Jayhawk likely to draw the ire of another school’s fans this season.
KU Junior Point Guard, Dec. 10 Dahuan Harris heard yells of insults from fans during a KU Missouri game on Dec. 10 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia. Harris had nine assists, six points and two steals in the Jayhawks’ 95-67 victory over the Tigers. , was not recruited in Missouri, but is from Columbia. Thus, some Mizou fans saw him as a traitor for joining his rival KU.
“Now we’re going up against Texas Tech. They’re going to be there for Kevin,” Harris said Saturday after KU’s conference opener win. Meanwhile, Tech lost 67-61 to TCU in Fort Worth on Saturday.
“He knows it will be tough out there.
Like Harris, KU’s Jalen Wilson (20 points to OSU) and KJ Adams (14 points) are expected to support McCullar on Tuesday.
“It’s going to be a game with a lot of atmosphere. The main thing with Juan going back to Columbia or Kevin going back to Tech is letting teammates know we have their backs. is not alone and won’t have to win alone,” Wilson said Saturday. “It’s not about them winning or losing. It’s up to us to make it us versus them, not Kevin versus Tech,” Wilson added.
“It’s going to be a different type of game for Kevin,” predicted sophomore forward Adams. “Kevin is doing a good job focusing on the present and what our team needs. “
KU coach Bill Self said he would talk to McCuller about playing Tech at Lubbock.
“We will definitely talk about it,” said Self. “He (McQuarra) saw firsthand how Juan should have dealt with a situation like that when he got back to Colombia. I’ll talk to Kevin about that.”
McCuller did not appear in the Red Raiders’ 75-67 KU match at Lubbock on January 8, 2022 due to an injury.
He played 44 minutes in Tech’s 94-91 double overtime loss against KU on 24 January 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse, scoring 2 points with 4 assists and 1/11 shooting on 3 boards. Did.
McCullough had 3-of-10 shooting, 5 assists and 8 on 3 boards in Tech’s 74-65 loss to KU in the Big 12 Tournament Finals in Kansas City on March 12, 2022. Got points.
He was 0-2 in games against KU sophomore and 0-2 in his freshman season.
“In some ways, it’s not that different, but it’s still the same,” McCullar said, comparing his role as one of the leaders in Tech last season to another leadership role in KU this year. says. “I was helping build the program[at Tech]a bit. It was already going[upwards]thanks to the people who played there in the past.”
The Red Raiders advanced to the NCAA title game, losing to Virginia during McCuller’s 2018-19 redshirt season at Lubbock.
“Now in Kansas, that tradition is already established. A little bit of that knowledge is passed on, too,” McCuller said.
McCuller has come a long way in his hoops career.
A native of Wagner High School in San Antonio, unranked by Rivals.com, he chose Texas Tech over Kansas, Louisville, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, and more.
“For me Kevin has grown to be as complete a guard as he’s been here for a while,” Self said. He was very impressive when talking about covering .He could do Ok (Agbaji) or CB (Christian Brown) if he got the hang of it.I’m really happy with him. … Kevin’s NBA skill set has improved tremendously.He’s a jack of all trades.”
Harris on Saturday called McCuller the KU’s “defensive stopper.”
“I like playing on both ends of the floor,” McCuller said. “I take it personally. … To win the game, you have to play[defense]. I play every possession hard and bring the energy. Every possession I’m going to bet things for the Jayhawks.”
Including KU’s next match at Texas Tech.
“Hopefully we have another Big 12 game, another Big 12 Road game.
Gary Bedore covers all aspects of Kansas basketball in The Star. He attended his KU and was born and raised in Chicago and Lyle, Illinois.