A potential damper on the Late Night in the Phog festivities? One Jayhawk player's participation is hanging in the balance due to a nagging injury. But here's the good news: two other players are back in action, ready to electrify the court! Let's dive into the latest KU basketball health report.
According to Coach Bill Self, senior guard Jayden Dawson's presence at Friday night's scrimmage is uncertain. Dawson is currently sidelined with a sore knee. Self addressed the media at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, stating, "The only one that’s been out (of practice) is Jayden. He’s got a sore knee. We don’t think it’s anything major, but he’s been out off and on for about the last week. So, I don’t know what his availability later this week will be." Self elaborated that the 6-foot-5 transfer from Loyola Chicago had missed Wednesday's practice and expressed hope that a day of rest on Thursday might allow him to play on Friday. But here's where it gets controversial... Should Dawson push himself to play, even if he's not fully recovered, just to participate in Late Night? Or is it wiser to prioritize his long-term health and recovery for the regular season?
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Dawson, Self offered an optimistic outlook on the overall health of the team, adding, "Knock on wood, we’ve been pretty fortunate (as a team) from a health standpoint.” This is welcome news for Jayhawk fans eager to see a fully fit squad take the court.
Adding to the positive vibes, sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson and freshman forward Bryson Tiller have made complete recoveries from their respective injuries, which kept them off the court last season. This marks a significant boost to the team's depth and potential.
Jackson, a 6-3 sophomore hailing from Marlton, New Jersey, endured a torn patellar tendon in June 2024. This injury forced him to miss the entirety of the 2024-25 season. However, after dedicated rehabilitation, Jackson received the green light to resume full-time contact workouts this past July. Self raved about Jackson's commitment, saying, "'Marko is remarkable. His commitment to get back from patellar tendon is … I mean he’s been a perfect patient so to speak from what they tell me. His commitment to the rehab has been second to none going back to a Brandon Rush type coming back from his ACL." He added that Jackson is not just recovered but also "looked great athletically."
Tiller, a highly touted 6-11 freshman from the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta, underwent ankle surgery in March 2025. Like Jackson, he dedicated himself to recovery and returned to workouts this past summer. Self confirmed Tiller's full recovery, stating, "And Bryson … I haven’t seen any signs of ill effects of his situation.” And this is the part most people miss... The return of Jackson and Tiller adds significant depth and athleticism to the Jayhawks' roster, potentially allowing for more versatile lineups and strategic options throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Self addressed the possibility of players redshirting this season. He stated that he doesn't anticipate making any decisions on redshirts until closer to the start of the regular season. He also expressed a desire for a rule similar to that in college football, which allows players to participate in a limited number of games without forfeiting their redshirt status. Self believes this would provide coaches with valuable opportunities to evaluate players in live game situations before committing to a full season of playing time. "I wish they would give us a chance to get a few games even if it’s the first half of the season so we could actually put guys out there and see where they’re at," he explained. "It’s a yearlong decision we have to make before they play their first game. I don’t anticipate making any decisions until after our two exhibition games.” But here's where it gets controversial... Should college basketball adopt a similar redshirt rule to college football? Would this benefit players and coaches, or would it create new challenges and complexities? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
