Kansas vs Texas Tech LIVE Stream/Preview: Without Embiid, Jayhawks Host Red Raiders on Senior Night
ByLast time the Kansas Jayhawks (8) played without Joel Embiid, they beat TCU by 30 points, so they should be fine Wednesday night against Texas Tech and Saturday against West Virginia.
Thanks to Syracuse's mind-boggling stretch of four losses in five games, Kansas can even grab an NCAA Tournament one-seed in the East. Andrew Wiggins could be joining Kansas' seniors Tarik Black, Niko Roberts and Justin Wesley in playing their final home game for the Jayhawks.
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"I've seen where other schools when guys are projected to leave, they make them part of their night, which is fine," coach Bill Self said Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. "But we have a pretty tradition-rich program and there are certain traditions worth keeping, and this is not freshman night."
Wiggins has been very clear since before the start of the season that he envisions himself in the NBA next season. He will also be part of an exceptional freshman class including Embiid, Duke's Jabari Parker, Kentucky's Julius Randle and Syracuse's Tyler Ennis.
"I'm not saying we may not recognize [Wiggins] or something," Self said, "but I don't want the emphasis to go away from [the seniors]."
Embiid, Kansas' breakout freshman center, will not play Wednesday or Saturday due to a back that has bee giving him problems for more than a month now. Self said earlier the best way to treat this particular injury is rest. With the Big 12 regular season title locked up, Kansas will rest assured in sitting Embiid if it means he will be healthy for the post-season.
Wiggins has not done so much to live up to the expectation that he would be the next great NBA prospect since LeBron James came out of high school. Now, he could be part of a five-man competition for the top NBA pick when at one point, many scouts and evaluators were convinced it would be Wiggins.
Still, the freshman standout will likely get some sort of ovation from the home supporters, who know full well they need the talented young forward to make a tournament run.