‘That’s what I came here to do’: Kevin McCullar makes winning plays as KU clinches Big 12
Kevin McCullar transferred from Texas Tech to KU for his senior year to be in high-pressure moments in games that mattered.
The moment finally arrived with the Big 12 title on the line against McCullar’s former team Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse ... and he delivered.
The Jayhawks found themselves up one point with 56 seconds left. KU forward Jalen Wilson missed a jumper and pandemonium broke loose as both teams wrestled for the loose ball.
McCullar recalled thinking: “Man, I have to try to get this ball and get a bucket.”
He ran toward the ball and bumped Red Raider guard De’Vion Harmon out of the way. McCullar finally grabbed the ball and quickly converted the layup to put the Jayhawks up three.
Thirty seconds later, Kansas would celebrate its 17th Big 12 title in KU coach Bill Self’s 20 years — with a 67-63 win over Texas Tech.
“We are Big 12 champs,” McCullar said after the game. “That’s what I came here to do.”
The win gives KU at least a share of the Big 12 title. The Jayhawks will win the title outright if Texas loses to TCU on Wednesday — or if Kansas beats UT on Saturday in Austin.
McCullar was excited that he had fulfilled one reason to come to KU, but he wasn’t quite satisfied: “We’ve still got a lot more basketball left to play, but man this feels great,” he said in his senior night speech.
McCullar scored 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds in 37 minutes.
Still, his clutch bucket wasn’t exactly a surprise for his teammates.
“If anyone is going to make a play like that, it was going to be Kevin,” Wilson said. “I don’t know if I would say we wouldn’t win, but that was kind of a point that stamped the game. That’s just the type of guy he is.
“He comes in with plays like that. He’s done it all year: the block against Oklahoma State, the and-one against OU and now this. He makes plays when it matters the most. That’s why he’s here.”
KU coach Bill Self couldn’t remember a more competitive play than McCullar’s scramble and basket.
In fact, Self has consistently praised McCullar’s play of late. The guard has hit double-digit points in four of his last five games, reaching nine points in the lone outlier.
Along with his offense, McCullar has kept up his stellar defensive play. McCullar was named a semifinalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season on Tuesday.
After KU’s win over TCU, Self compared McCullar to one of his all-time favorite players to coach in Marcus Garrett (who won the Naismith defensive award in 2020). Their relationship has certainly come a long way.
“I remember the first day I jumped in the (transfer) portal, when he gave me a call, I was kind of like, ‘Oh snap, Bill Self,’” McCullar said. “He was my enemy for a little bit. We used to go at it.”
Still, McCullar believed there was no better coach to play for in his last college year. McCullar has quickly become a favorite of Self due to his defensive ability — hence the Garret comparison.
He showed why he deserved such praise late into the second half.
With a little over six minutes left and KU up by one, McCullar made a play that could possibly lead his college highlight reel. He jumped up, met Red Raider star Kevin Obanor at the rim and promptly blocked his shot.
Afterward, McCullar walked to the Texas Tech bench and mean mugged his former teammates.
“K.O. (Obanor) is a great player,” McCullar said. “He hit a couple of reverse dunks tonight. … I’d seen when they dropped it off, I just tried to time his jump and went up with it and blocked it.
“I went over to the bench. I still know those guys very well, so walking over there was kind of a funny moment. Walking in front of my old coaching staff and team, so I just (was) messing with them a little bit.”
Ultimately, McCullar doesn’t get too caught up in the implications of late-game situations.
“I just try to step (up) for the moment and try to be present trying to make the play for my teammates,” McCullar said. “I know we’re all out there battling and I just know I’ve kind of got to do something or try to help them out.
“Tonight that play was just grabbing that loose ball and sticking it in — making an easy bucket. So, every time time it gets down the stretch or in a late game, I am just looking for (ways) to help the team win.”
This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 1:36 AM with the headline "‘That’s what I came here to do’: Kevin McCullar makes winning plays as KU clinches Big 12."
