So how’s Hunter Dickinson’s health? KU center speaks on eve of NCAA tourney opener

University of Kansas assistant men’s basketball coach Norm Roberts stood just inside the 3-point line Wednesday afternoon at the Delta Center, the 18,200-seat home of the Utah Jazz, cradling one basketball in his right hand and another in his left.

During KU’s 30-minute pre-NCAA Tournament open practice, Roberts tossed one ball, then another, to Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson. Dealing in the post, Dickinson first swished a 5-footer with his left hand, then made another short jumper with his right.

Continuing that shooting drill — and another in which Dickinson launched 3s from the corner for about 10 minutes — it was apparent that KU’s 7-foot-2 senior was in fine physical shape. He did wear a pad on his right shoulder blade to protect the spot where his shoulder popped out — and then popped back into place — during a blowout loss to Houston on March 9.

No. 4 seed KU takes on 13th-seeded Samford here Thursday in a first-round Midwest Regional clash. Tipoff for the game between the Jayhawks (22-10) and Bulldogs (29-5) is 8:55 p.m. Central Time on TBS.

“The shoulder feels good, good enough to be out there with my teammates,” said Dickinson, who because of his shoulder dislocation missed the last 11 minutes of the Houston game and then sat out KU’s first-round loss to Cincinnati in the Big 12 tournament.

“I feel like everybody’s dealing with a little injury nowadays,” he added, “especially toward the end of the season. I feel good and ready to get out there with my teammates.”

The former Michigan big man also had hip and knee discomfort at times during his first, and perhaps last, season as a Jayhawk. He’s spent hours in rehab since suffering the shoulder dislocation and on Wednesday he spoke publicly for the first time since the day Houston reserve Cedric Lath hit his shoulder as the two were vying for a rebound during the Cougars’ 76-46 victory.

“When I was running back to the huddle it popped in itself and shot back up into place, thankfully,” Dickinson said. “So I didn’t have to have Mr. Cowgill over there put it back in for me,” Dickinson said of KU trainer Bill Cowgill.

Dickinson explained how the injury happened.

“I was going up for the rebound,” he said. “His (Lath’s) elbow came down and kind of landed perfectly on the right spot for it to dislocate. It was unfortunate, but it happens in basketball.”

Several thoughts went through Dickinson’s mind after he was clipped by Lath.

“I didn’t think (his season) was over because my shoulder had done stuff similar to it, where it has moved a little but never fully popped out and stayed out,” he said. “So that (sitting out the rest of the season) wasn’t my first thought.

“My first thought was the pain and trying to get back out there hoping I could try to get back out there for that game. But then once they diagnosed me with the dislocated shoulder, my next thought probably was, ‘Hopefully this is not the last time I’m out there in a Kansas uniform this year.’”

Dickinson’s teammates are appreciative the Alexandria, Virginia native has devoted himself to getting healed in time for the NCAA Tournament.

“It says a lot (about his toughness),” senior point guard Dajuan Harris said. “We need him. He knows we need him. We’re going to ride him along this whole March run. He’s one of the best centers in the country. We’ve just got to follow behind him and make him make plays for us. I’ve got to make plays for me and him, too. We’ve just got to play together.”

Noted senior forward Parker Braun, who by the way, said he’s recovered from a sprained ankle that’s slowed him of late: “Hunter’s been fighting through that obviously ever since he (was hit). He’s done a really good job getting treatment on it and making sure he’s in the best shape for the tournament. He’s been going up and down with us at practice. It’s great to have him back.”

“He’s been working his butt off getting treatment every day, just trying to get out here,” noted senior shooting guard Nick Timberlake.

KU coach Bill Self said Dickinson, who averages 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks, “has no limitations. The question we had initially was if he tried to go up and dunk the ball hard, hang on with one arm, something like that. But there’s been no limitations. That doesn’t mean he can’t get stung and (the injury) come right back, but he’s done really well so far.”

While Dickinson will be able to play in the Tournament, fellow first-team all-Big 12 Jayhawk Kevin McCullar saw his season — and his KU career — end early because of a lingering bone bruise in his left knee.

Dickinson said he will not try to do more with McCullar unable to play.

“Whenever I’ve done that in the past I feel I am more pressing when that happens,” Dickinson said. “I’ll just let the game come to me. Being here, playing with this group of guys, they are really talented. They are able to make plays on their own. I don’t have to force anything. Playing with a great point guard (Harris) who is able to facilitate and get guys open by himself, I don’t need to do things differently out there.”

Dickinson on Wednesday said he and his teammates were saddened that McCullar can’t play in the tourney.

“I’ve been in rehab with him at the same time, two to three times a day for an hour-plus each time,” Dickinson said. “He’s been doing that months on end, trying to get back for his teammates every week. I just want to applaud him for that and make sure people know he’s done everything he humanly could be able to do to be back with the team. It hasn’t worked out in his favor.

“A lot of guys are crushed for him just because it’s his last year, his last chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. He sacrificed for the whole year, went through the whole summer grind, preseason grind, regular-season grind to get to to play in these games. I think we all feel very crushed for him. We’re all going to try to play for him and win some games for him.”