Kansas guard Kevin McCullar leaves game vs. Iowa State with back spasms

Shortly after the second half got underway in Friday’s Big 12 Tournament game, Kansas guard Kevin McCullar headed to the bench. It turns out he’s dealing with back spasms, ESPN’s Kris Budden reported.

McCullar scored six points in the first half of the matchup, but only played one minute in the second half before heading to the bench. While there, the trainers tended to him with ice packs to see if they could settle down the spasms. But even as teams met during a timeout, McCullar stayed in his chair — and he was clearly unhappy.

“Jayhawks up by three, and they’re going to have to play right now without Kevin McCullar. He is dealing with back spasms. … He is sitting on the edge of the bench,” Budden said. “They came out, put some ice on it. You can tell he is dealing with a lot of pain and was trying to breathe through the spams, clenching his fists together. He’s not even able to get up to be a part of the huddles. Frustration coming out of Kevin McCullar as he sits on the bench.”

Norm Roberts assesses Kansas’ first half performance vs. Iowa State in Big 12 Tournament

Kansas got off to a red-hot start against Iowa State in Friday’s Big 12 Tournament matchup. The Jayhawks shot 54.2% from the field in the first half and got 15 points from Jalen Wilson to take a 33-25 lead to the locker room.

But for Kansas interim coach Norm Roberts, there are still some things to work on in the second half.

“When we move the ball and we cut hard and pass the ball to the first three men, we’re doing well,” Roberts told ESPN’s Kris Budden at halftime. “It’s when we get caught up in their traps and we hold the ball that we make mistakes.”