Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White Are the Glue Guys Kansas Hoops Has Been Missing
For a few seasons now, Bill Self’s dance with the transfer portal has been a mixed bag. Some big-name additions flashed potential but didn’t quite fit the Kansas mold.
Others just never found their rhythm in Lawrence. But this year?
This year feels different. Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White aren’t just fitting in - they’re thriving.
And more importantly, they’re helping this Kansas team find its identity.
These two transfers have become the heartbeat of a Jayhawks squad that’s starting to look more and more like a vintage Self-coached team - gritty, unselfish, and tough to beat.
A New Era of Transfers for Bill Self
Let’s rewind for a minute. Back in 2021-22, Self rolled the dice on Remy Martin - a dynamic scorer out of Arizona State.
Martin came in with high expectations but struggled to find his footing for most of the season, averaging just 8.6 points. Then March hit.
Suddenly, Martin was electric, dropping 23 in the Sweet 16 and playing a pivotal role in KU’s run to the national title.
The following year, Self brought in Kevin McCullar. He was solid in year one, then leveled up in year two, putting up 15 points and 6 boards a night.
That same season, Hunter Dickinson arrived with a polished offensive game but lacked the physical edge Self typically demands from his bigs. Dickinson could score, rebound, and pass - no question - but he wasn’t the defensive anchor KU needed.
And with limited help around him, the Jayhawks fell short.
Last season, the portal swings didn’t connect. AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen never quite clicked. Once again, Dickinson was left to shoulder the load, and while he delivered offensively, the lack of perimeter support was glaring.
That brings us to this season - and to Council and White.
Tre White: Quietly Dominant
Tre White’s journey to Kansas has been anything but linear. He’s bounced around - USC, Louisville, Illinois - and at every stop, he produced.
But now, in Lawrence, he’s elevated his game. White is averaging 15 points, 7.5 rebounds, and a career-best 2.2 assists per game.
He’s not flashy. He’s not loud.
But he’s consistent, and that consistency is gold for a team trying to build chemistry around young talent and new faces.
Take the Colorado game. White put up 17 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists.
Watching it live, you wouldn’t have pegged him as the most dominant player on the floor - but then you check the box score, and there he is, quietly doing everything. That’s his game: steady, smart, and always in the right place.
He’s not going to make the highlight reel every night, but he’s the kind of player coaches trust in crunch time. He makes the right reads, defends without fouling, and rebounds like a forward with something to prove.
Melvin Council Jr.: The Dawg KU Needed
Council’s path was even more unconventional. After two years in junior college, he spent time at Wagner and St.
Bonaventure, putting up solid numbers at both stops. But the jump to Kansas - to the Big 12, to the blue blood spotlight, to matchups against Duke, UConn, Tennessee - that’s a leap not every player can make.
Council hasn’t just made the leap. He’s soared.
He’s averaging 13.5 points, dishing out a career-high 4.8 assists, and keeping turnovers to a career-low 1.5 per game. But stats only tell part of the story.
Council brings an edge Kansas has been missing - that “dawg” mentality. He defends, he hustles, he leads.
And when he makes a big play, Allen Fieldhouse lets him know it - with a chorus of woofs from the crowd.
Against Colorado, Council was everywhere: 18 points, seven rebounds, three steals, three assists. And when Darryn Peterson rolled his ankle late, Council didn’t blink. He took over - scoring, scrapping, and willing KU to the finish line.
Setting the Tone
What’s most impressive about White and Council isn’t just their production - it’s how their effort is contagious. You see it in the way Flory Bidunga dives for loose balls.
You see it in Elmarko Jackson, Bryson Tiller, and Jamari McDowell making hustle plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet. This team has bought in, and it starts with the tone White and Council have set.
They’re not just playing for stats. They’re playing for Kansas. And that’s exactly the kind of leadership that turns a good team into a dangerous one come March.
The Peterson Factor
Let’s not forget: this team weathered the early-season storm without Darryn Peterson, one of the most electric freshmen in the country. Now that he’s back, the challenge is integrating his explosive skill set into a team that’s already found its groove.
The good news? White and Council are the kind of players who make that transition easier.
They don’t need the ball in their hands every possession. They’re willing to adapt, willing to sacrifice, and smart enough to find ways to complement Peterson’s game. Each outing, they’re getting more in sync - and the ceiling keeps rising.
Built for the Big 12
Kansas doesn’t just have talent - they have toughness. They have leadership. And they have two transfers who’ve brought exactly what this program needed: grit, maturity, and a deep understanding of what it takes to win.
Council and White might not have come in with the same hype as some of Self’s previous portal additions, but they’re proving to be perfect fits. They’re doing the dirty work, leading by example, and helping this team build something real.
If the chemistry keeps building - and if Peterson continues to find his rhythm within this group - Kansas could be right back in the thick of the Big 12 title race.
And if you’re a fan of the crimson and blue, you’re going to love watching Council and White every step of the way.