Melvin Council Jr. Emerging as Kansas' Engine - and Possibly for More Than Just This Season
Kansas head coach Bill Self didn’t make any declarations on Thursday, but he certainly dropped some intriguing hints about the future of Melvin Council Jr. And if you’ve been watching Council play lately, you can understand why Self might want to keep him around a little longer.
While the NCAA has been tightening the screws on eligibility waivers-recently denying a sixth year to former Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss-Self acknowledged that there would be hurdles if Council were to return next season. Still, he didn’t shy away from expressing where he stands on the idea.
“Would I love that? Absolutely,” Self said. “I love coaching him.”
It’s not hard to see why. Council has been a steady hand and a spark plug for the Jayhawks, the only regular starter among the team’s four seniors. The others-Tre White (Illinois transfer), Jayden Dawson (Loyola-Chicago), and Justin Cross (redshirt senior)-have contributed in their own ways, but Council has been the one consistently setting the tone on the floor.
Council himself hasn’t dived into the logistics of another season, but the idea clearly appeals to him.
“I haven’t looked into that, but I’ve been hearing things,” Council said. “I would love to come back if I had another year. It’s Kansas.”
And right now, he’s playing like someone who belongs in Lawrence for as long as they’ll have him.
A Closer Look at Council’s Impact
Through this season, Council has been doing a little bit of everything-and doing it well. He’s averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and five assists per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. Those are solid numbers on paper, but they don’t fully capture just how important he’s been to Kansas’ rhythm and identity.
He’s scored in double digits in each of the last four games, including a gritty 16-point, seven-rebound performance in a tight 64-61 win over No. 13 Texas Tech on the road.
That game was a prime example of Council’s ability to show up when the lights are brightest. He logged 35+ minutes in each of those four contests, even going as high as 43 minutes earlier in the season during a 36-point outburst in an overtime battle against NC State.
That kind of workload-and production-speaks volumes. Over the last six games, he’s led the Jayhawks in both minutes and assists, a dual-threat presence who can initiate offense, crash the boards, and take over when needed.
It’s no surprise that some have begun to draw comparisons between Council and former Kansas standout Tyshawn Taylor. Like Taylor, Council plays with a fearless edge and a knack for making the right play at the right time.
Making Winning Plays
Council’s fingerprints were all over Kansas’ recent win at Texas Tech, especially in crunch time. Head coach Bill Self pointed out Council’s involvement in both of Darryn Peterson’s clutch three-pointers that sealed the win.
“The first pass he got him the ball,” Self said. “The second pass, Flory [Bidunga] set a screen and Melvin just jumped up and [Peterson] made it off the bounce.”
Those are the kind of subtle, high-IQ plays that don’t always show up in the box score but make all the difference in tight games. Council’s ability to read the floor, make the extra pass, and trust his teammates is exactly what you want from your lead guard in March-and maybe beyond.
Looking Ahead
Kansas has a tough stretch coming up, starting with Utah on Saturday before a marquee home showdown against top-ranked Arizona. That game has all the makings of a statement opportunity, and Council’s recent form suggests he could be the one to set the tone.
Whether or not he gets another year in a Jayhawks uniform is still up in the air. But right now, Melvin Council Jr. is playing like a guy who’s not ready for his Kansas story to end-and the Jayhawks are better for it.