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UPDATE
Now Kansas is saying Marcus Garrett will play tonight.
Per Kansas SID, Marcus Garrett is starting tonight. Earlier reports suggested he might not play.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) December 2, 2020
OK. Marcus is listed as a starter on the official stat sheet. To sumarize: On the pregame radio show Self said Garrett was sick but it was NOT COVID-19. Self said Garrett was out tonite. However, Marcus has been warming up and it says he's playing on the official sheet.
— Gary Bedore (@GaryBedore) December 2, 2020
Alrighty then.
The Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks will both be without key players tonight.
We already knew Keion Brooks Jr. was out due to his leg injury, which will keep the UK forward sidelined 2-3 more weeks.
Now, Kansas is getting a late scratch in the form of point guard Marcus Garrett, who will miss tonight’s contest with an illness that is NOT related to COVID-19, according to head coach Bill Self.
Marcus Garrett not playing tonight; Self said he's tested negative twice and it's not COVID-19. But Self said Garrett is "sick."
— Gary Bedore (@GaryBedore) December 2, 2020
The reigning NCAA Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett is easily the Jayhawks’ most important player, so this is a massive loss for them. The senior from Texas is averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
This was going to be easily the biggest mismatch in favor of Kansas, as Garrett is a lockdown defender who would have likely made life very hard for UK freshman point guard Devin Askew.
This definitely changes the complexion of this game, but it’s still going to be a war for 40 minutes as both teams search for an early-season signature win.
It’s unclear who will now start at point guard for the Jayhawks.
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