KU big man Hunter Dickinson comments on his 2,000-point milestone and his health

Hunter Dickinson’s father, Tim, recently informed his son that he was approaching a significant milestone in his four-year college basketball career.

“I think it kind of flew under the radar a little bit. I think my dad told me a couple days before the game I was close to it,” Dickinson, Kansas’ 7-foot-2 center from Alexandria, Virginia, said Thursday, referring to scoring point No. 2,000.

Dickinson scored 16 points in Tuesday’s victory over Oklahoma State, giving him 2,010 points — 393 at Kansas and 1,617 in three years at Michigan.

“I think that just goes to show you I’m a bucket out there for real,” Dickinson said, smiling. “I think it (scoring achievement) probably got overlooked because I transferred. People probably lost the full statistics,” he added. “I’m very fortunate to be able to score that and get the 1,000th (career) rebound (in last Saturday’s loss at Iowa State).”

Of his scoring numbers, Dickinson stated: “A lot of people had their hand in that success — a lot of point guards I played with in my career, a lot of guards who have given me the ball. It’s definitely an accomplishment I’m proud of. Hopefully I can add on and it adds to more wins for us.”

Dickinson — he will take an 18.7 scoring, 11.2 rebounding average into Saturday’s 3 p.m. home game against No. 4-ranked Houston — is the third active player with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. The others: Armando Bacot of North Carolina, and and Zach Edey of Purdue.

He was asked Thursday how he’s holding up physically.

Dickinson, who averages 32.0 minutes a game for the No. 8-ranked Jayhawks, has been slowed a bit by a bruised knee in recent games.

“I’m definitely spending a lot of time with Mr. Cowgill,” Dickinson said of Bill Cowgill, KU’s associate director/sports medicine. “He is doing a lot for me. Like I said earlier, a couple weeks ago, everybody is dealing with some injuries nowadays. Nobody is 100 percent. You’ve got to get out there and give it your all. I’ll definitely be feeling good on Saturday, that’s for sure,” Dickinson added.

Fellow All-America candidate Kevin McCullar missed KU’s 83-54 win over Oklahoma State because of his own knee bruise. KU coach Bill Self thinks the senior guard will be able to play in the matchup between KU (17-4, 5-3) and Houston (19-2, 6-2).

“Like I said all along it’s a bone bruise. I’m anticipating him being able to go but I don’t know to the extent or how much it’ll bother him or anything like that,” Self said of McCullar’s status Thursday at a news conference held in advance of Saturday’s game.

Freshman guard Elmarko Jackson, who had come off the bench the last five games after starting the first 16 contests, scored 10 points in 25 minutes. The 31.3% 3-point shooter knocked down two 3s in as many attempts.

Also, senior guard Nick Timberlake had seven points (1-of-5 from 3) in 24 minutes while Parker Braun and Jamari McDowell played 10 minutes apiece, McDowell hit a 3 and had six points; Braun had six boards.

“Obviously it’s not ideal for one of your best players to be out. Circumstances happen,” Dickinson said. “I feel if there was a game to miss thankfully it was that one because the other guys stepped up and played really well. I think it was great for some guys to get confidence, especially some of the bench guys coming in and playing really well. I think that was great for them. Hopefully they can use that confidence and momentum and carry it forward.”

Of Jackson, whose previous scoring high in a Big 12 game was two points, Dickinson said: “I think he kind of knows he’s an important piece to the team, obviously because we have just nine scholarship guys available. If you do the math on it all nine are going to be integral in what we do.

“For him continuing to stay confident in his talent, in what he does … obviously making shots helps that and definitely will improve his confidence for sure. I know speaking for myself it (making shots) helps. Just seeing him out there I think was good for him. That’s what everybody was expecting out of him coming in. I think that’s a great stepping stone for him. Hopefully he can continue on that because I know how hard he works out side of practice. There’s definitely some good days ahead for him.”

KU will play two upcoming games in a three-day span. The Jayhawks will meet Kansas State at 8 p.m., Monday in Manhattan.