Kansas basketball suffered a significant setback on Monday as senior guard Melvin Council Jr. broke his right foot during practice and will undergo surgery in the coming days, head coach Bill Self announced.
Council suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, leaving the Jayhawks without one of their key players for the foreseeable future.
“Melvin broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot during Monday’s practice and will have surgery in the next couple of days,” Self said in a statement released by Kansas Athletics.
“We expect a full recovery and we’re hopeful he will return around the start of the conference season.”
Melvin Council Jr. Injury Timeline for Kansas Basketball
While Kansas did not announce an exact timetable for Council’s return, Self’s comments suggest the Jayhawks could be without the senior guard for the remainder of their nonconference schedule.
The good news for Kansas is that the program expects Council to make a full recovery, with the hope that he can return when Big 12 play begins.
However, the injury is a frustrating development for a Kansas team looking to build chemistry and establish itself as a contender heading into conference play.
Council’s absence will also force Self to make adjustments to his backcourt rotation, with other guards needing to take on additional minutes and responsibilities.
What Melvin Council Jr.’s Injury Means for Kansas
Council joined Kansas after transferring from St. Bonaventure, where he established himself as a productive and experienced guard. Council averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season at Kansas, starting all 35 games while earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition.
His ability to attack the basket, create offense and bring veteran leadership made him an important addition to the Jayhawks’ roster.
Now, Kansas will have to navigate a significant portion of its early-season schedule without him.
The timing is particularly unfortunate because the nonconference portion of the schedule provides an opportunity for new players to develop chemistry before the grind of Big 12 basketball begins.
Kansas is back on the court on Tuesday night to take on No. 24 Kentucky.
