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Kansas will miss Taylor’s toughness for at least 3 weeks

spt-111211-tyshawn

Mike Miller

Tyshawn Taylor’s play can be sloppy, maddening and occasionally brilliant.

But after Saturday’s win against Ohio State, add gusty to the list.

The 6-3 senior played 35 minutes, scored nine points, had seven turnovers and a career-best 13 assists – all on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Taylor’s one of the few experienced players on Kansas’ roster and has made coach Bill Self a little nuts this season because of his propensities for turnovers.

And for good reason. Through nine games, he only has three more assists (42) than turnovers (39). But Self was all smiles about Taylor’s play vs. the Buckeyes.

“I can get on Ty because he will turn it over every now and then, but where would we be without him?” Self said. “We don’t win the game tonight if he doesn’t play. He definitely isn’t 100 percent.”

There’s no definite for Taylor’s return, as Self noted in a statement made Sunday after Taylor’s surgery.

“Tyshawn had surgery this morning and I spoke with the doctors and it went as well as expected,” Self said on Sunday afternoon. “Nothing had changed in the time frame for recovery, which is one to three weeks. He will be up and around tomorrow morning and will be back in the shortest time possible. The time for recovery depends on swelling and how he reacts to rehab.”

Until he returns, junior Elijah Johnson will likely assume more point guard duties. Freshman Naadir Tharpe is also likely to see an increased role.

If Taylor only misses three weeks, he’ll miss four games and be back in time for Kansas’ Big 12 opener against Kansas State, which would be a welcome thought for Self’s squad.

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