Kansas Jayhawks guard Kevin McCullar answers questions from the media in the breakout session of the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tipoff.
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00:00 >> What's it mean like having a guy come in with that chip on his shoulder to live
00:04 up to that Kansas standard?
00:05 >> Most definitely, I mean, it's a chip on his shoulder just like everybody else
00:08 does that comes to play for KU.
00:09 So when you come here, you come here to win games and win championships.
00:13 >> You came back for a reason, try to chase another championship.
00:15 I guess just kind of where's your motivation, your fire at right now?
00:18 >> Yeah, I'm ready to go.
00:19 I'm at an all time high in confidence and I'm ready to get this thing started.
00:22 >> Thanks, man.
00:23 >> You're welcome.
00:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:34 >> Yeah, you know, playing last year for Coach Self, this year I feel even more
00:37 confident in myself and my buddies and the trust that I have in him.
00:40 So I'm just super ready to go.
00:42 My confidence is at an all time high right now and
00:45 I'm just ready to get this thing started.
00:47 >> You know, in every long battle, KJ,
00:49 you just kind of had that chemistry ready with yourself.
00:51 How big is that?
00:52 How big is my new season?
00:53 How big is it gonna be?
00:55 Everybody that's new, they're not.
00:56 >> It helps already having guys like Juan and KJ that I've been in battles with,
01:02 been in big games and moments with Dr.
01:05 Arthur Lienhardt and I trust in those situations.
01:07 So it's gonna be a great year for us.
01:08 >> What do you say to these kids at your preschool?
01:12 What do you gotta tell the younger guys?
01:13 What's that narrative?
01:15 >> What do you say?
01:16 >> So how do you say your experience at Texas Tech,
01:18 how do you get through the operating?
01:20 What are you gonna tell the younger guys as they kind of move forward,
01:22 continue to build?
01:23 >> Just stay level headed.
01:24 It's a long season.
01:26 It's gonna be full of ups and downs, but you just gotta stay even keeled.
01:28 It's a highs and a lows and just be prepared for every moment.
01:31 >> What's the scariest thing about this team?
01:33 >> The scariest thing about this team is just how many pieces that we have and
01:36 how many weapons I feel like we're serving the team.
01:39 I feel like on any night, anybody can go off.
01:41 >> Perfect, great answer, Kevin.
01:43 Thank you.
01:43 >> Yeah.
01:44 >> Helping the team win in whatever way I can.
01:46 >> Hey, Kevin, last year when we talked, you were the new guy coming in and
01:49 having to learn about how things happen at Kansas and
01:52 kind of learning from the guys that have already been here.
01:54 This year, you're one of the few guys that is actually returning.
01:56 What is it like having that role reversal,
01:58 being the guy that's helping the new guys come along and
02:02 actually play the way that they're expected to?
02:04 >> Yeah, last year was great for me.
02:06 I had a bit of play for Coach Selfie that year.
02:07 I needed my belt, but now I'm just more confident in myself and ready to go.
02:12 >> Have you taken a step up in terms of helping the new guys get acclimated and
02:16 stuff?
02:17 >> Yeah, most of it.
02:17 I feel like I've always been a leader in my own way.
02:19 But yeah, this year I definitely have to be a vocal leader on the court and
02:22 kind of get guys going and helping the guys get adjusted to how Coach Selfie does
02:26 things and how can you do it.
02:29 >> And obviously, the way you guys played last year with KJ Adams typically being
02:32 the big for you guys, having someone like Hunter there,
02:35 what kind of new excitement is there for you guys in terms of what you're able to
02:38 do this year?
02:39 >> Yeah, it's gonna be a great having him down there,
02:42 a guy that can switch the floor as well and win scoring the paint.
02:45 I'll also be a representative.
02:46 That gives KJ freedom to be on the wing more, move around and
02:50 do what he does, so it's gonna be great.
02:52 >> What about that trip to Puerto Rico?
02:53 I know you guys had an opportunity, everybody but Johnny Furphy was down there
02:57 on that trip.
02:58 How big of a thing was that for
03:00 you guys to be able to play together in that competitive environment?
03:03 >> It was great to match up against pros like Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon and
03:05 teams like that, but just off the court, being able to bond with them.
03:09 And it was a great time.
03:11 >> You look at the freshmen that have kind of come in,
03:12 how have they looked like on the court?
03:13 And what have you kind of picked up quickly from that?
03:16 >> Yeah, the freshmen are super talented.
03:17 This is a great group of guys, a great class that they brought in.
03:20 Everybody's so talented, they're just kind of getting adjusted and learning.
03:23 And that's my job, Juan's job, and Kade's job to get them adjusted, so
03:26 they're getting ready to go.
03:27 >> Yeah, and I think Bill said earlier that Marco has the most raw talent on
03:33 the team.
03:33 Do you see that?
03:34 Do you feel like, my God,
03:35 there's moments where he could be this superstar?
03:38 >> No, most definitely.
03:39 He shows flashes all the time in practice.
03:41 He's a great player.
03:43 He's so young and just learning.
03:45 It's a lot when you come in as a freshman, learning so much.
03:47 But just movement-wise, he has raw talent, for sure.
03:50 >> I guess just compared to where Grady was up to this point last year,
03:53 do you see similarities there?
03:55 Was Grady a little further along?
03:56 I mean, skill set-wise, obviously, they're very different.
03:58 >> Not yet.
03:59 Skill set-wise, they're two different players.
04:01 But yeah, I definitely see how Grady was at this time.
04:03 He's the same thing with Marco.
04:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]