Kansas Guard Melvin Council Jr. Out With Broken Foot

The Jayhawks senior will have surgery on a broken right foot in the next couple of days.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball

Kansas Guard Melvin Council Jr. Out With Broken Foot

Kansas basketball announced that senior guard Melvin Council Jr. will be out for some time after breaking his right foot during practice on Monday, Nov. 9. He is scheduled to have surgery in the next couple of days.

Why it matters

Council Jr. has been a contributor early in the season, averaging eight points, five assists and 3.5 rebounds a game through two games. His absence will test the Jayhawks' depth as they open a high-profile schedule.

Council Jr. broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, and through two games he is averaging 8 points, 5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. The exact recovery timeline after surgery has not been disclosed.

The players

Melvin Council Jr.

Melvin Council Jr. is a senior guard for the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team and a key perimeter contributor for the program.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks are the men's basketball program of the University of Kansas, a longtime power in the Big 12 Conference and one of the most storied programs in college basketball.

Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's basketball program of the University of Kentucky, a perennial national contender and one of the most successful programs in NCAA history.

The details

Council Jr. broke his right foot during practice on Monday, Nov. 9, and the injury was announced by the program. The No. 15 Kansas Jayhawks are scheduled to face No. 22 Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 9: Council Jr. breaks his right foot during practice.
Next couple of days: Council Jr. is scheduled to have surgery.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Kansas plays Kentucky at the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago.
Start of the conference season: Council Jr. is expected to return from injury.

Season Trajectory

Early-season guard injuries to ranked programs during the November non-conference slate often reshape rotations before conference play begins. Kansas will need to rebalance its backcourt depth as it competes against top-25 opponents.

Without Council Jr., Kansas will lean more heavily on its remaining guards to cover his assist and scoring production in the backcourt. Fantasy and betting projections for Kansas games should be adjusted to reflect his absence until he returns.

The takeaway

Injuries to key rotation players early in the season test team depth, and how Kansas adjusts over the coming weeks will signal how well it can absorb setbacks heading into conference play.

What happens next

Council Jr. is scheduled to have surgery on his right foot in the next couple of days, and he is expected to return around the start of the conference season.