photo by: AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) plays during an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Cincinnati.

Ames, Iowa — Kansas senior forward KJ Adams hurt his shoulder during the Jayhawks’ 74-57 loss to Iowa State, and head coach Bill Self said on Wednesday night he wasn’t sure of the severity of the injury.

Adams collided hard with ISU guard Demarion Watson while going for a steal near the baseline in the opening minutes of the second half, one of many physical blows Adams took during his 24 minutes on the floor at Hilton Coliseum. He stayed down briefly, holding his right shoulder, before exiting the court during the under-16 timeout.

He returned after just over three additional minutes of game time — entering with 12 minutes and 22 seconds remaining — and tallied an assist and a foul before leaving the court again with 7:08 to go and heading back up the tunnel. Adams took a seat on the Jayhawks’ bench soon afterward, but didn’t go back into action for the rest of the night, as wings Rylan Griffen and AJ Storr saw increased playing time in his absence.

“I don’t know how significant it is or how much time he’ll miss, but he obviously couldn’t go there when he came back in,” Self said postgame. “I hope it’s not significant and hopefully he won’t miss time, but I think we probably will be very lucky if that’s the case.”

Adams finished the night with four points, four assists and six rebounds, continuing his recent improvement on the glass as he helped generate some additional opportunities for the Jayhawks with three offensive rebounds in the first half.

“There were a couple possessions there in the first half that KJ Adams was the most competitive guy in the game,” Self said. “I mean, his hands (were) on every ball, and we didn’t have anything to show for it.”

Adams is averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on the season, as his role in the Jayhawks’ offensive attack has diminished somewhat, but his ability to switch onto guards effectively had helped enable KU’s defensive improvement prior to Wednesday night’s loss.

The 6-foot-7 senior from Austin, Texas, has started all 16 games for the Jayhawks this year and 84 of a possible 86 over the prior two-plus seasons. If he misses time, Griffen, who has seven starts in his Jayhawk career, could be one option to replace him in the starting lineup; alternatively, if Self wants a greater post presence, he could opt for freshman center Flory Bidunga to play alongside Hunter Dickinson and make his first career start.

Adams previously dealt with an ankle injury in November.

The Jayhawks (12-3, 3-2 Big 12) will host Kansas State (7-9, 1-4) in the Sunflower Showdown on Saturday at noon.