photo by: Associated Press

Kansas's Marcus Garrett (0) goes up for a shot against Villanova's Brandon Slater (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

No X-ray was taken on the injured right ankle of Kansas junior Marcus Garrett, according to KU coach Bill Self.

In a text message to the Journal-World on Sunday evening, Self also said that Garrett was “doing better.”

Injured late in the first half of Saturday’s 56-55 loss to No. 18 Villanova, Garrett left the floor with around four minutes remaining in the half and did not return to the game.

He was on the bench throughout the second half and, as KU’s most experienced player, did his best to help his young teammates from his seat next to the KU coaching staff.

Like many of his teammates, Garrett traveled home for the holidays from Philadelphia, landing in Dallas sometime Saturday night.

He’ll be there through Christmas and will report back to Lawrence with the rest of the team by Thursday to begin preparations for Sunday’s road game at Stanford.

Garrett missed five full games with a high ankle sprain to his left ankle during Big 12 Conference play last season. Even after returning he never played at 100% the rest of the season.

There was enough optimism around the program Saturday night to suggest that his latest injury will not take Garrett down the same path this season.

Self said Saturday he did not believe the injury was “going to be something that drags out to conference play.”

Garrett is currently averaging 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 28 minutes per game in 11 starts this season. He ranks second on the team with 19 steals and is shooting 48% from the floor and 37% from 3-point range.

The Jayhawks will travel to Stanford next weekend for a 2 p.m. clash with Jerod Haase’s club on Sunday at Maples Pavilion on the Stanford campus.

That game is slated to be televised by ABC.