NCAA News Wire

Kansas C Embiid ruled out vs. Stanford

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Kansas freshman center Joel Embiid will not play Sunday’s NCAA Tournament game against Stanford, according to ESPN.com.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self said Embiid was ruled out because he is still recovering from a back injury.

Embiid missed the last two regular-season games and the Big 12 tournament.

If Kansas reaches the regional semifinals next week, Self said Embiid will be questionable to play. The Jayhawks, a No. 2 seed, defeated Eastern Kentucky on Friday night without Embiid.

The 7-footer averaged 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds this season before sustaining a lower back injury during conference play and then aggravated it late in the season. He last played March 1. He went to Los Angeles earlier this month to visit a back specialist.

Embiid is projected by some to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft if he leaves school early.