Melvin Council Jr.'s 'unbelievable' night includes 9 3s in KU's OT win - ESPN
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Melvin Council Jr. had been struggling with his shooting from behind the arc this season for No. 19 Kansas. So, when NC State faced the Jayhawks, they were more than happy to let him take his shots. And boy, did he deliver! The 6-foot-4 senior put on a show, scoring a career-high 36 points and making nine 3-pointers, which were crucial in Kansas' 77-76 overtime win over the Wolfpack.
It wasn't just about the points; it was the way he got them. Council had been hitting just 27.3% of his 3-pointers in Division I since joining the Jayhawks, and his confidence was low. But on Saturday, he lit up the court, making hard shots and daring defenders to guard him. His coach, Bill Self, praised his performance, saying, 'He was unbelievable. Made hard shots. They dared him to shoot, and then when he made a couple, he started looking at a big basket.'
Council's journey to this moment hasn't been easy. He transferred to Kansas from St. Bonaventure and was averaging just 10.7 points in his first 10 games. But he's a fighter, and he got a pep talk from former KU star Mario Chalmers, who encouraged him to be aggressive and shoot the ball. And that's exactly what he did.
In the first half, Council was already on fire, making his first 3-pointer just 2.5 minutes into the game and another about three minutes later. He had four made 3s in the first 15 minutes, matching his career high for any game in the Division I ranks. The Wolfpack tried to adjust their defense, but Council's confidence was growing, and he was in the zone.
The game's turning point came when freshman star Darryn Peterson had to exit late in regulation due to lingering hamstring trouble. Council took over, scoring the last 13 points of regulation, including three 3s. This proved crucial, as Peterson's absence left a gap in the team's performance.
In overtime, Council continued his stellar play. He hit a 3 off the dribble, exploiting a soft switch, and pushed Kansas to a 69-68 lead. He then assisted Flory Bidunga's dunk with 51.9 seconds left in OT, securing the win. Council's final stats were impressive: 13 of 27 shots, including 9 of 15 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 43 minutes.
Council's performance was historic, becoming only the fourth KU player since 1996-97 with at least 36 points in a road game. His nine 3s were the second-most in program history, trailing only Terry Brown's 11 in January 1991. His teammates were in awe, with Bidunga saying, 'Man, we have a dog right here with us. That's a bad man right here, I'm really impressed.'
Council's 'unbelievable' night will go down in KU history, and his confidence will soar as he continues to shine for the Jayhawks.
