Jayhawks coach says Vick is taking a break

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Lagerald Vick is taking a leave of absence from the Kansas men’s basketball program, leaving the No. 13 Jayhawks even more short-handed as they face an uphill climb to a 15th straight Big 12 Conference title.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self said in a news release Thursday night that the senior from Memphis has “some personal matters that require his immediate attention.” Self said there is no timetable for the 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard’s return.

The Jayhawks (176) are 6-4 in the Big 12, leaving them 1 1/2 games behind Kansas State.

“He has some things going on that (aren’t) public things,” Self said during his weekly radio show Thursday night, “so I think that he hasn’t been his best because of those things.”

Kansas, which was ranked No. 1 in the preseason, is already playing without three players Self expected to be key pieces of a march to a second consecutive Final Four. Star center Udoka Azubuike was lost for the season to wrist surgery, power forward Silvio De Sousa was declared ineligible by the NCAA and top defensive option Marcus Garrett is out with a sprained ankle.

The mercurial Vick, who has appeared in 117 games for the Jayhawks, declared for the NBA draft last year but did not sign with an agent, ultimately deciding to return to Kansas for his senior year. He has started 20 of 23 games this season, averaging 14.1 points and four rebounds while providing a young backcourt with veteran leadership.

But he has been at odds with Self throughout his career, with his on-and-off performance often mirroring his leadership and teamwork.