Leave of absence for Kansas’ Vick

Kansas guard Lagerald

Vick is taking a leave of absence from the basketball program, leaving the No. 13 Jayhawks even more short-handed as they face an uphill climb to a 15th consecutive Big 12 title.

Kansas coach Bill Self said that Vick has “some personal matters that require his immediate attention.” Self said there is no timetable for his return.

The Jayhawks (17-6, 6-4) are tied for fourth in the league.

Kansas, the nation’s preseason No. 1, already is playing without three players that Self expected to be key pieces of a march to a second consecutive Final Four. Center Udoka

Azubuike was lost for the season to wrist surgery, power forward Silvio De

Sousa was declared ineligible by the NCAA and Marcus Garrett is out with a sprained ankle.

In other news:

• Connecticut leading scorer Jalen Adams will be out the next four to six weeks because of a knee injury suffered during the Huskies’ loss to Temple on Wednesday.