Bryce Thompson Day-to-Day Entering KU’s Trip to Stillwater

About two years ago, Bryce Thompson entered Gallagher-Iba Arena as a borderline celebrity.

Students made signs for the high school senior that read, “Come on home Bryce,” as they tried to court the five-star prospect from Booker T. Washington. It ended up not working. Thompson signed with Kansas, where he is a freshman with the Jayhawks, but when KU travels to Stillwater on Tuesday night for a date with Oklahoma State, it could be the first time Thompson has played in the calendar year.

Thompson has been out since Christmas with a back injury. He has played in nine games, starting one, this season where he has averaged 5.4 points a game. On Monday, Bill Self listed Thompson as day-to-day making it possible he could return against the Cowboys.

“He practiced yesterday,” Self said. “It was limited, but he did practice contact. He may be available [Tuesday]. He hadn’t practiced since the 28th of December, so yesterday in a 15-minute contact situation, I don’t know is enough time to give you an idea if his rhythm and things like that are ready to go.

“I know he’s trying to get back as soon as possible. The doc said he’d start improving at a pretty rapid rate in two weeks, it’s been right at two weeks. We think he is day-to-day.”

Thompson’s season-high in scoring came in KU’s first game of the season, a 102-90 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga. In that game, Thompson scored 12 points on 10 shots. He has scored only six total points in his two Big 12 games.