Post by MizzouTiger on Mar 4, 2008 2:27:49 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/blair_kerkhoff/story/515869.html
Who’s the best of the Jayhawks? Make it Collins
LAWRENCE | Bill Self clammed up earlier in the day, and he didn’t bite after No. 5 Kansas’ 109-51 thumping of Texas Tech on Monday.
The subject: Who is the Jayhawks’ best player?
Monday proved how difficult it is to reach a conclusion. The Jayhawks recorded their greatest output in the Self era and guard Russell Robinson led the team in scoring with 15 points.
“Our Big 12 player of the week played 10 minutes,” Self said of Brandon Rush, who shared the latest award. “We’re pretty balanced.”
Self will leave it to others to determine the best player, or the one who will prove most indispensable when the NCAA Tournament begins in two weeks.
Besides, I need at least one KU player to complete an all-conference squad that has spots reserved for Michael Beasley, D.J. Augustin and Curtis Jerrells.
Self was bidding for two spots during the Big 12 coaches teleconference and he may be right. But adding a player doesn’t make it easier to identify the best.
Texas Tech coach Pat Knight was no help.
“Any one of four or five guys,” Knight said.
And for an assist guy, KU guard Russell Robinson threw this one away.
“Put five names in a hat and pick them,” he said.
Scoring is always a good place to start, but that’s a non-starter. Consider that Beasley has led Kansas State in scoring 23 times in 28 games, no Kansas player has led his team in scoring more than seven times.
Darrell Arthur’s 13.6 scoring average is among the lowest in the Big 12 for team leaders. It’s an occasion if a Kansas player gets 20, and this from a team that averages 82 points per game.
Rush is the only current player who has been named All-Big 12, and that’s happened twice. His overall numbers are down this season, but he’s been the Jayhawks’ top scorer and perhaps best overall player in the conference season.
If mock drafts are to be believed, Arthur has the most next-level upside. For the season, he leads Kansas in scoring and is second in rebounding.
Forward Darnell Jackson ranks with the league’s most improved players. You saw it coming toward the end of last year — off the bench, he may have been the Jayhawks’ best player in the West Regional.
Guard Mario Chalmers, besides leading the Big 12 in steals, ranks among the league’s top perimeter shooters. He’s second in assists and assist-turnover ratio, and got teammate Jeremy Case’s nod. “The most consistent player throughout the season,” he said.
Even with one of his better shooting games of the season Monday, Robinson won’t have the offensive numbers for league honors.
Then there is the player who doesn’t start and won’t get any votes for all-conference, but just may be the player that gets Self to his first Final Four.
With each game, guard Sherron Collins grows stronger and looks more like the Jayhawks’ leader and conscience. Kansas may have the nation’s deepest team. When Collins is on the floor, KU grows fangs.
No Kansas player goes stronger to the basket, and he’s willing, sometimes overly eager, to take the three.
Something else. With Kansas leading 80-36 and regulars yukking it up on the bench, Collins stood next to assistant Kurtis Townsend, calling a defense and yelling instruction, his head in a game that was long past interesting.
He’s the force Kansas will want on the floor against that NCAA Tournament opponent that will grind and drain the shot clock, as Oklahoma State did in its recent victory.
“The X-factor” is what ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla called him. Kind of like a return specialist in football. If everything else is equal, give the edge to somebody who brings the unique skill set. Three former Kansas players in attendance Monday gave Collins the nod as the team’s best.
For all-conference honors which take into account a season’s worth of work, give Arthur the nod. Then choose between Rush and Chalmers if there’s room for a second Kansas player.
But it’s becoming more apparent Collins provides the toughness the Jayhawks need to reach the final weekend.
Who’s the best of the Jayhawks? Make it Collins
LAWRENCE | Bill Self clammed up earlier in the day, and he didn’t bite after No. 5 Kansas’ 109-51 thumping of Texas Tech on Monday.
The subject: Who is the Jayhawks’ best player?
Monday proved how difficult it is to reach a conclusion. The Jayhawks recorded their greatest output in the Self era and guard Russell Robinson led the team in scoring with 15 points.
“Our Big 12 player of the week played 10 minutes,” Self said of Brandon Rush, who shared the latest award. “We’re pretty balanced.”
Self will leave it to others to determine the best player, or the one who will prove most indispensable when the NCAA Tournament begins in two weeks.
Besides, I need at least one KU player to complete an all-conference squad that has spots reserved for Michael Beasley, D.J. Augustin and Curtis Jerrells.
Self was bidding for two spots during the Big 12 coaches teleconference and he may be right. But adding a player doesn’t make it easier to identify the best.
Texas Tech coach Pat Knight was no help.
“Any one of four or five guys,” Knight said.
And for an assist guy, KU guard Russell Robinson threw this one away.
“Put five names in a hat and pick them,” he said.
Scoring is always a good place to start, but that’s a non-starter. Consider that Beasley has led Kansas State in scoring 23 times in 28 games, no Kansas player has led his team in scoring more than seven times.
Darrell Arthur’s 13.6 scoring average is among the lowest in the Big 12 for team leaders. It’s an occasion if a Kansas player gets 20, and this from a team that averages 82 points per game.
Rush is the only current player who has been named All-Big 12, and that’s happened twice. His overall numbers are down this season, but he’s been the Jayhawks’ top scorer and perhaps best overall player in the conference season.
If mock drafts are to be believed, Arthur has the most next-level upside. For the season, he leads Kansas in scoring and is second in rebounding.
Forward Darnell Jackson ranks with the league’s most improved players. You saw it coming toward the end of last year — off the bench, he may have been the Jayhawks’ best player in the West Regional.
Guard Mario Chalmers, besides leading the Big 12 in steals, ranks among the league’s top perimeter shooters. He’s second in assists and assist-turnover ratio, and got teammate Jeremy Case’s nod. “The most consistent player throughout the season,” he said.
Even with one of his better shooting games of the season Monday, Robinson won’t have the offensive numbers for league honors.
Then there is the player who doesn’t start and won’t get any votes for all-conference, but just may be the player that gets Self to his first Final Four.
With each game, guard Sherron Collins grows stronger and looks more like the Jayhawks’ leader and conscience. Kansas may have the nation’s deepest team. When Collins is on the floor, KU grows fangs.
No Kansas player goes stronger to the basket, and he’s willing, sometimes overly eager, to take the three.
Something else. With Kansas leading 80-36 and regulars yukking it up on the bench, Collins stood next to assistant Kurtis Townsend, calling a defense and yelling instruction, his head in a game that was long past interesting.
He’s the force Kansas will want on the floor against that NCAA Tournament opponent that will grind and drain the shot clock, as Oklahoma State did in its recent victory.
“The X-factor” is what ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla called him. Kind of like a return specialist in football. If everything else is equal, give the edge to somebody who brings the unique skill set. Three former Kansas players in attendance Monday gave Collins the nod as the team’s best.
For all-conference honors which take into account a season’s worth of work, give Arthur the nod. Then choose between Rush and Chalmers if there’s room for a second Kansas player.
But it’s becoming more apparent Collins provides the toughness the Jayhawks need to reach the final weekend.