October 30th, 2005
JJ Redick:
With All Due Respect
Is it his passion?
Is it because he can block out their insults?
Is it the color of his skin?
Straining to single-out an answer as to why opposing fans
hate J.J. Redick will almost tilt your brain on its spinal cord axis.
And hate isn’t even a strong enough word.
They loathe him. They despise him. They detest him. They
burst blood vessels in their necks as they blaze insults at the white
shooting guard in the Duke jersey.
As we embark on a new college basketball season, no
player is more fascinating than the reigning
ACC Player of the Year and First-Team All-American.
If he is not the greatest shooter in the history of
college basketball, he is the greatest since the implementation of the
3-point line in 1986. Before anyone wearing a Steve Alford throwback hurls a
cup of coffee at their monitor, consider that Dick “Hoops” Weiss called
Redick the best shooter in the college ranks “since Chris Mullin.” Need more
evidence?
- In three seasons, he’s made 430 free throws. He’s
missed 28.
- He shot over 91% from the line in each of his three
seasons.
- He already holds the NCAA record for free throw
percentage 93.9% for a minimum of 300 attempts and 2.5 made per game (NCAA
qualifiers). If he keeps those averages up and attempts 142 this season, he
will displace the career record of 88.5% - for a minimum of 600 attempts -
currently held by former Holy Cross star Ronnie Perry.
- His 313 career three-pointers are 100 shy of the
all-time record set by Virginia’s Curtis Staples (1995-1998).
UConn’s Rudy Gay is a better pro prospect. Redick’s own
teammate, Shelden Williams, probably has a better chance at the Wooden
Award. But Redick is an extremely unique player, a special talent. And his
being special is about more than just the shots he makes.
No player in the college game demands more game-planning,
more junk defenses, and more awareness each and every trip down the court.
The only jumpers more feared are flying from the fingertips of NBA players.
And much like a recently retired NBA superstar, Reggie Miller, Redick’s
entire offensive repertoire is based off of that fear. Most players catch
the ball, shoot a jab step, then try to pull-up. Redick pump fakes (often up
to six-feet beyond the three-point line) just to create that same operating
space. He is also the only college player who catches, pumps, then takes a
side-step dribble to pull-up. The entire routine revolves around his
fantastic form and remarkable release.
Additionally, his accomplishments have come against
phenomenal competition, with each individual competitor frantically flying
to prevent a J.J. jumper. As impressive as his previously mentioned shooting
numbers are, his best bucket-making came against the elite. Just last
season, he hit at least 5 three-pointers in a game against the likes of
Michigan State, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, and Temple.
Yet there is more to the intense marksman than his
marksmanship. Redick averaged 21 ppg, 3.3 rpg, and 2.6 apg in 2004-05. He is
a very good passer and he is solid athletically. Defensively, he is active
and snatches more than a steal per game.
His entire game is built to irk. Defenders must chase the
constant movement, darting and dipping behind and through screen after
screen, only to see one of his trademark jumpers drop through as the shot
clock buzzes.
When opposing fans feel exasperated while sitting in a
sea of Terp red or Carolina blue, they don’t have a wall punch. They only
have disparaging verbiage to spit.
Redick almost feeds into it all. His elation explodes
after deep treys; he shoots free throws like the only sounds he can hear are
the bounce of the ball and the swish of the net. For Blue Devil fans, No. 4
is a savior. For everyone else, he’s irk-ish.
Love him.
Hate him.
Just respect him.
