demarcus cousins

Poll: Who Will Be the #2 Pick in the 2010 NBA Draft?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:10:55 -0700

2010 NBA Draft Lottery: Wizards Beat the Odds

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:12:00 -0700

The 2010 NBA Draft Lottery was held Tuesday night, May 18th, in Secaucus, NJ (as always). The Washington Wizards beat the odds and won the #1 pick in the Draft, which presumably will go to John Wall. This is the 6th time in a row the team with the worst record did not win the #1 pick. (Last year, the Clippers won the #1 pick, with Sacramento losing out, and used it on Blake Griffin. Read more about the history of the #1 pick in the Lottery).

The New Jersey Nets had the best chance at #1 with 25% odds, but slid down to 3rd place . Notice however, that they actually had less than a 50% chance combined (46.47) of getting the Top 2 picks. There was actually a better chance (53.53%) that they would get the 3rd or 4th pick. Philadelphia was the night's other big winner, moving up from a 6th place tie with Detroit.

Besides John Wall, a guard out of Kentucky, the other likely top picks include his teammate DeMarcus Cousins, Evan Turner of Ohio State, and Derrick Favors, a raw forward out of Georgia Tech.

Draft Order

1. Washington

2. Philadelphia

3. New Jersey

4. Minnesota

5. Sacramento

6. Golden State

7. Detroit

8. Los Angeles

9. Utah

10. Indiana

11. New Orleans

12. Memphis

13. Toronto

14. Houston

Draft Odds

TEAM	RECORD	CHANCES	1ST	2ND	3RD
New Jersey	12-70	250	25.00%	21.5%	17.7%
Minnesota	15-67	199	19.90%	18.8%	17.1%
Sacramento	25-57	156	15.60%	15.7%	15.5%
Golden State	26-56	104	10.40%	11.2%	12.1%
Washington	26-56	103	10.30%	11.1%	12.0%
Philadelphia	27-55	53	5.30%	6.0%	7.0%
Detroit	27-55	53	5.30%	6.0%	7.0%
LA Clippers	29-53	23	2.20%	2.7%	3.2%
Utah*	(29-53)	22	2.20%	2.6%	3.1%
Indiana	32-50	11	1.10%	1.3%	1.6%
New Orleans	37-45	8	0.80%	0.9%	1.2%
Memphis	40-42	7	0.70%	0.8%	1.0%
Toronto	40-42	6	0.60%	0.7%	0.9%
Houston	42-40	5	0.50%	0.6%	0.7%

*Originally the Knicks pick. Good work by Isiah..

Writer's Picks: MOP, All-Tournament & Breakout Star

CHN — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:15:55 -0700

While the NCAA Tournament is ultimately about team success, you can't win games without star players. But which players will be the heroes of the 2010 NCAA Tournament? Look below:

	Jeff Borzello March Madness Blog	Brendan Bowers MAC	Jason Brubkaer SEC
Most Outstanding	Sherron Collins	Evan Turner	John Wall
Breakout Star	Randy Culpepper UTEP	DJ Cooper Ohio	Darington Hobson New Mexico

G	Sherron Collins	John Wall	John Wall
G	LaceDarius Dunn	Scottie Reynolds	Sherron Collins
G/F	John Wall	Andy Rautins	Scottie Reynolds
F	Evan Turner	Evan Turner	Wes Johnson
F	Wes Johnson	DeMarcus Cousins	DeMarcus Cousins

	Blake Hofstad Previews	Raphielle Johnson Asst. Editor	Matthew Ryter Rankings
Most Oustanding	Xavier Henry	Sherron Collins	Sherron Collins
Breakout Star	Juan Fernandez Temple	Keith Benson Oakland	Ryan Wittman Cornell

G	Juan Fernandez	Sherron Collins	Sherron Collins
G	Xavier Henry	LaceDarius Dunn	Da'Sean Butler
G/F	Evan Turner	Andy Rautins	Devin Ebanks
F	Da'Sean Butler	Da'Sean Butler	Marcus Morris
F	Derrick Caracter	Cole Aldrich	Cole Aldrich

	Shawn Siegel Editor	Jon Teitel Interviews	John P. Wise One Great Season
Most Oustanding	Cole Aldrich	Sherron Collins	Serron Collins
Breakout Star	Jordan Crawford Xavier	Alex Franklin Siena	Lazar Hayward Marquette

G	Scottie Reynolds	Sherron Collins	Sherron Collins
G	Xavier Henry	Ashton Gibbs	LaceDarius Dunn
G/F	Andy Rautins	Da'Sean Butler	Wes Johnson
F	DeMarcus Cousins	Kyle Singler	Lazar Hayward
F	Cole Aldrich	Cole Aldrich	Cole Aldrich

Also: Writers's Picks: Final Four, Sleepers, Busts

NCAA Basketball Tournament: Top 65 Players

Shawn Siegel — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:16:53 -0800

Based loosely on the quarterly Collegehoops.net Top 100, I rank the 65 best players in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. This is not a fantasy stats ranking, although many of the players listed put up monster numbers. This is also not an evaluation based on pro talent-level, but a ranking of the best players right now. This was such a tough list to narrow down, there were about 20 other guys not listed who seemed awfully close.

Let the debates begin..

*The list will be updated if a player on a projected team included here doesn't make it..

#	Player	School	YR	Pos.	PPG	RPG	APG
1	John Wall	Kentucky	FR	G	17	4	6
2	Evan Turner	Ohio State	JR	F	20	9	6
3	DeMarcus Cousins	Kentucky	FR	F	16	10	1
4	James Anderson	Oklahoma St	JR	G	23	6	2
5	Sherron Collins	Kansas	SR	G	15	2	4
6	Scottie Reynolds	Villanova	SR	G	19	3	3
7	Da'Sean Butler	West Virginia	SR	F	17	6	3
8	Wesley Johnson	Syracuse	JR	G	16	9	2
9	Greg Monroe	Georgetown	SO	F	16	10	4
10	Greivis Vasquez	Maryland	SR	G	20	5	6
11	Jon Scheyer	Duke	SR	G	19	4	5
12	Luke Harangody	Notre Dame	SR	F	23	10	2
13	Cole Aldrich	Kansas	JR	C	11	10	1
15	Jordan Crawford	Xavier	SO	G	20	5	3
14	Kalin Lucas	Michigan St	JR	G	15	2	4
16	Al-Farouq Aminu	Wake Forest	SO	F	16	11	1
17	Kyle Singler	Duke	JR	F	17	7	2
18	Damion James	Texas	SR	F	18	10	1
19	Jerome Randle	California	SR	G	19	2	5
20	Jacob Pullen	Kansas St	JR	G	19	3	4
21	Darington Hobson	New Mexico	JR	F	16	9	5
22	Patrick Patterson	Kentucky	JR	F	15	8	1
23	Trevon Hughes	Wisconsin	SR	G	15	5	3
24	JaJuan Johnson	Purdue	JR	F/C	15	7	1
25	Ekpe Udoh	Baylor	JR	G	13	10	3
26	Trevor Booker	Clemson	SR	C	15	8	3
27	E'Twaun Moore	Purdue	JR	G	17	4	3
28	Jimmer Fredette	BYU	JR	G	21	3	5
29	Gordon Hayward	Butler	SO	G	16	9	2
30	Omar Samhan	St. Mary's	SR	G	22	11	1
31	Quincy Pondexter	Washington	SR	F	20	8	2
32	Lazar Hayward	Marquette	SR	F	18	8	2
33	Randy Culpepper	UTEP	JR	G	18	3	2
34	Kevin Anderson	Richmond	JR	G	18	3	3
35	Aubrey Coleman	Houston	SR	G	26	8	3
36	Matt Bouldin	Gonzaga	SR	G	16	5	4
37	Austin Freeman	Georgetown	JR	G	17	4	2
38	Donald Sloan	Texas A&M	SR	G	18	4	2
39	LaceDarius Dunn	Baylor	JR	G	19	5	2
40	Andy Rautins	Syracuse	SR	G	12	3	5
41	Ashton Gibbs	Pittsburgh	SO	G	16	3	2
42	Samardo Samuels	Louisville	SO	C	15	7	1
43	Nolan Smith	Duke	SO	G	18	3	3
44	Xavier Henry	Kansas	FR	G	14	4	2
45	AJ Ogilvy	Vanderbilt	JR	C	14	6	1
46	Gani Lawal	Georgia Tech	JR	F	14	9	0
47	Derrick Favors	Georgia Tech	FR	C	12	8	1
48	Tweety Carter	Baylor	SR	G	16	6	3
49	Denis Clemente	Kansas St	SR	G	16	4	2
50	Jahmar Young	New Mexico St	FR	G	21	3	4
51	Ryan Wittman	Cornell	SR	F	18	4	2
52	Keith Benson	Oakland	JR	C	17	11	1
53	Tre'Von Willis	UNLV	JR	G	18	3	4
54	Juan Fernandez	Temple	SO	G	12	4	3
55	Derrick Caracter	UTEP	JR	F	14	8	1
56	Marqus Blakely	Vermont	SR	F	17	9	4
57	Isaiah Thomas	Washington	SO	G	17	4	3
58	Wayne Chism	Tennessee	SR	F	13	7	1
59	CJ McCollum	Lehigh	FR	G	19	5	2
60	Elias Harris	Gonzaga	FR	F	15	7	1
61	Chandler Parsons	Florida	JR	F	12	7	3
62	Jeffrey Taylor	Vanderbilt	SO	F	14	5	2
63	Dexter Pittman	Texas	SR	C	10	6	1
64	Kawhi Leonard	San Diego St	FR	F	13	10	2
64	Kim English	Missouri	SO	G	14	3	1

On The Bubble

Solomon Alabi (Florida St)

Lavoy Allen (Temple)

Alex Franklin (Siena)

Anthony Johnson (Montana)

Gerald Lee (Old Dominion)

Jon Leuer (Wisconsin)

Shelvin Mack (Butler)

Ishmael Smith (Wake Forest)

Erving Walker (Florida)

Tai Wesley (Tai Wesley)

Agree/Disagree? Who do you think belongs on the list?

Mocking the 2010 Tournament:: 40+ Funny Nicknames

Shawn Siegel — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:12:16 -0800

Everyone loves a good nickname. But real nicknames are often boring. Gody? Cuz? Yawn. So instead, I present to you funny/lame nicknames for 40 of the top players in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Some of these reference pop culture, politics, and sports history. For others, it helps to know a little bit about the player or the team he plays for. Others are just plain ridiculous.. Enjoy!

Mocking the Tournament: 40+ NCAA Tournament Nicknames

Cole Aldrich (Kansas): "RoboCop"

Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest): "The Dunkin' Deacon"

James Anderson (Oklahoma St): "The Sundance Kid"

Trevor Booker (Clemson): "The Librarian"

Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga): "A1 Bouldin"

Da'Sean Butler (West Virginia): "Oops, I did it again"

Aubrey Coleman (Houston): "Stomp"*
* I had to go there

Sherron Collins (Kansas): Sher"ron Jeremy" Collins

DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky): "DeMan-Child"

Jordan Crawford (Xavier): "LeBron Who?"

LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor): "Satin & Lace"

Juan Fernandez (Temple): "Pepe"

Jimmer Fredette (BYU): "Jimmer Thing"

Austin Freeman (Georgetown): "Blood Sugar"

Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh): "The Punked Panther"

Luke Harangody (Notre Dame): "Goat Boy"

Gordon Hayward (Butler): "Hayward Jablome"

Wesley Johnson (Syracuse): "Blade"

Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech): "Lawal and Order"

Kalin Lucas (Michigan St): "Spartacus"

CJ McCollum (Lehigh): "Lord of the Rings"

Greg Monroe (Georgetown): "The Doctrine"

E'Twaun Moore (Purdue): "ET"

AJ Ogilvy (Vanderbilt): "Captain Kangaroo"

Patrick Patterson (Kentucky): "The Forgotten One"

Dexter Pittman (Texas): "The Dump Truck"

Jacob Pullen (Kansas St): Jacob "Stop" Pullen "My Leg"

Jerome Randle (California): Jerome Randle-"El"

Scottie Reynolds (Villanova) "Reynolds Wrap"

Omar Samhan (St Mary's): "Enter Samhan"

Jon Scheyer (Duke): Jon "is so quiet, he couldn't be" Scheyer

Kyle Singler (Duke): "The GunSingler"

Ishmael Smith (Wake Forest): "Call Me"

Isaiah Thomas (Washington): "The GM"

Evan Turner (Ohio St): Evan "Page-" Turner

Greivis Vasquez (Maryland): "Grievance Counselor"

John Wall (Kentucky): "Cool Cat"

Brad Wanamaker (Pittsburgh): Brad Wanamaker-"deal"?

Tai Wesley (Utah St): "Pad-"Tai Wesley

Ekpe Udoh (Baylor): "Bless you"

Make your own. Here are some of the other top players:

Kevin Anderson (Richmond)
Denis Clemente (Kansas St)
Randy Culpepper (UTEP)
Devin Ebanks (West Virginia)
Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech)
Lazar Hayward (Marquette)
Xavier Henry (Kansas)
Darington Hobson (New Mexico)
Trevon Hughes (Wisconsin)
Damion James (Texas)
JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
Quincy Pondexter (Washington)
Andy Rautins (Syracuse)
Samardo Samuels (Louisville)
Donald Sloan (Texas A&M)
Nolan Smith (Duke)

Feel free to post other nicknames for the players on the list above.

2010 CollegeHoops.net College Basketball All-Americans

CHN — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:53:34 -0800

Player of the Year Evan Turner and super-freshman John Wall highlight CollegeHoops.net's 2010 All-America teams. Turner averaged 19.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and 5.8 apg while helping Ohio St finish tied atop the Big Ten standings. Wall averaged 16.8 ppg and 6.2 apg, helping lead Kentucky to an impressive 29-2 record and an SEC title. They are joined on the First Team by Wall's teammate DeMarcus Cousins, Villanova leader Scottie Reynolds, and Big 12 Player of the Year James Anderson.

Besides Kentucky, other schools to have multiple players selected include Duke (John Scheyer 2nd Team & Kyle Singler 4th) and Kansas (Sherron Collins & Cole Aldrich 3rd Team). Purdue has three players on the Honorable Mention list, while Baylor has two. Returnees from the 2009 list include Turner, Singler, Collins & Aldrich, Luke Harangody, Kalin Lucas, and Patrick Patterson.

CollegeHoops.net Player of the Year:

Evan Turner, Jr, Ohio St

CollegeHoops.net First-Team All-America
G John Wall, Kentucky, Fr

G Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, Sr
G/F James Anderson, Oklahoma St, Jr
G/F Evan Turner, Ohio St, So
C DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky, Fr

CollegeHoops.net Second-Team All-America
G Greivis Vasquez, Maryland, Sr
G Jon Scheyer, Duke, Sr

F Wesley Johnson, Syracuse, Jr
F Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, Sr
C Greg Monroe, Georgetown, So

CollegeHoops.net Third-Team All-America
G Sherron Collins, Kansas, Sr
G Jacob Pullen, Kansas St, Jr
G/F Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia, Sr
F Damion James, Texas, Sr
C Cole Aldrich, Kansas, Jr

CollegeHoops.net Fourth-Team All-America
G Jerome Randle, California, Sr
G Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech, Jr
G Jordan Crawford, Xavier, So
F Darington Hobson, New Mexico, Jr
F Kyle Singler, Duke, Jr

Honorable Mention
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
Luke Babitt, Nevada
Trevor Booker, Clemson
Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga
Devan Downey, South Carolina

LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor
Jimmer Fredette, BYU
Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Lazar Hayward, Marquette
Darington Hobson, New Mexico
Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin
Robbie Hummel, Purdue
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Dominique Jones, South Florida
Kalin Lucas, Michigan St
E'Twaun Moore, Purdue
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
Quincy Pondexter, Washington
Omar Samhan, Saint Mary's
Donald Sloan, Texas A&M
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor

Check back tomorrow for our High-Major & Mid-Major All-America Teams.

Kentucky's Postseason Could be a Roller-coaster

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:11:23 -0800

Every year, CBS concludes their coverage of the NCAA Tournament with “One Shining Moment”, the sappy video montage that shows the highlights, lowlights, emotions and passion that make March Madness so great. Monster dunks. Clutch three-pointers. Buzzer-beaters. Teary-eyed players and coaches. You name it- it's on there.

So why bring this up now, still two weeks from Selection Sunday? Well if Kentucky plans on making a deep run in the tournament, fans better familiarize themselves with the roller-coaster of emotions that are often captured in that video. Because despite their overwhelming talent, the young Cats still have plenty of flaws that could be the difference between cutting down the nets or heading home early.

The most glaring defect right now is clearly the lack of outside shooting. The Cats' 2-22 effort against Tennessee, unfortunately, isn't an aberration. Since the calendar flipped to February, the Cats have made only 35 three-pointers in 145 attempts, a robust 24 percent. And while they're 8-1 in those games, their shooting woes have forced them to play with a razor-thin margin of error, needing overtime to best Mississippi State by six and surviving in Nashville against Vanderbilt by only two points. Even 10-point margins of victory over teams like Ole Miss and Alabama are a little misleading, as both games were tight throughout. Yes, there's certainly something to be said for finding a way to win, and the Cats did that in two very tough environments. But winning sometimes offers a false sense of security, and in the one-and-done style of the Big Dance, another cold night from the floor against a quality team could spell trouble.

But shooting woes shouldn't be the biggest concern for UK. After all, this is a team that buried 12 threes in a home win over Vandy in January, as well as 10 in a win over Arkansas, 11 against Sam Houston State and 14 against Hartford. The Cats have shooters, albeit some inconsistent ones. But they're very capable of making outside shots. No, the real concern should be why they're missing those shots. And the answer is easy...tired legs.

The Cats' eight-man rotation includes four true freshmen, as well as a junior college transfer. And as spectacularly talented as guys like John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are, they are simply not used to playing this many minutes. Although most high school teams play 30-35 games each season, it's a safe bet that both Wall and Bledsoe were both able to spend some second halves on the bench last year, having already built up a big lead. Unfortunately, that's not been the case this year, as both players are averaging over 30 minutes per game for the season. And their stats bear out the fact that they may be wearing down from all of the time on the court.

In December and January, Wall shot 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line. In February? He's at 39 percent from the field and a paltry 19 percent from behind the arc. Bledsoe has also seen his numbers dip, from 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point land to 40 percent from the field and 18 percent from three-point land in the same time. Of course some will point to the level of competition having increased in conference play, and the fact that UK is getting every team's best shot - both fair points. However, even if that is the case, the tournament certainly won't change either of those facts. The level of play is going to be just as high, and every team will be fighting to stay alive, meaning the target on UK will grown even bigger as March wears on.

And therein lies the next concern...the march through March. Can a team with so little postseason experience handle playing six games in three weeks, each with increased intensity and scrutiny? They certainly didn't show it this past weekend, playing on a short turnaround after beating South Carolina on Thursday night. They did manage to climb back in the game against Tennessee, but only after spotting them an 18-0 first half run, something that could end them if it happens in March. Quite simply, mental lapses and periods of defensive breakdowns usually mean early exits from the Big Dance. The Cats' talent level is so high, they've been able to win despite those errors all season. But what about when they match up with a quality team in the second or third round of the tournament, potentially a team like Wisconsin, a veteran team who slows the pace and makes you maximize every possession? Could they fight through a poor shooting night to keep their intensity and focus at both ends of the floor? Only time will tell.

Of course, it's only fair to point out that the Cats, despite their youth and occasional mental lapses, are still 27-2. They still have a Player of the Year candidate in Wall, a potential All-American in DeMarcus Cousins, and a versatile forward in Patrick Patterson who is likely to be a lottery pick in June. They are the biggest team in the country, and they've showed that when they lock in, they're nearly unbeatable. So can they win the title this year? Absolutely. But because of their youth, they probably enter the postseason with a few more question marks than other title contenders like Kansas or Syracuse. So it remains to be seen if the Cats will fulfill their potential and cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

But one thing is certain.

It's going to be a heck of a ride.

Call Me: DeMarcus Cousins a Trendsetter in Close Win?

John P. Wise — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:49:05 -0800

If you weren't fortunate enough to be in the fine city of Starkville, Miss., Tuesday night, I hope you were at least able to watch on television the Mississippi State Bulldogs take No. 2 Kentucky to overtime before letting the Wildcats escape with the win.

And as if the pain of losing a nailbiter wasn't difficult enough, MSU suffered some national-television embarrassment after fans, already jacked about having UK star DeMarcus Cousins' cell-phone number, threw drinks on to the floor late in the game.

The bebubbled home team enjoyed a seven-point lead with less than three minutes left, but Kentucky scored the final seven points of regulation to tie the game, 67-67.

After a Mississippi State timeout during which coach Rick Stansbury drew up a play that clearly didn't get run, Barry Stewart launched what Scott Van Pelt described on the "SportsCenter" that followed the game as "a contested double-pump that misses everything but the floor." It really was ugly.

Kentucky would call back-to-back-to-back 30-second timeouts, but they weren't enough to produce a game-winning play.

It was an easy call at that point to think the visitors would survive. First of all, they're better, and secondly, MSU was playing without its top interior player, Jarvis Varnado, who fouled out late in regulation.

It wasn't just the obnoxious student section that thought ill of a few late calls or no-calls by the officials, but the Bulldogs themselves deserve the blame for this loss. Poor shot selection on at least a pair of possessions in the last five minutes didn't help the home team's effort to protect that seven-point cushion. MSU lost this game, as well as a huge chance for a resume win.

Outside of their season finale at home against No. 18 Tennessee, the Bulldogs (18-8, 6-5 SEC) play an easy remaining schedule against four SEC foes with a combined league record of 12-30. They might want to win those games. Losing one of them will do far more harm than the good that would come with winning all four of them.

TREND WATCH: Cousins, who's earned a reputation in his freshman season as a great player with a bad attitude, had his number plastered all over the MSU student community the last couple of days. Trash-talking phone calls and text messages didn't seem to bother him, though, as he finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes.

After a first-half dunk, Cousins turned toward the seats as he began to run back down the court, lifted his hand to his head and made a kind of "call me" gesture that I think just might become a new trend among the drama-craving athletes.

BIG TEN BRAWL: Purdue visits Ohio State Wednesday night and while you all know I'm an Ohio guy, an informed opinion and not home-state bias is what leads me to believe the Buckeyes will win this one. I'm not as confident about OSU's chances at Michigan State Sunday, but I think the Bucks keep pace with those Spartans with a win over the Boilermakers.

Ohio State is unbeaten in Columbus this year and hasn't lost at home to Purdue in 12 years. I don't know if there's a team -- particularly a starting five -- that's playing better than OSU is right now, and it would be irresponsible not to mention that Evan Turner might be the best player in the country.

Purdue is solid and it still might eventually earn a No. 2 seed next month, but as long as the Buckeyes are playing this way, a Michigan State team in East Lansing seems the only threat to derail OSU's current hot trend.

CINCINNATI UPDATE: ESPN's Andy Katz Tweeted Tuesday night that UC's loss at South Florida won't cause too much harm to the Bearcats' NCAA chances.

Perhaps he's of the logic that Cincinnati's closing schedule of West Virginia, Villanova and Georgetown offers ample opportunities for resume wins. True as it may be, but if Cincinnati can't beat South Florida -- or Seton Hall or St. John's -- I can't imagine it can win two of those other three, let alone all of them, against Big East powers currently ranked among the top 10 in the country.

The Bearcats are headed to the NIT. Still.

John P. Wise is the editor of OneGreatSeason.com. He can be reached at jpwise3@hotmail.com.

DeMarcus Cousins: Big Cuz Emerging From Wall's Shadow

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:41:40 -0800

Remember Greg Oden?

Of course you do. He was one the most hyped big men to enter college in the last 10 years, billed as a superstar long before he ever even made his college decision. He graced magazine covers as a sophomore in high school, and was compared to everyone from Patrick Ewing to David Robinson to Tim Duncan. In his one and only year in college, he averaged 15.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and helped lead Ohio State to the national championship game before departing to the NBA, where he was the top overall pick.

Now, three years later, another dominant freshman big man has emerged. The only problem is, nobody seems to notice. You might think it's hard for a 6'11”, 260-pound big man to be overlooked, but that's exactly what's happened to Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins for much of the season.

The hype around Lexington most of the season has centered on fellow freshman John Wall, and deservedly so. As the point guard, Wall has the ball in his hands nearly every play, and his combination of athleticism and poise has all but ensured that he will be the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. But is it possible that he's not even the most important player on his own team?

After all, Cousins, or “Big Cuz” to his teammates, has been a monster in the paint all year long, posting averages of 16 points and nine rebounds per game...all in only 21 minutes per game. Blessed with soft hands and brute strength, Cousins is an absolute load in the paint, and his presence under the basket opens up driving lanes for Wall, Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Liggins. He also has allowed forward Patrick Patterson to showcase more of his perimeter game by stepping away from the basket.

With all that he does, you may wonder why he's only logging 21 minutes per game. And therein lies the biggest question mark surrounding Cousins' future. Known to be an emotional player who can sometimes lose focus, Cousins has become the target of opponents recently, as they try to neutralize him by playing overly physical and trying to get him to lose his temper. As the season has worn on, this tactic has been employed more and more, as teams realize the best way to stop Cousins is to have him stop himself.

Against Vanderbilt last weekend, the Commodores did their best to frustrate Cousins, using forward Steve Tchiengang off the bench as an agitator for most of the game. While Big Cuz did have his moments, picking up a technical while mixing it up under the basket, he also pounded the 'Dores with 21 points and 10 boards. He also continually sparked life into an occasionally restless crowd, hitting the floor at least three times for loose balls and playing with an infectious energy that seemed to inspire his teammates. In short, he showed that even the one strategy designed to stop him might not be enough.

And the scary part for opponents? He is getting better. Of his 13 double-doubles this year, nine have come in the last 11 games. In SEC play, he's averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds, all while shooting 55 percent from the floor. He also has 15 blocks through the first seven conference games, showing he can be a factor on both sides of the floor.

Now admittedly, Cousins still is a work in progress. He needs to improve his conditioning, as he tends to look winded during games, which sometimes leads to his foul trouble. He has managed to control his emotions enough to still be a force on the floor, but veteran opponents will continue to bait him, hoping to take him out of his game. His defense has improved, but he still continues to find himself in foul trouble far too often. Only three times this year has he committed fewer than three fouls in a game, and should UK find themselves matched up with a frontcourt like Syracuse or Kansas at some point in March, they'll need him on the floor as much as possible.

But it's hard not to like Cousins at this point. For all of the talk about his emotions and temper, it's often not mentioned that his effort can't ever be questioned on the floor. He plays with a passion that has endeared him to the Big Blue nation, and he's quietly making a case for SEC Player of the Year. The grimace he wears on the floor masks a great smile off of it, as he has quickly become to “go-to” interview for reporters because of his sense of humor and brutal honesty. As impossible as it may have seemed only a few weeks ago, he has emerged from the John Wall shadow and is now creeping onto the radar of fans, who realize that this giant, dancing, sometimes-grumpy-but-often-goofy big man is a pretty good player in his own right.

He may not get the recognition of Wall, or even of other recent big men like Oden or Michael Beasley, but there's no doubt that Cousins could have just as big an impact as any of them. He looks to be a lock for the lottery now, and it would be a shock if he returns to Lexington for another season, especially if the Cats are able to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

Maybe then, people will finally start to notice Big Cuz.

College Basketball: Top 25 Freshmen

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:59:39 -0800

Led by future #1 NBA pick John Wall, this year's freshman class will be one to remember. What makes it particularly interesting is that not all of the top performers are at power conference schools. The WCC, CUSA, A10, MWC, WAC, and others have top-level rookies that can play with the best in the country. Here's a list of the Top 25 freshman in the country so far, with a bias on actual performance as opposed to potential. While players like UNC's John Henson may one day tear up NBA harcourts, this list focuses on the guys who are getting it done right now.

Points are listed first, followed by rebounds & assists.

Top 25 Freshmen

1. John Wall - Kentucky - G
17.0, 3.7, 6.9, 2.1 spg
Best player on the #1 team in the land. Not bad for a freshman.

2. DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky - F/C
15.4, 9.5, 0.9, 1.8 bpg
On a per-minute basis, no one tops Cousins' production. 28 points and 18 boards per 40 minutes.

3. Xavier Henry - Kansas - G
14.3, 3.9, 2.0, 1.9 spg
Fading a bit as season has progressed, but still super talented.

4. Avery Bradley - Texas - G
12.3, 2.7, 2.5, 1.5 spg
Playing-time and scorig output has increased in recent weeks.

5. Derrick Favors - Georgia Tech - C
11.8, 8.9, 0.9, 1.1 spg, 1.9 bpg
Spotty at times, but has as much potential as anyone on the list.

6. Eric Bledsoe - Kentucky - G
11.3, 3.1, 3.2, 1.3 spg
Overshadowed by Wall & Cousins, but brings it every night.

7. Elias Harris - Gonzaga - F
16.1, 8.2, 1.1, 1.1 spg
Without Harris, Gonzaga wouldn't be near Top 25.

8. Derrick Williams - Arizona - F
15.6, 7.1, 0.7
Threat for 20 & 10 each night is keeping UofA afloat.

9. Hassan Whiteside - Marshall - F/C
12.7, 9.4, 0.3, 5.4 bpg
If you're wondering how Marshall is 15-4, here's the answer.

10. Kenny Boynton - Florida - G
14.6, 3.1, 3.3
If/when he finds consistency from three, can be 20 ppg scorer.

11. Reggie Moore - Washington St - G
14.4, 2.1, 4.6, 1.4 spg
Good mix of size, scoring, and passing ability.

12. Maurice Creek - Indiana - G
16.1, 3.8, 1.8, 1.4 spg
Will be a key component to a possible IU turnaround.

13. Lance Stephenson - Cincinnati - G
12.2, 4.8, 2.7, 1.0 spg
Has room for growth if cuts back on TO's and works on long ball.

14. Aaric Murray - LaSalle - F/C
12.1, 7.2, 1.4, 2.6 bpg
Defensive presence can surprise by hitting outside shots.

15. Marshawn Powell - Arkansas - F
15.4, 6.7, 1.2, 1.1 spg, 1.3 bpg
Positive note on otherwise blah Razorback squad.

16. Kawhi Leonard - San Diego St - F
11.4, 9.4, 1.9, 1.5 spg
Double-double machine is only improving.

17. Derek Needham - Fairfield - G
15.5, 3.5, 5.8, 2.0 spg
Dynamic guard has helped Stags to quality start, but needs to make better decisions.

18. Greg Smith - Fresno - F
12.1, 6.7, 1.1, 1.5 bpg
Coming off 25 point, 11 rebound, 5 assist game

19. Alec Burks - Colorado - G
16.8, 5.2, 1.8, 1.2 spg
One of the top scoring freshmen in the country.

20. Tyler Haws - BYU - G/F
12.4, 4.5, 1.5
Highly consistent wing is big reason BYU is 20-1.

21. Tiny Gallon - Oklahoma - C
11.2, 8.9, 0.8
Highly inconsistent, but tons of potential.

22. Tommy Mason-Griffin - Oklahoma - G
10.8, 2.8, 4.8
Quality PG needs more diverse offensive game.

23. DJ Cooper - Ohio - G
13.2, 4.6, 5.4, 2.8 spg
Puts up top-notch numbers for subpar Bobcats team.

24. Jake Cohen - Davidson - C
12.3, 4.8, 0.7, 1.3 bpg
Perhaps tiring due to lack of fitness, but one to watch.

25. John Jenkins - Vanderbilt - G
10.7, 2.4, 1.0
Improved play of late is big reason Vandy's won 9 in a row.

Others To Watch
There's not too much separating the guys below from the guys above.

Chris Braswell - Charlotte
Greg Gantt - Florida Atlantic
Jordan Hamilton - Texas
CJ Harris - Wake Forest
Arsalan Kazemi - Rice
Lasan Kromah - George Washington
JP Kuhlman - Davidson
Tony Mitchell - Alabama
Reeves Nelson - UCLA
Alex Oriakhi - UCONN
Durand Scott - Miami
Mfon Udofia - Georgia Tech
Christian Watford - Indiana
Maalik Wayns - Villanova
Jordan Williams - Maryland
Travon Woodall - Pittsburgh