NBA Draft Prospects: Cole Aldrich, Kansas

Click here to find all of our 2010 NBA Draft prospect breakdowns.

Stats: 11.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg, 56.2% FG

Size:

• Listed: 6'11", 250 lb, 21 yrs old
• Combine: 6'11 1/4" (with shoes), 236 lb, 7'4" 3/4 (wingspan)

About Him: Like Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich had a somewhat disappointing junior campaign. After his sophomore season, Aldrich -- who burst onto the national scene with a dominating eight minute stretch against UNC in the 2008 Final Four -- was expected to be picked somewhere in the high lottery. Teaming with Sherron Collins to lead a group of no names to a Big XII regular season title and a trip to the Sweet 16, Aldrich averaged 14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, and 2.7 bpg and many expected him to be one of, if not the best center in the country this past season.

But he wasn't. In fact, Aldrich was largely unimpressive as a junior as his numbers dipped to 11.1 ppg and 9.8 rpg, although his blocks were up to 3.5 bpg. He never cracked the 20 point mark as a junior. More than anything, Aldrich serves as a warning for why players declaring for the draft should strike when the iron is hot. In 2009, Aldrich and Collins were all that Kansas had. The Morris twins were overwhelmed freshman, Tyshawn Taylor, Brady Morningstar, and Tyrel Reed were only beginning to embrace their roles, and Xavier Henry was a senior in high school that many believed was headed to Memphis. As a result, everything ran through Collins, which meant that Aldrich got an opportunity to display his ability to catch-and-finish around the rim and show his prowess in the pick-and-roll. He was a sophomore playing his first real minutes as a collegian, so scouts were more willing to overlook some of the weaknesses in his game, assuming that those skills could be developed over time.

The issue isn't necessarily that Aldrich got worse as a basketball player. The emergence of Xavier Henry and Marcus Morris as legitimate scoring threats, and the fact that Aldrich was happy to simply play a role for the Jayhawks, limited the number of touches Aldrich got. And, like Patterson, this may actually be a good thing for Aldrich.

I don't think Aldrich is ever going to be a star big man in the NBA. Even after spending three years in college, he still has a pretty limited back to the basket game. He just seem comfortable in the post. Most of his moves are mechanical, and he has a tough time with even basic moves like a drop step or a jump hook. The best way to put it is that Aldrich just doesn't have a feel for playing with his back to the basket. That could come with more repetitions and hard work, but he has a long way to go. His only reliable option right now is to establish position deep enough where all he has to do is turn and finish.

Where Aldrich is quite effective is finishing when a shot is created for him. He's long and impressively mobile, coordinated, and athletic for someone with his size. He's excellent in the pick-and-roll, has long arms and good hands, and the athleticism and length to finish above the rim. He's caught quite a few alley-oops from Collins and put away a number of putback dunks during his time in Lawrence.

An interesting aspect of Aldrich's game to throw in here is that he is a pretty efficient player. He doesn't turn the ball over much (likely a result of getting most of his touches in a position where he has to shoot) and is very effective around the rim at finishing and drawing a foul. He is an intelligent passer in general, and throws an exceptional outlet pass. In fact, with the exception of a back-to-the-basket game, Aldrich seems to have an excellent feel for how to play the game.

The defensive end is where Aldrich is going to excel. He's a very strong kid, able to hold position in the post and avoid being backed down. He has also developed into a more-than-capable shot blocker. He has long wingspan, good athleticism, and excellent timing, but also manages to stay out of foul trouble and keep the ball in play when he does block a shot. He's one of those guys that isn't always necessarily looking to get a block -- he's not out there throwing a roundhouse at a ball in the air -- but with he gets high enough that he racks up the rejections by simply challenging a lot of shots. Aldrich has also drawn praise for his ability to defend the pick-and-roll. Like I said, he's mobile, coordinated, and athletic for a man of his size.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Draft Express lists a "rich man's Joel Pryzbilla" as their best case scenario for Aldrich. That's fair. I think Erick Dampier and Brendan Haywood are also fair comparisons.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: I've seen Bryant Reeves or Greg Ostertag written in some places, but I have a tough time believing that Aldrich won't be a capable defender/rebounder. Maybe Andres Biedrins?
  

Outlook: Most NBA draftniks are significantly lowered their projected ceiling for Aldrich after watching him play as a junior, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. As I wrote before, I just have a tough time seeing Aldrich becoming a star in the league. Big centers with developing offensive games that hang their hats on their defense and rebounding are valuable pieces, but they aren't the kind of players that sell tickets and get shoe sponsorships. With Aldrich showing his willingness to defer to more talented teammates on the offensive end, he might have hurt his stock but he probably helped his bring his expectations to a realistic level. Let's say Aldrich ends up getting draft in the 12-18 range. If he ends up being a guy that gets you 12 points, 10 boards, and 3 blocks a game, that's pretty good for the middle of the first round. If he posted those numbers as a top five pick -- where teams hope to select franchise changing players -- Aldrich probably would have been labeled a bust.

Highlights:





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Cole Aldrich announced his intentions to declare for the NBA Draft this season, surprising, well, no one.

Aldrich will leave Lawrence with very little fan fare. After a great sophomore season and with the expectations that he, and the entire Kansas team, had coming into this season, the Jayhawks fizzled out in the tournament's second round and have already become somewhat of an aftethought. As a team, it was a disappointing finish to what was a pretty phenomenal season for Kansas. A Big XII regular season title, a Big XII tournament title, and the No. 1 overall seed is impressive no matter what round your season ended.

But Aldrich himself had a bit of a disappointing year.

Coming into the season, everyong knew that the big fella could defend the rim and rebound the ball, and nothing he did throughout the year did anything to change that sentiment. His 9.8 rpg and 3.5 bpg speak for themselves.

Where Aldrich did have question marks were on the offensive end of the floor. Could he be a go-to scorer in the post? And this year, he wasn't. His scoring dropped to just over 11 ppg. Granted, some of that had to do with the emergence of players like Xavier Henry and the Morris twins; Sherron Collins saw his offensive output take a hit as well simply because the Jayhawks didn't need the scoring.

But it is still a an issue scouts will have when looking at Aldrich. Is this a guy that is only going to be a defender and a rebounder, or will he be an offensive threat as well.

Regardless, Aldrich is going to be a top 10-15 pick, finishing a career that saw him win a national title, a slew of Big XII titles, and earn some all-americans considerations.

Best of luck to you, Cole.

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Don't underestimate the value of Cole Aldrich

Cole Aldrich has drawn some criticism this season as his numbers have fallen from last year, when he was an all-american and thought to be a lock for the lottery.

His scoring is down (14.9 ppg to 11.2 ppg); his shot attempts are down (almost 10 per game to barely 7); his minutes are down (just under 30 mpg to 25 mpg); and if you want to get all Kenpom on me, his usage rate is down (21.5% to 20.5%). Hell, this season he has more games with five or fewer shots attempts (six) than he does with 10 or more (four).

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Aldrich is not as much of a factor in the Jayhawks offense as he was last season.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that he is having a worse season.

Kansas is loaded this season. We know this. They have about 10-12 kids that, if playing in a different system with a thinner roster, would likely start and could average double figures. With that kind of offensive firepower on a team, shots and touches are going fewer and further between.

Aldrich has never been known for his offensive ability, either. Yes, he did average 14.9 ppg as a sophomore, but the majority of those points came on catch-and-dunks, off of offensive rebounds, on 15-17 foot jumpers, and from the foul line.

In other words, Aldrich is not a player that can create his own shot. He doesn't have a great back-to-the-basket game. When he is on the floor with a line-up consisting of Sherron Collins, Marcus Morris, Tyshawn Taylor, and Xavier Henry, Aldrich is the fourth, maybe even the fifth, option offensively. While Aldrich can clearly finish with authority, using him as a go-to player on the offensive end is not Self's most efficient option on this team.

That's not to diminish his value or ability. In fact, Aldrich may be the most valuable Jayhawk.

Aldrich is a force in the paint on the defensive end. He's an excellent shot blocker and great rebounder. As he showed last night, he has the ability to completely dominate the paint on that end of the floor. But anyone that had watched his triple-double performance against Dayton in the second round of last year's tournament already knew that.

What you may not have known about Aldrich is his ability as a passer.

Kansas got a lot of easy buckets in transition last night, and the biggest reason why was their biggest player. Aldrich is exceptional at spotting an open teammate up the floor and hitting him in stride. And while Kansas may not have the transition game of a Kentucky, or a UConn, or a Syracuse, they sure are talented enough to take advantage of numbers on a fast break.

He has also shown a decent ability to pass out of the post. On three occasions (that I can remember, there may have been more), Aldrich had the ball in the post and found an open teammate on the perimeter. Twice, it led to open threes. The third time it opened up a driving lane, leading to free throws.

So while Aldrich may not be the offensive force he was last season, it is not the most valuable attribute he brings to the table for the Jayhawks. As long as he is patroling the paint on the defensive end, blocking shots and sparking the Jayhawk break, he is doing what Kansas needs him to.

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POSTERIZED: Cole Aldrich, meet Marquis Gilstrap

Kansas made short work of Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. Kansas jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead, but the Cycolnes and a, as in singular, run in them, eventually taking a 14-13 lead before being run out of the gym. Cole Aldrich led the way, posting 19 points, 11 boards, and 3 blocks.

But sometimes, its not always about winning the game.

Sometimes, multiple posterizations are more important.*

Case in point, Marquis Gilstrap, who finished with 18 points, 12 boards, and two poster dunks.



*Actually, its always about winning. But those dunks were nasty.

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Who is really leading the Big XII Player of the Year race?

At the end of the Longhorn's win over Arkansas on Tuesday, right after Damion James scored a couple big buckets down the stretch to ice the game, ESPN.com writer (and BIAH favorite) Dana O'Neil tweeted this:

Damion James has to be the Big XII player of the year right now in a runaway

This was quite a statement, considering that Damion James wasn't really thought to be a contender for the award when the season started.

So I got to thinking: does he? Is James really the Big XII Player of the Year right now? Is it really a "runaway"?

Let's take a quick peek into the Big XII's POY race:

The Preseason Favorites: For my money, there were really only four guys that I thought had a chance to win the Big XII POY before the season started.

• Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Both Collins and Aldrich were preseason all-americans picks. That's what happens when you were arguably the best center and the best point guard in the country the year before. But neither Collins nor Aldrich has been spectacular this season. Collins is averaging just 15.1 ppg and 4.1 apg while Aldrich is post 11.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg, and 3.7 bpg, a far cry from what they averaged last season, and even farther from what most expected them to do this season.
  
  The problem with just looking at numbers is that they don't take into consideration the rest of the talent on the team. As you know, the Jayhawks are loaded this season. All the youth on last year's roster are now the "experienced" sophomores schooling another group of talented freshman. Collins and Aldrich simply have not needed to carry the load offensively. Collins has orchestrated the offense and Aldrich has own the paint defensively while the two have allowed others, like Xavier Henry and the Morris twins, to get their buckets. But if last night's dogfight with Cornell is any indication, don't write these two off yet. Collins had a career-high 33 points, and Aldrich hit a number of big baskets and made some key defensive plays down the stretch.


• Willie Warren, Oklahoma: Warren is another guy whose numbers will deceive you. After coming back to Oklahoma (despite being considered a lottery pick), Warren has posted much better numbers this season, averaging 18.5 ppg and 4.5 apg. But Oklahoma has struggled as a team, sitting at just 9-5, while Warren struggles with the burden of being a leader. It got to the point that he was suspended for a game during the Great Alaska Shootout by head coach Jeff Capel. Unless Warren can turn around his, and the Sooners', season, he likely won't even be first team all-conference.


• Craig Brackins, Iowa State: It was a bit of a shock that Brackins headed back to Ames this season. He was a first round lock, and the Cyclones were terrible last season. And while ISU is still a long way away from making the tournament, they are a much improved team as the play of Marquis Gilstrap and Diante Garrett makes this team appear, at least on paper, capable of competing in the league. But unless Brackins becomes more aggressive and makes ISU relevant in the conference, I have a tough time seeing him win the award, especially when his numbers are down to 17.0 ppg and 7.9 rpg.

The Freshman

• Xavier Henry, Kansas: All the talk this season about freshman (well, about anyone really) has centered around a young man down in Lexington. But the one that got away from Coach Cal (if you remember, Henry was going to Memphis before Cal left, and almost ended up at Kentucky when Cal arrived) is putting up pretty impressive numbers this year as well. At 16.1 ppg, Henry is the Jayhawk's leading scorer while also posting 4.7 rpg and hitting 47% of his threes. While he has posted some impressive numbers, Henry has feasted on some of KU's lesser competition, struggling in games against Michigan, Memphis, and Cornell. The biggest reason he won't win the award? He may not even be the Jayhawk's best candidate when its all said and done.

The Sleeper

• Ekpe Udoh, Baylor: There's no other way to put it: Udoh has been a monster for the Bears. Ask Morgan State, they learned the hard way. Udoh tore them up to the tune of 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 blocks. In actuality, you can ask pretty much ask anyone that has played Baylor, as Udoh has been more than just a flash in the pan. The Michigan transfer has flourished under Scott Drew, averaging 14.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 4.5 bpg. Baylor is currently sitting at 12-1 this season, and Udoh's play in the paint has been one of the biggest reasons why. If Baylor continues to play this well in conference, Udoh has an actual shot to win.

The Favorites

• Jacob Pullen, Kansas State, and Damion James, Texas: For my money, I can't pick between these two right now. Let's talk Pullen first. He has been nothing short of sensational this season. He's averaging 20.1 ppg (in just 28.2 mpg) while dishing out 3.6 apg and shooting 46% from three. More importantly, however, he has stepped up in Kansas State's biggest wins. In victories over Xavier, Dayton, at UNLV, and at Alabama, Pullen is averaging 25.0 ppg. In their loss to Ole Miss, he had his worst performance of the season, going just 5-15 from the floor and 2-8 from three, finishing with just 17 points. When Pullen is playing well, Kansas State is very, very good. If he continues to play like this, and Kansas State makes a run at the regular season title, he has to be considered a favorite to win.
  
  That said, Damion James has been absolutely fantastic as well. He's posted the best numbers of his career, averaging 16.7 ppg and 10.8 rpg. And, like Pullen, he's stepped up in the biggest games. In the Longhorn's two wins over UNC and Michigan State, James averaged 24.0 ppg and 14.0 rpg. On Tuesday night against Arkansas, he went for 20 points and 9 boards in just 17 foul plagued minutes, which included a number of huge baskets down the stretch, and also went for 20 and 9 against Pitt. With seven double-doubles already this season, James has been the best and most consistent player for one of the best teams in the country.
  

Dana's right. James has been the player of the year in the Big XII. But calling it a runaway is not fair to Jacob Pullen and Ekpe Udoh, because they have best just as good. This award, as is usually the case, is going to be won in conference play.

Just another storyline to follow in what is guaranteed to be an exciting season of hoops.
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No. 1: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Kansas Jayhawks

2008-2009 Record: 27-8, 14-2 Big XII (1st)

Key Losses: None

Key Returners: Sherron Collins (18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg), Cole Aldrich (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg), Tyshawn Taylor 9.7 ppg, 3.0 apg)

Newcomers: Xavier Henry, Jeff Withey, CJ Henry, Thomas Robinson, Elijah Johnson

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich both may be first team all americans this year.
(photo credit: UMHoops)

Just one year removed from winning a national title and losing his top six players, Bill Self has completely retooled his roster. The Jayhawks are absolutely loaded this season. How loaded? Just take a look at the 12th, 13th, and 14th men on their roster. Travis Releford, a sophomore, was a top 75 recruit out of Kansas, picking the Jayhawks over the likes of Texas, UConn, and North Carolina. Jeff Withey, a redshirt freshman who will be eligible at the end of the 2009 semester after transferring from Arizona, was a top 50 recruit in 2008. CJ Henry was one of the best prospects of the 2005 class before choosing to play baseball in the Yankees organization. Those three guys would start for a number of Big XII schools, and may not even sniff the court for Kansas this year.

The biggest reason for the Jayhawks being the consensus number one team in the country is the inside-outside combination of Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. Aldrich may be the most dominating presence in the paint this season. At 6'11" with the wingspan of a pterodactyl, he can control the glass and is one of the nation's best shotblockers. Offensively, he didn't show great back to the basket moves, but his jumper (despite being hideous looking) is soft and he is a good finisher at the rim. If he put in the work during the off-season, expect Aldrich to be improved on the block this year. Everyone should know about Collins. Built like a bowling ball, Collins can shoot it, he can drive to score or to pass, and he is a proven clutch performer that isn't afraid to take (and make) a big shot. Collins is a natural leader, which is perfect for a team that is still relatively young. With the amount of talent on this roster, expect Collins' scoring numbers to dip a bit this year as he spreads the ball around more.

The likely starters on the perimeter will be sophomore Tyshawn Taylor and freshman Xavier Henry. Taylor is an excellent role player to stick in the off-guard spot. He has the talent to be a 15 ppg guy, but he is used to filling a role on a loaded roster (his high school team at St. Patrick's had seven D1 players on it). He has the handle and the play-making ability to play a little bit of point guard this year, but where his biggest contribution will be is on the defensive end. His long arms and quick feet will make him a night mare for opposing two guards. Henry might be the missing piece for Self. With a dynamic point guard, size inside, and role players and shooters on the perimeter last year, the one thing this Jayhawk team was missing was a big time scoring talent on the wing. Henry, a strong, 6'6" two-guard, is exactly that. The only concern that Self will have with Henry is his attitude - will he understand that he is not "the man" on this Jayhawk team and defer to Collins and Aldrich?

The rest of the Kansas back court is talented as well. Tyrell Reed, who was the 2008 Kansas high school player of the year, is a shooter first and foremost. A coaches son, he is a smart kid that understands the game and can play a little point if necessary, but where he will be utilized by Self is as a spot-shooter on the perimeter that will help spread the floor. Mario Little is a JuCo transfer that struggled to get time on the court last season. When he did, he produced, averaging 4.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg in just 12 mpg. He is an athletic slasher that is at his best in the open floor. Brady Morningstar is a former walk-on who earned his starting spot last season. A pesky defender and excellent shooter, Morningstar may have cost himself this season with his DUI back in September. He will not return from suspension until the end of the first semester, and by then Self will likely have his rotation figured out.

Of this group, Elijah Johnson probably has the most upside. Similar to a guy like Collins, Johnson is a solidly built, 6'2" point guard. He's explosive, he can get to the rim, he can shoot it from deep, and he makes the game look effortless. His issue is that he has a rep for being lazy, for coasting during games. If Self, or maybe even Collins, can light a fire in this kid, he should be a more than adequate back-up for Collins and may end up being a first round pick down the road.

The most improved players this season may end up being the Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus. Last season, the two showed flashes of potential, but they weren't big or strong enough to handle the rigors of the Big XII. But over the summer, the twins spent quite a bit of time in the weight room, adding strength, mass, and improving their athleticism in the process. Marcus is a bit more developed on the offensive end while Markieff is a better defender at this point in his career. Regardless, expect a big season out of these two as they will provide energy and athleticism for Self, both on the defensive end and on the glass.

The other guy expected to see time in the front court rotation is Thomas Robinson. At 6'9", Robinson is a fantastic athlete that can get out and fill a lane on the break. He isn't the strongest player inside right now, but he can finish above the rim and has shown a decent offensive game around the rim. Similar to Marcus Morris, Robinson can also step out and play the high post. He has a solid 15 foot jumper, and his passing and ball-handling ability will make him a difficult match-up for any opposing post.

Outlook: Kansas had a bit of a tumultuous off-season, as the basketball team's multiple skirmishes with the Jayhawk football team made national headlines. But as much of an issue and as big of an embarrassment as it was for Bill Self, some took it as a good sign. This wasn't one guy on an island fighting 60-some football players. This was the whole team having the back of a couple players with an issue. While there were certainly better ways to solve the issue than to take it to fists, Self has to be happy that he has a team that is close-knit enough that they didn't hesitate to have each other's back. I don't think that it will be much of a distraction at this point. The bigger issue is going to be how Self handles having this much talent on his roster. Will there be enough shots and minutes to go around to keep everyone happy? If he can manage and massage egos, Kansas looks like the clear cut favorite to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Centers

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
Here are the power forwards.
These are the centers.

Best Freshman:

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon, Oklahoma
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn
• Daniel Orton, Kentucky
• Aaric Murray, La Salle
  

Best of the Rest:

• Dwayne Collins, Miami
• Mac Kowshal, DePaul
• Chas McFarland, Wake Forest
• Keith Benson, Oakland
• Omar Samhan, St. Mary's
• Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech
  

Top 10:

• 10. Terrence Jennings, Louisville: Jennings is an imposing athlete. Standing 6'10", he is strong, fast, and can really jump. Where Jennings could really stand to improve is in his polish. Just a sophomore, Jennings was terrific last season at establishing position, many times because he simply beat his man down the floor. An excellent finisher when his teammates set him up, Jennings did not have much in the way of post moves. His strength allowed him to be effective with a strong drop step over his left shoulder, but beyond that he is still quite raw. But, as I said, Jennings is just a sophomore. A summer under the tutelage of Rick Pitino should have him much improved this season.
  

Terrence Jennings will be counted on for quite a bit of production
as Louisville looks to replace Earl Clark and Terrence Williams.
(photo credit: Hell in the Hall)

• 9. Dexter Pittman, Texas: For Pittman, the issue has never been talent. As a 6'10", big-bodied junior, Pittman averaged double figures while playing just 17 mpg last season. A huge reason for that is his ability to establish post position. Checking in at close to 300 lb, Pittman is able to get deep on the block and hold off defenders. He also has shown a decent array of post moves, as he has a solid touch inside of about seven feet. Blessed with nimble feet and solid mobility, Pittman needs to improve his explosiveness as he is not going to jump over many people. That explosiveness should go hand-in-hand with Pittman getting into shape. He came into Texas at close to 400 lb, and even though he has lost near 100 lb, Pittman still has very limited endurance, hence the limited playing time last season. If he gets into shape, Pittman will be a dominant force inside.
  


• 8. Solomon Alabi, Florida State: Alabi is a guy that oozes potential. Tall, long, and mobile, Alabi was the most effective last season as a defender. But he definitely has shown some potential as an offensive player. He has a nice touch out to about 15 feet, and seems to have a decent feel for the game. As is true with most players of his build (tall and skinny), Alabi will be much more effective as he adds strength, especially in his lower body.
  


• 7. Larry Sanders, VCU: Sanders is as raw of a player as you will find. While he did show some improvement in his post game last season, Sanders still is not much more than a catch-and-finish guy offensively. But as the junior has now been in college for two years, that aspect of his game should continue to improve. Where Sanders impresses is with his length. 6'10" with a 7'7" wingspan, Sanders routinely grabs impressive rebounds from outside of his area and blocks quite a few shots. As he continues to add strength and polish, keep an eye on Sanders throughout the season as he is a major reason new head coach Shaka Smart has a chance to keep VCU on the national radar after the graduation of Eric Maynor.
  

Larry Sanders may have the longest wingspan in college basketball.
(photo credit: VCU Athletics)

• 6. Jerome Jordan, Tulsa: Jordan has been on the NBA draft radar for a few years, but during conference play last season, he really came on strong averaging 17 ppg. The biggest strides Jordan has made is offensively. While his overall polish is fairly lackluster, Jordan developed a decent array of post moves and has a much better recognition of when to use them; essentially, he is starting to develop a feel for the game offensively. Defensively, Jordan's shot blocking numbers were down last season, but some of that can be attributed to players avoiding him inside. Overall, the senior is still quite raw as a prospect, but with his above average athleticism, his 7 foot frame, and his 7'6" wingspan, Jordan should produce big time numbers playing in C-USA.
  


• 5. Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State: Even with Hasheem Thabeet in Storrs last season, Varnado may have been the most dominating interior defender in college basketball. And defensively is where he will make his presence felt again this season. What makes Varnado so effective at blocking shots is that he is disciplined when it comes to biting on pump fakes and he is so quick off the floor, on both his first and second jump. His offensive game still leaves quite a bit to be desired as he is essentially a non-factor outside of dunking the ball. What impressed me the most about Varnado was what happened this off-season. Varnado declared for the draft, knowing that Mississippi State's signing of Renardo Sidney would mean that Varnado would be the Bulldog's 14th scholarship player. So he decided that he would walk-on this year, paying his own way through school.
  


• 4. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue: Johnson has certainly come a long way in the last four years. As a high school junior, Johnson was a 170 lb, 6'10" center that played JV basketball. Today, the 215 lb center (that can reportedly bench press 285 lb) is a potential Big Ten player of the year. Johnson's biggest attribute on the offensive end is his shooting touch. Johnson has excellent range and does not hesitate to shoot when he is left open from 18 feet. While his post game still leaves a bit to be desired, he has developed a fairly reliable turn around and jump hook, which is most effective when he makes quick moves. His under developed frame makes it difficult for him to hold position inside, on both ends of the floor, but you can definitely see why the agile, athletic center is drawing the attention of some NBA scouts.
  


• 3. AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Ogilvy is very different from the rest of the players on this list as he is not an athlete and doesn't have a ton of potential due to his length and athleticism. Operating one-on-one in the post, Ogilvy is so difficult to stop. He has a variety of effective post moves, and knows how to use pump-fakes and counter-moves to set them up. Where Ogivly struggles offensively is when he is forced to step away from the basket. He doesn't have a great jump shot, and his ability to put the ball on the floor is limited, but improving. While Ogilvy is probably not going to top NBA Draft boards as his athleticism and length is less than ideal, Ogilvy is hands down the best back-to-the-basket center in college basketball.
  


• 2. Ed Davis, UNC: Like Aldrich last season, Davis had limited opportunities as a freshman, playing behind Tyler Hansbrough. But that doesn't mean Davis wasn't productive. In just under 19 mpg, Davis averaged 6.7 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Davis is an excellent athlete with a ton of energy, crashing the offensive glass and defending the rim, especially when coming from the weak side. Davis should see a natural increase in his scoring simply from playing more minutes and being so effective gathering garbage points, but if he can develop a real back to the basket game, Davis could end up being a 15, 10, and 3 block center this year.
  

Cole Aldrich looks to win a second NCAA title.
(photo credit: NY Daily News)

• 1. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich improved drastically from his freshman to sophomore season, although much of that was a result of the increased playing he got as a sophomore. Defensively, Aldrich has the ability to be a game changer. At 6'11", he has a ridiculous wingspan and a frame that will be able to hold a lot of strength. As evidenced by his triple-double against a tough Dayton team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (13 points, 20 boards, 10 blocks), Aldrich is an excellent rebounder with the ability to dominate in the paint. Offensively is where Aldrich could still stand to improve. While he did average 14.9 ppg, much of that was off of lobs, drop-offs, and offensive rebounds. Aldrich is mechanical in the post, and he doesn't have a great touch, but he has shown some signs of developing a solid post game, especially his jump hook. All told, Aldrich is a throwback center, and should once again dominate the Big XII.
  

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Pre-season Player of the Year

ESPN currently has a poll up where you can rank the 15 favorites for national player of the year.

Player of the year is usually a tricky award to pick. Is it the best player in the country? The best player on the best team? The guý who had the best season? The most valuable player? (It is actually really easy when a kid takes home each superlative a la Blake Griffin last year).

Case in point: the Michael Beasley versus Tyler Hansbrough debate. Beasley was clearly the more talented kid and was projected by most to be a better NBA prospect. But Hansbrough won a lot of the player of the year awards because he played for a Final Four team surrounded by fellow future first rounders.

Things will probably change as the season progresses, but as of right now the player of the year voting looks to be wide open. Are there enough shots available on one team for guys like Patrick Patterson or John Wall to win? Will Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich split votes? Can Luke Harangody or Craig Brackins lead their teams to a good enough season to be considered? Will freshman Derrick Favors be good enough to compete for the award?

Follow the jump for my five pre-season favorites.

5. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: 17.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg

PP may very well be the post power forward in the country (which is saying a lot given the depth at that position). But he also plays on a team that is very talented and deep, especially in the front court.

Patrick Patterson
(photo credit: US Presswire)

John Wall, UK's freshman point guard, is talented enough to make a run at some postseason awards (he was the only freshman in Katz's top 15) while the rest of the Wildcat's front line (Daniel Orton, DeMarcus Cousins, and Perry Stevenson) is good enough to start, and possibly make an all-conference team, just about anywhere else in the country.

Patterson will, no doubt, be the centerpiece of the Wildcats offense, but will there be enough shots to go around? Perhaps the bigger question is how will he perform in Coach Cal's dribble-drive motion offense, an offense in which guards tend to thrive?


4. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: 14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg

Aldrich was a beast in his breakout sophomore season. I'd argue he was the third most intimidating defensive presence in college basketball last year (behind Thabeet and Varnado), and was a much more dominant offensive force than either of those two.

Cole Aldrich
(photo credit: You Got Dunked On)

Already a monster on the glass, where Aldrich needs to improve is in his back to the basket game. While he did score almost 15 a game last year, a large majority of that came off of drop-offs, putbacks, free throws, and 15-17 foot jumpers. You rarely saw Aldrich use his outstanding length for a jump hook or turnaround J. If that post game develops this season, he should become college ball's most dominant big man on both ends.


3. Sherron Collins, Kansas: 18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg

Collins really proved his ability to carry a team last year. As basically the only returner (Aldrich played about 8 mpg as a freshman) from a national title team, Collins led the Baby Jayhawks to a Big XII crown and a Sweet 16 berth.

Sherron Collins
(photo credit: NY Post)

You can expect Collins to have another excellent season leading KU, and given the wealth of talent on the Jayhawks, a national title is within reach. But when you have (arguably) the best point guard and best center in the country on the pre-season #1 team in the country, it is feasible that the two players could split votes. Given that Collins put up better numbers and took (and made) so maný big shots last year, I'm giving him the nod over Aldrich.


Craig Brackins, Iowa State: 20.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg

Brackins surprised a lot of people back in April when he decided to return to school. After averaging almost a double-double for an undermanned Iowa State team.

Craig Brackins
(photo credit: Flickr)

Brackins is a match-up nightmare. He can face-up and either knock down a jumper or put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. But as a sophomore last season, Brackins showed an improved ability in the post, scoring with his back to the basket and showing much better toughness going to the glass. He doesn't have much help on his team, which can be a good and bad thing. While he may put up huge numbers, his efficiency stats will take a hit and his team won't get much national exposure.


1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: 23.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Yup, I'm going with Harangody as the pre-season favorite for player of the year. Why? Because the big fella is going to put up huge numbers this year for Notre Dame. Seriously, not only would it not surprise me if he went for 25 and 12 this year, but I expect him too.

Luke Harangody
(photo credit: Double the Post)

And 'Gody can play. He is fantastic on the block, where he uses his incredibly quick feet (the kid would win Dancing with the Stars hands down) and ability to seal and hold position to counteract his relative lack of height and athleticism. But he has also developed a solid face-up game and now is a threat out to the college three-point line. Given the progress he had made getting in shape for the Draft combine, I would expect him to be in Herculean condition come November.

But more than anything, the bottom line is that he has an actual chance at averaging 25 and 12 in the Big East. And while the Big East may be a bit watered down this year, that is still an amazing number.
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Who would you pick to build a team around?

During the last couple of days, two of the biggest media outlets have weighed in (albeit from slightly different angles) on the debate over who will be the best player in college basketball next season.

Over at Rivals, they pose the question "Which player in the best to build a team around?" Both writers went with centers - one picking Cole Aldrich and the other Ed Davis. Josh Herwitt from FOXSports made a list of the top 10 returning players, which was capped off by Luke Harangody.

Look, you may not like him, but it is very tough to argue with Herwitt's decision to name Harangody the best returner in college hoops. The guy is coming off of his second consecutive 20 and 10 season (averaging 23.3 ppg and 11.8 rpg in last year's brutal Big East). 'Gody worked his tail off while testing the waters of the NBA Draft and is now checking in at a svelte 245 lb. From what I've read about his pre-draft workouts, Harangody is getting off the floor much better than he was early in his career and has improved his jumper to the point that he can consistently hit NBA three's (watch this video).

Harangody tops the list of preseason Player of the Year candidates.
(photo credit: Daylife)

Combine that with his ability to nimbly score in the post, and Harangody is near unstoppable at the college level. With the graduation of Kyle McAlarney, the Irish are going to rely even more on Harangody at the offensive end. Would it surprise you if he finished the season averaging 26 and 12?

It shouldn't.

And if averaging 26 and 12 wouldn't surprise you, than that player has to be in the conversation as the best player. Its that simple.

But just because an argument can be made for Harangody as the best player in the country doesn't mean he is the guy that I would want to build a team around.

Think about it. Last season, Harangody was the focal point of an experienced team with two wings that could go for 25 on any given night (McAlarney and Ryan Ayers) and one of the most underrated point guards in the Big East (Tory Jackson), and the Irish had an incredibly disappointing season, missing the NCAA Tournament.

The way I see it, there are two schools of thought here. You either A) pick a talented and experienced point guard or B) choose a center that can dominate a game offensively and defensively. Lucky for Kansas, regardless of which theory I follow, I'm picking a Jayhawk - Sherron Collins or Cole Aldrich.

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich will lead Kansas to their pursuit of a second title in three years.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Cole Aldrich is the total package at center. While he is not quite at the level of a Jarvis Varnado or Hasheem Thabeet, Aldrich is able to dominate the paint on the defensive end of the floor, blocking and changing shots while controlling the defensive glass. Offensively, he averaged 14.9 ppg as a sophomore, but most of those points came off of face-up jumpers or dunks. With his height, length, and strength, Aldrich has the potential to become a go-to scorer in the paint with an off-season of hard work.

Collins was very impressive as a junior in his first season as a go-to guy for the Jayhawks. His numbers were fantastic (18.9 ppg and 5.0 apg), but Collins brings much more than stats to the table. Whenever Kansas needed a big play, Collins was the guy that stepped up. And it wasn't just hitting big shots (which he did quite often), it was making the smart play in the big moments. He wasn't afraid to dump the ball off the Aldrich or hit one of the Jayhawk wings spotting up if he was covered. A leader and big-time scorer that makes the right plays and has championship experience - what more can you ask for?

With Collins and Aldrich leading a talented group of freshman and sophomore role players, and a star in the making in freshman Xavier Henry on the wing, is it any wonder Kansas tops most pre-season top 25's?

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2009 NCAA Tournament - Most Dominant Performances

Individual: Cole Aldrich vs. Dayton - This was easy. Not only was this far and away the most dominating individual performance on the tournament, it might have been the most dominant performance of the entire season. For those with a short memory, Aldrich posted a triple double against Dayton with 13 points, 20 boards, and 10 blocks. Yes, 20 boards and 10 blocks. Aldrich absolutely controlled the paint, especially on the defensive end.

Dayton's star forward Chris Wright, who had gone for 27 points and 10 boards against West Virginia in the first round, was just 4-16 from the floor against Kansas. As a team, Dayton shot just 22.2% from the floor. Why? The Flyers were not the greatest perimeter shooting team in the world, instead relying on their athleticism to score in the paint, either off of penetration or an offensive board. It was Aldrich's presence inside that was the main reason Dayton struggled so much.

Cole Aldrich blocked 10 shots against Dayton.
(photo credit: John Biever/SI.com)

The other impressive part about this performance is that it single-handedly boosted Aldrich's NBA Draft stock. Here me out. People want Hasheem Thabeet because he is a game-changer on the defensive end. But the biggest worry about him is that he is incredibly raw offensively. Against Dayton, Aldrich put on display just how good he can be on the defensive end (he is 6'11" with a huge wing span). Given that he is already leaps and bounds more advanced offensively that Thabeet is (and he still is far from developed), this defensive performance makes him a much more intriguing prospect for teams that need interior defense but won't get Thabeet.


Team: North Carolina - Again, this one was easy. It wasn't any particular game, either. During the entire tournament, there was 32 minutes of basketball where UNC was not in complete control. With 8 minutes left in the second half against LSU in the second round, the Tigers got a three from Marcus Thornton to tie the game at 63. The Heels scored the next 11 points, taking control and eventually beating the Tigers by 14.

In each of the other five tournament game, UNC jumped out to big first half leads: 53-34 against Radford, 53-42 against Gonzaga, 32-23 against Oklahoma, 49-40 against Villanova, and, lastly, 55-34 in the finals against Michigan State. The Heels won all six games in the tournament by double figures, averaging a 20.2 point margin of victory.
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Way Too Early NBA Draft Post - Who Helped and Who Hurt Their Stock This Weekend

For the sake of this post, we are going to assume that everyone is declaring for the draft. Since we are discussing draft stock, we can assume that everyone is eligible because, well, they are. I'm a firm believer that a player's hype can influence their draft position because I feel like a lot of GM's will draft someone "hot" because it will appease their fan base. Right or wrong, a good NCAA Tournament, where a player excels in front of a national audience, can give people a false impression of how good that player will be. Think Joe Alexander.

Who Hurt Themselves:

• James Harden, Arizona State: Harden can score at the collegiate level. There is no doubt about that, as he has put up some phenomenal numbers in his two years in Tempe. There have really been two knocks on Harden throughout his career as a Sun Devil. The first is that he lacks the explosiveness to be a franchise caliber scorer in the league. He does not have a great vertical, and when he does score going to the rim, it is more the result of his craftiness than the ability to dunk on people (Gerald Henderson he is not). In the two games this weekend, he did not really finish around the rim, instead drawing fouls and getting to the line (he shot 17 free throws in the two games). Against more athletic defenders, he may not be able to draw these fouls.
  
  The other issue is that he is not aggressive enough. Harden has a tendency to "let the game come to him", meaning he does not utilize his tremendous talent by attacking defenders from the tip. He did not look aggressive in either game this weekend. It was less of an issue against Temple, because both Derek Glasser and Jeff Pendergraph were really clicking offensively. But against Syracuse he looked downright passive. Yes, a lot of that had to do with amount of focus he was being given by the Syracuse defense (Rihard Kuksiks and Ty Abbott both were left open all game by Syracuse, as the Orange decided to let the Sun Devils try and shoot themselves back into the game). He did not score a point in the first half against Syracuse, and although he did start to make things happen in the second half, it was too little too late. He is being projected by most places as a top-5 pick, which is a range where teams will try to find a franchise player, or at least a go-to scorer. Will a team be willing to use a pick that high on a guy that has not shown the ability (or desire) to take over a game when the team needs him to?


• Austin Daye, Gonzaga: Daye has all the tools that you would look for in a player. He is 6'10" and long with an inside and outside game. After a good freshman campaign, a lot was expected out of Daye this year. But he has been inconsistent, especially against quality competition. He went for 22 against Arizona and 20 against Tennessee this year, but he was a non-factor in the loss to Memphis, fouled out against UConn, and did not play well in any of the three games against St. Mary's.
  
  Yes, Daye has looked a bit less athletic than he did last year, but he did deal with some knee injuries in the off-season. And the lack of strength on his frame is always going to be a question mark, but he is just 19 years old (looks like he is 15) and that should improve as he continues to fill out (toughness is an issue as well. Watch the video of the end of the WKU game, and see who Pettigrew out hustles for the tip-in that tied the game). But the biggest issue has been his attitude. Daye has a tendency to to sulk when things aren't going his way, be it because he is missing shots or not getting calls. That is what was most prevalent about his two performances this weekend. Daye seemingly whined about every call that didn't go his way. If he can't handle it at this level, what is going to happen in the NBA, where unproven young players get even fewer calls?


• Jeff Teague, James Johnson, and Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Two months ago, all three of these guys seemed destined for the lottery. Wake was running people off the floor, and each of these guys were shining. But ever since teams figured out how to play Wake (pack it in defensively, slow the pace, and force them to shoot jumpers and score in the half court), the Demon Deacons were nothing more than mediocre. All three of these guys are fantastic athletes and damn near unstoppable in an open court, up and down game. But it has become apparent that they all need some serious work on their basketball skills - handle, shooting, etc.
  
  Teague has probably dropped the most of the three. He was on fire for the early part of the season, but his threes did not fall down the stretch. He also was exposed as a shaky ball-handler, play maker, and decision maker down the stretch. Case in point - he committed seven turnovers and was able to take just seven shots against Cleveland State in the biggest game of his Wake career.


• Hasheem Thabeet, UConn: There is no question that Thabeet is a defensive force in the paint unlike many others. But the question is his offensive ability and his toughness inside, especially against bigger, stronger players (see his 5 point, 4 rebound performance against DeJuan Blair in their first match-up). It was more of the same for Thabeet against a big, strong Texas A&M front line. He finished with just six boards, taking only two shots from the field, and, as he has been all too often against players with NBA size and strength, was basically a non-factor on the offensive end.


• Luke Nevill, Utah: Nevill has NBA size (7'2", 260 lb), but the numbers he put up as the MWC player of the year this season came against, well, the MWC. Nevill has a decent post game offesively, and while he can't really go left yet, a team might have taken a risk on him simply because of his size. But the biggest knock on Nevill is his lack of athleticism - he is not very quick, especially laterally, and can't jump all that high. Doubters have questioned whether or not he will be able to match-up with NBA big men. He had a chance to prove them wrong against the athletic front line of Arizona, headlined by potential top 10 pick Jordan Hill, but Nevill looked completely over matched. He was in foul trouble the entire game as he could not match-up with the athletic Hill.
  

Who Helped Themselves:

• Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich has the size, strength, and skill set to be a good NBA center, and he only reinforced those notions with his performance in the first two rounds. He was unstoppable on the block against North Dakota State, which was to be expected as the Bison have a small front line. It was already known, however, that Aldrich had an excellent upside as an offensive player - he has a great touch on his jump shot, is extremely coordinated for someone his size (think about all the difficult oops he has caught this year), and while he still is not a great scorer going 1-on-1 on the block, that can come with time. Against Dayton, however, Aldrich put up as dominating of a performance on the defensive end as we have seen all year (and that is including Thabeet). While no one is in Thabeet's league when it comes to defense, Aldrich is 6'11" with a huge wingspan and phenomenal timing (and the ability to avoid foul trouble - he averages just 3.8 fouls per 40 minutes). Aldrich has the potential to be an above average defensive center, and while he is still developing offensively, he good be a more appealing prospect than Thabeet because he can contribute on both sides of the ball.


• Ben Woodside, North Dakota State: Woodside was probably not on many people's radar before his 60 point game against Stephen F. Austin, but he has had an excellent career, averaging at least 16.4 ppg and 5.1 apg in every season at NDSU. This season was by far his best, as he was top 10 nationally were averages of 23.2 ppg and 6.2 apg. The problem was that he did it against poor competition playing in the Summit League (he did average 15 ppg and 8 apg against USC and Minnesota this season). But in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Woodside had a coming out party. He went for 37 points, going basket for basket with Sherron Collins. Woodside is not going to be a star in the league. He is small, even for a point guard, and will be a liability on the defensive end. But Woodside can be an effective player. While not all that fast, he is deceptively quick and has a knack for being able to get in the lane (he got just about any shot he wanted - be it a jumper or getting to the rim - against Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor, two fine defenders). He is a deadeye shooter off the dribble or the catch and can create for his teammates as well. I'm sure that some team will take a flyer on him in the second round or through free agency, and his performance against Collins will be a huge reason why. Is this guy another Jose Juan Barea?


• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State: Faried is in a similar situation to Woodside, in that he was a virtual unknown before a good tournament performance. Faried put up some great numbers this season, averaging 13.7 ppg and 13.0 rpg. He is an extremely active, high energy guy, and a capable defender (2 steals and 2 blocks per game). While he doesn't quite have ideal NBA size (he is only 6'8"), he has some serious hops and, as I said, plays with a ton of energy. Some people are comparing him to Louis Admunson, an energy guy that not many people had heard of outside of UNLV, but who has managed to latch on with the Pheonix Suns. Offensively, he is not much more than a dunker at this point (and may never be more than a dunker), but the 14 points and 21 boards he had in the play-in game, and the 14 points and 11 boards he had against Louisville, definitely put him on the NBA's radar. He is only a sophomore, so if he can continue to develop his strength (only 215 lb), you might be looking at a future pro.


• Evan Turner, Ohio State: Turner is already considered a solid first round pick. He does so many things well. Despite the loss to Siena, Turner proved it on a national stage, as he finished the game with 25 points, 9 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Turner grew an inch between his freshman and sophomore years (he now stands at 6'7", great size for an NBA wing), and he has good length for his position. What makes him such a tantalizing prospect is how smooth he is. He is one of those guys that just makes everything he does on a basketball court seem effortless. He is not the most explosive guy in the world (he runs into trouble when he has to finish at the rim) but his mid-range game and pull-up jumper is already quite developed. He is a crafty player that utilizes fakes and hesitation moves to overcome his relative lack of quickness. Turner reminds me a lot of a guy like Danny Granger - a player that will fall through the cracks in the draft because he doesn't do anything great, but because he is so versatile and does so many things well, don't be surprised if he turns into a very good player at the next level, especially if he keeps improving the range on his jump shot. Turner said he is coming back after OSU lost, but don't be surprised if he changes his mind as the draft nears
  


• Demar Derozan, USC: Derozan may have helped his draft status as much as anyone over the last two weeks of his freshman campaign. He had a disappointing freshman year prior to March. You know about his off-the-charts athleticism, but he didn't seem to have the confidence in his ability. But he carried USC through the Pac-10 tourney (averaging 21 and 9 boards) and into the dance, where he put 18 on both Michigan State and Boston College. While he is still far from an NBA player because of his under developed offense repertoire (he can't really get to the basket in a half court set just yet, and his ball handling is very poor), he showed much improved aggressiveness, especially going to the glass. He also seems like the kind of player that will develop a very good jump shot down the road. He has great form, and he gets some serious elevation on his J, which will make it very difficult to defend. While he could really use another season at USC to continue his development on the offensive end, don't be surprised if his performance in March leads him to the draft, and even into the top 10.
  

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Monday Morning Shootaround: Louisville and Pitt Survive Scares As Every Higher Seed Won

Continuing the theme of the entire tournament, Sunday was a day devoid of upsets, as the higher seed won in each and every game. That isn't to say there wasn't some excitement, as #1 seeds Pitt and Louisville survived scares, as did Michigan State and Missouri.

Before we get into today's shootaround, I'd like to take this time to point out that BIAH got 14 of the Sweet 16 teams correct (missing on Arizona - thanks Wake - and Xavier, we took Wisconsin) and still have our entire Elite 8 intact. Between that and predicting the 34 at-large teams correctly, ESPN has to come calling fairly soon, no?

GAME OF THE DAY: Missouri 83, Marquette 79

In the triumphant return of Dominic James from a broken foot, the diminutive point guard had little to no effect on the game, but that didn't change the fact that Marquette had a little extra hop in their step as they jumped out to a 17-11 lead. A 31-9 Tiger run seemingly erased any hope of a Marquette upset, as Mizzou opened a 42-26 lead. Freshman Kim English was the catalyst, as he scored 15 points and hit four threes during the four and a half minute stretch.

Marquette was not about to go away, however. Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews (who had 30 and 24 points, respectively) led the Eagles on a 14-4 run that cut the lead to two. The Eagles took the lead a couple of times down the stretch, but the score was tied at 79 with under a minute left. JT Tiller drove and was fouled, setting up what was a strange series of events. Tiller hurt his wrist on the play, and taking advantage of a rule in the college game where you can substitute for an injured player on a free throw, coach Mike Anderson brought English in off the bench, and the freshman knocked down two free throws to give Missouri the lead.

This caused Buzz Williams to lose his mind, as Tiller was back at the scorer's table ready to check in after English hit the second free throw. I'm not exactly sure why he would be mad. Tiller (75.8%) is a better free throw shooter than English (68%), so it isn't exactly like Steve Nash was being brought in to shoot for Ben Wallace. And Tiller is a fantastic defender. So while a wrist injury may hurt your chances from the foul line, it will have little to no effect on your ability to play defense for 5.5 seconds.

(Ed. Note: This happened to my team in college once. We had a center who was a pretty bad free throw shooter, and with about ten seconds left in regulation, he got fouled on a play at the rim. He had broken his nose earlier in the game, and after the play came up holding his face like he had gotten popped again. I still remember seeing him say to the trainer "I'm faking it" and watching her smile while she pretended to check his nose. Anyway, we put in our senior captain that shot about 85% from the line, he hit both free throws to tie the game, and we eventually won in overtime. Our center was right back in the game after the foul shots.)

Marquette's season - gone in six inches.
(photo credit: The Dagger)

So the stage was set for another fantastic finish in Boise for the Tigers (the last time they played here was 1995, when Mizzou was up 74-73 with 4.8 seconds left before Tyus Edney went coast-to-coast). Lazar Hayward takes the ball out of bounds and ... steps over the end line? Yep. Turnover. Missouri ball. Leo Lyons knocked down two free throws to ice the game.

The play kind of embodied the entire first weekend - no real buzzer beaters (unless you count Demetri Goodson), no huge upsets, no cinderellas. No shot to tie for Marquette.

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Cole Aldrich, Kansas

Kansas struggled offensively against the athletic, aggressive defense of the Flyers. They finished the game with just 60 points, but that was more than enough as Dayton shot a woeful 22.2% from the floor, scoring just 43 points. Why did the Flyers struggle so much from the field? The presence of Aldrich at the rim. The big fella, who was playing in front of a hometown crowd in Minneapolis, finished the game with 20 boards and 10 blocks, to go along with 13 points, as he delivered one of the most dominating defensive performances of the season. Dayton is not a team loaded with shooters, and the Flyers, as their nickname would indicate, are a team that survives on penetrating and finishing at the rim. Aldrich made quick work of that.

Aldrich's triple-double was the first in Kansas team history, and just the sixth in the history of the NCAA tournament (keep in mind, steals and blocks were not official stats until 1986, and assists were not until 1984). The last player with a triple-double was D-Wade, back when he was still Dwayne, who had 29 points, 11 boards, and 11 assists in the 2003 regional finals. Shaq was the last player with a triple-double in blocks, as he went for 26 points, 13 boards, and 11 blocks in the 1992 first round.

They were good too:

• Eric Devendorf, Syracuse: Devo had 21 points, including back-to-back threes when ASU cut the lead to five, as the Orange advanced to the Sweet 16.
• Sherron Collins, Kansas: Collins finished with 25 points as Kansas held off Dayton.
• Nic Wise, Arizona: Wise led Arizona with 21 points and 8 assists as the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16.
• Sam Young, Pitt: Young had 32 points and 8 boards as Pitt held off OK State.
• Byron Eaton, OK State: Eaton had 15 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals to keep the Cowboys in it against Pitt.
• Jerel McNeal, Marquette: McNeal had 30 points and 4 assists in the Eagle's loss to Missouri.
• Terrence Williams, Louisville: T-Will helped Louisville hold off the Saints with a 24 points, 15 boards, 4 assist and 2 steal performance.
  

TEAM OF THE DAY: Arizona Wildcats

I know what you are thinking. I'm picking the Wildcats because they advanced to the Sweet 16, validating their inclusion into the dance.

Wrong.

Your performance, good or bad, does not have any effect on whether or not you should have been admitted into the tournament. At-large bids are based on performance during the regular season. Performance, or lack there of, in the tournament is a completely separate entity. Think about it like this - Wake Forest lost to Cleveland State in the first round. Does that mean that they shouldn't have been a four-seed, or should not have been an at-large bid at all?

No.

So why should Arizona winning two games have any affect on how the Wildcats are viewed? If anything, it should make their regular season performance seem disappointing.

So why is Arizona the team of the day? Because of what that program has been through the last year and change. Between Lute Olsen's health (both mental and physical), the Kevin O'Neill-Russ Pennell soap opera, the loss of recruits, NBAers, and transfers, and the pending NCAA infractions investigation, fans in Tucson have not had a lot to cheer about recently. Which is a shame, because this team is fun one to watch. Chase Budinger is as talented as any player at his position in the country, and is good for a youtube clip every once in a while. Nic Wise lost a bunch of weight, and has turned himself into the next star at Point Guard U. Jordan Hill has transformed himself from a no name recruit to a potential top three pick (according to Draft Express), and one of only three players (along with Terrence Williams and DeJuan Blair) who permanently have a smile on their face for every second that they are on the court.

That is why the Wildcats are the team of the day. Because this is the payoff that guys like Hill, and Budinger, and Wise, and Pennell get for sticking through the tough times.

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