Combine: 6'9 3/4" (in shoes), 237 lb, 7'4 1/2" (wingspan)
About Him: Ekpe Udoh clearly took advantage of the year he had off after transferring from Michigan to Baylor. An afterthought for the Wolverines, Udoh developed into a lottery pick with an excellent junior season in Waco.
Udoh is one of the better shotblockers in the class, which is saying something considering how heavy the 2010 lottery is going to be with big men. He isn't all that tall (just under 6'10") and he's not freakishly long (his standing reach is just 8'10 1/2") or athletic, but he has fantastic timing. He's a good one-on-one defender in the post, showing good fundamentals and footwork, forcing a lot of tough shots. He stays on his feet, not biting on pump fakes, and also showed the ability to come from the weak side and block a shot. Baylor played zone, so its difficult to determine how well he can defend a four on the perimeter (given his size, he can spot minutes at center, but he is more suited to the four) or the pick-and-roll, but given his tools, there is not reason he can't develop into at least a capable defender.
Udoh is also a very good rebounder, especially on the offensive end. He's one of those guys that has a nose, showing great instincts on the glass; he can shed a box out, he has a knack for finding the open area around the rim, he can read where the ball is going to come off if its a miss. On the defensive end, he's an above average rebounder, but after playing zone during college he will probably have to develop his ability to box out.
At the very least, Udoh should be able to latch on with a team strictly as a rebounder and a defender. But what makes Udoh so intriguing is his ability on the offensive end. In the low post, he has a solid repertoire of moves. He can go either direction to score, and has shown a good looking jump hook with both hands. He seems to almost be a natural with his back to the basket, as he also has a variety of counter moves down low. He has a knack for knowing how to get his shot off inside.
Udoh's biggest problem in the paint is that he is not a Dwight Howard-esque athlete. He does have a vertical of almost 34", but he isn't a quick leaper and doesn't get as high off of his second jump. Combine that with some of the critiques that have said Udoh is not as strong as NBA front office types would like -- something that has also affected his rebounding and ability to defend in the post -- and you see why Udoh was not a great finisher at this level.
Udoh also has a face up game. He's more than capable as a jump shooter, with range out to 19-20 feet. He can shoot off the dribble, off of a catch, or after squaring up his man. He's also shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and make a play. In terms of explosiveness and quickness, he's only an average athlete. But he is one of the most fluid and coordinated big men in this draft.
One area Udoh has really improved is as a passer. He averaged 2.7 apg this season. Udoh has the vision and the unselfishness to find the open man in either the low post or high post.
Comparison:
Best Case Scenario: The two I've seen the most are Chris Bosh and Andrei Kirilenko. The Bosh comparison might be a little bit optomistic, but I like think that Udoh could be similar to Kirilenko -- a long, lanky power forward that will defend and hit the glass. I think he has more of an upside offensively, however.
Worst Case Scenario: A poor man's Emeka Okafor, a serviceable big that can get some boards and defend the post.
Outlook: I think Udoh will eventually be a starter in the league, but I don't know if he is ever going to be more than that. He's already 23 years old, which means that his upside compared to some other guys in this draft is tempered. But he can already do a couple of things at an NBA level, he has NBA size, and if his offensive game can develop -- a power forward with a face-up game, a post game, and a perimeter jump shot can be a matchup night mare and a useful weapon -- I can see him averaging 12-15 ppg and 8-10 rpg before he's all said and done.
What we learned this week: There's saying I've used quite a bit on this site that goes: coaching wins games, talent hangs banner. What I mean by it is that on any given night, a great coaching performance can be the difference between a win and a loss, regardless of who is playing. But a great coach isn't going to lead DePaul to a Big East title.
The same can be said for effort. When one team plays harder and hustles more than the other, conference favorites can lose to cellar dwellers on any given night. But just because Penn State plays hard doesn't mean they're headed for the final four. Never was that sentiment more evident than this week. Take a look at some of the upsets that occurred this week and what they mean to the respective teams:
UConn 84, Villanova 75: UConn picked up a huge road win against Villanova on President's Day. The Huskies are far from a tournament lock with the win, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. For Nova, the loss drops them back into a tie with Syracuse for the Big East lead. The Wildcats still have a shot at a No. 1 seed, but as is the case every season, so much of that will be determined by performances in the conference tournament.
Louisville 66, Syracuse 60: Like UConn, Louisville still has quite a bit of work left to do. The win over the Orange is great, their next best Big East W is a win over South Florida, and the 'Ville did nothing in the non-conference. The loss for Syracuse isn't disastrous. They had been struggling lately, especially Wes Johnson, and needed the wake-up call.
Rutgers 71, Georgetown 68: This loss is embarassing for Georgetown. Rutgers is going no where this season, and has been bad enough that their coach Fred Hill may end up getting fired. But the Scarlet Knights were easily the better, more disciplined, team on Sunday. The Hoyas may be playing their way out of a top two seed with their inconsistency.
Niagara 87, Siena 74: Niagara is a talented team. There is a reason that the Purple Eagles were predicted to be one of the major challengers to Siena's domination in the MAAC. Injuries and inconsistent play have left Niagara in the middle of the MAAC, but that doesn't change the talent level on their roster. Losing at Niagara carries no shame, but it does severely damage Siena's at-large chances. The Saints are 0-5 against teams that look to be tourney bound, and their best win is against Northeastern. Siena needs to win the MAAC tournament to get a bid with this loss.
Penn 79, Cornell 64: This was the upset of the season. Penn was 3-15 heading into this game, having already had their coach fired this season. Their three wins came against teams that have a combined 14 wins this year. Cornell is a team that many people believed would roll through the Ivy, and possibly win a game or two in the tournament. This loss would have been much, much worse as the Big Red lost to Princeton on Saturday. But they squeaked out a 50-48 win, meaning that Cornell controls their own destiny as far as a tournament bid goes. Win out, and they are in.
Bradley 68, Northern Iowa 59: There is no shame in losing on the road in the MVC. Bradley, who owns a win over Illinois as well, is not a bad basketball team. But the Panthers are putting themselves in a dangerous spot. The Valley tournament is not a walk-through by any means, and with this loss and the subsequent suspension of center Jordan Eglseder for driving drunk, the Panthers are putting their at-large bid in serious jeopardy.
Evansville 65, Wichita State 62: Let me amend a previous statement: there is no shame in losing on the road in the MVC so long as its not to Evansville. The Shockers gave Evansville their first league win of the season, which ended their hopes on an at-large bid.
GAMES OF THE WEEK: Pitt 98, West Virginia 95 3OT; Cal St. Fullerton 113, Cal St. Northridge 112 3OT
Playing in an unusual Friday night game, West Virginia was up 66-59 with just over a minute left in regulation. But the combination of three missed front-ends and a turnover in the back court allowed Pitt to tie the game on a three from Ashton Gibbs. At the end of the first overtime, Pitt was up two with Gibbs headed to the free throw line where he is automatic. But Gibbs missed the second, and Truck Bryant buried a triple at the other end to force a second overtime. At the end of the second OT, WVU was down three with the ball when Da'Sean Butler fired a step back three. Gary McGhee got a piece of Butler's wrist, and the senior proceeded to knock down three free throws to force a third overtime. Down three at the end of the third overtime, Bryant missed a tough, leaning three, and the Panthers picked up a big win.
Neither the highlights or my writeup do the game justice.
As far as the second game goes, this video should be more than enough to explain what happened. The game-winner comes right around the 3:45 mark.
For the first time in my experience, the "foul-when-you're-up-three-late" strategy backfired.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ekpe Udoh, Baylor
Looking at just the numbers, you'd call me crazy for picking Udoh. In two games this week, a win at Nebraska and a win at home against Missouri, Udoh averaged only 7.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, and 4.5 bpg. That's pretty far from great numbers. The stat that isn't there is game-winners - he had two of them this week. Against Nebraska, Udoh hit a short jumper coming across the lane to give the Bears a 54-53 lead with just over 20 seconds left in the game. Against Missouri, after a missed Baylor free throw with six seconds left, Udoh tipped in a miss with just over a second left on the clock.
Ekpe Udoh had two game-winners this week. (photo credit: KC Star)
Those two wins were crucial for Baylor, who has been a bit of a hard luck loser in the Big XII. They are one of just six teams in the country that hasn't lost a game by double figures. With the two wins, the Bears slid into a three-way tie for fourth in the league.
They were good too:
Randy Culpepper, UTEP: The Miners pushed their winning streak to nine games, in large part dude to the play of Culpepper. He had 18 points in a win at SMU on Wednesday, but Saturday was the notable performance. Culpepper went for 45 points (the fourth highest total of the season) in a blowout win over East Carolina.
Jerome Randle, Cal: Randle led Cal to back-to-back wins this week as they kept a one game lead in the Pac-10. Randle averaged 28.5 ppg in the two wins.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Aminu led Wake to a 2-0 week in which the Demon Deacons moved into second place in the ACC. In wins over BC and Georgia Tech, Aminu averaged 19.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg, and 2.5 spg.
Ashton Gibbs, Pitt: Gibbs averaged 22.0 ppg in two wins for the Panthers, but the big game was the 24 he put up in the 3OT win over West Virginia. His three at the end of regulation forced OT.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Richmond Spiders
Believe it or not, Richmond is currently sitting in first place in the A-10. The Spiders came back from five down late in the second half to beat URI on the road before easily handling St. Bonaventure on the road on Saturday. All told, Richmond has won six straight games (including a W against Temple) and has cracked the top 25 polls. But it is not yet safe to call the Spiders a lock. They end their season with three games against fellow A-10 bubble teams - at Xavier, Dayton, at Charlotte - in the span of a week.
Kevin Anderson helped lead Richmond to a 2-0 week and the top of the A-10. (photo credit: The Collegian UR)
The interesting part about Richmond's season has been the unexpected aspect. Center Dan Geriot, an all-league performer before missing last season with a torn acl, has not been as effective as he was pre-injury. In his place, Darius Garrett has filled in admirably. Richmond thought they were going to be a high-powered offense led by the back court of Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez, but instead the Spiders are tied for the league lead in FG% defense with Temple.
They were good too
New Mexico: The Lobos proved they have what it takes to win tough games on the road. They went into Vegas and knocked off UNLV, who was coming off of a blowout win over BYU, before beating a pesky Utah team in overtime.
Kansas: The Jayhawks won three impressive road games this week, knocking off Texas, Iowa State, and Texas A&M. Kansas holds a three game lead in the Big XII.
Duke: The Blue Devils knocked off their two biggest conference rivals in consecutive games this week. They outlasted a physical UNC team on Wednesday in Chapel Hill before running over Maryland at home on Saturday.
Wake Forest: After the Demon Deacons knocked off both Georgia Tech and Boston College at home, they look like the new favorite to be the second best ACC team.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes moved into a tie for first place with Purdue and Michigan State as they went on the road to knock off both Indiana and Illinois in convincing fashion. Perhaps most impressive in those two wins was that Evan Turner only need to put up 13.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 7.0 apg. Granted, those are the numbers of a lottery pick, but they are also a far cry from what he's done this season.
Cal: The Bears went 2-0 at home this week, knocking off both Washington and Wazzu. Cal moves into one game lead in the Pac-10.
It is not that difficult for the casual college hoops fan to rattle off an all-american team. Luke Harangody, Evan Turner, the three-headed monster at Kansas, the Great Wall of Kentucky. But when you strictly talk about the all-american teams, you only begin to scratch the surface of the wealth of talent spread across the college basketball landscape. Seldom does the nation's leading scorer come from a power conference, and while this likely speaks volumes about the level of competition said player faces, it does nothing to diminish how good that player actually is.
Here is our list of seven guys currently flying under the national radar. It is far from a comprehensive list, and we would love to hear your input as to who we missed:
We consider ourselves firmly implanted on the Udoh bandwagon. Udoh is an athletic, face-up four who took one look at John Beilein and his, for lack of a better term, Beilein offense before bolting Michigan for Baylor. After sitting out a season, Udoh has clearly significantly improved. His production is up across the board. While his shot-blocking and rebounding numbers are quite impressive, what makes Udoh so good is his ability on the offensive end. He has been used quite a bit by Scott Drew as a face-up post in the 15 foot range, with excellent results. While his ball-handling and footwork could still use some polish, Udoh's quickness and length has allowed him to be an effective weapon. Whether that continues in Big XII play is another question, but based on what we've seen, Udoh is by far the best interior player on both ends for a team currently sitting at 11-1.
Ekpe Udoh has been a pleasant surprise for Baylor this season. (photo credit: Draft Express)
Darington Hobson, New Mexico: 16.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.5 apg
Hobson was a highly touted recruit in high school, but grade problems forced him to spend two seasons at a JuCo. Now that he is finally at New Mexico, Hobson is making his presence felt. The 6'7" Hobson is as versatile player as you are going to find at this level. His height, length, and athleticism makes him most suitable for playing the three, but he plays almost like a point guard. He is at his best when he puts the ball on the floor, getting to the basket or drawing a defender and finding an open teammate. Given his size, athleticism, and skill set, Hobson can play three positions on the floor, and can even provide some help at the four if need be. Think a left-handed poor man's version of Evan Turner.
Elijah Millsap, UAB: 16.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg
Rebounding must run in the family. The younger brother of Paul Millsap, the former Louisiana Tech star now on the Utah Jazz, has been great this year after sitting out a season transferring to the Blazers from Louisiana-Lafayette. Elijah is shorter than Paul, and also a bit more slender and athletic, which allows him to play on the perimeter. But that lack of size doesn't keep Elijah from attacking the glass, as evidenced by the 9.7 rpg he averages or the 15 boards he grabbed against Cincinnati.
Elijah Millsap has been UAB's best player this season. (photo credit: Birmingham News)
More than likely, you've heard the name Jeremy Lin before at least in passing as he has been featured by the WWL twice this season. If you haven't, shame on you, because Lin has been one of the best not just in the Ivy, but in the country. He is the only low-major player on the Wooden Top 30 list, and has done enough to draw the attention of the NBA. Lin isn't an overwhelming athlete. He's not particularly strong, he isn't a great shooter, and he's not going break many ankles. But there isn't a facet of the game that he struggles in, and he's proven to be an incredibly efficient player. The numbers he posts don't come as a result of being isolated and allowed to beat his man. He gets his buckets within the flow of the offense, and while playing off the ball he has essentially become the main facilitator for Harvard offensively. Oh, and he performs against top tier competition - he put 30 on UConn in a six point loss and dropped 25 when Harvard won at Boston College.
Aubrey Coleman, Houston: 25.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg
Coleman is the nation's leading scorer this season, and with every 30 point game, it is becoming harder and harder to ignore what this kid is doing on the hardwood. While he isn't all that big (6'3") and is far from the nation's best athlete, Coleman has a chiseled frame and an old school game. Coleman does the majority of his damage in the mid-range. He isn't dunking on opponents, and he isn't going to hit 28 footers all game. But he will make contested pull-up and step-back jumpers all day long, and has shown great instincts as a scorer. Its too bad that he will probably always be known as the guy that stepped on Chase Budinger.
Jimmer Fredette, BYU: 21.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 44% 3's
Fredette burst on the national scene with a 49 points, 7 board, 9 assist performance at Arizona. Well, he "burst on the scene" as much as you can when you go off in a game that ends around midnight on the east coast and isn't televised nationally. Fredette is about as pure of a shooter as you are going to find, but his biggest strength is his ball-handling ability. Don't be surprised if you see some of his crossovers end up of Sportscenter's top 10. While he isn't the best athlete in the world, he is crafty around the rim and has a great touch which allows him to make some very difficult shots in the lane. Fredette is the leader for a BYU team that is sitting at 14-1. Don't be surprised if you see this kid taking, and making, a lot of big shots in March.
Jimmer Fredette has led BYU to a spot in Kenpom's top 10. (photo credit: Wikimedia)
Artsiom Parakhouski, Radford: 23.8 ppg, 12.8 rpg
Parakhouski is young in basketball terms. Yes, he is 22 years old, but the 7'0" Belarusian is in just his sixth season of organized basketball. It is easy to assume that a seven-footer playing in the Big South puts up numbers simply because he's the biggest guy on the floor, which is usually a safe assumption. But Radford has played some good competition this season, and Parakhouski has performed very well against them: 23 and 14 against Duke, 26 and 20 at Duquesne, 21 and 13 at Kansas, 24 and 6 against William & Mary, and 34 and 12 against George Mason. Parakhouski's skills look pretty good at this point in his career - he has an above average back-to-the-basket game - and once his awareness and understanding of the game catches up, he may just end up being an NBA player. Those don't grow on trees at schools like Radford.
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