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The Keegan Ratings

Jackson produces with heavy heart

By Ryan Greene
February 24, 2008 | 6 comments

After each KU basketball game this season, this is where you can find out the hardwood equivalent of The Nielsen Ratings from Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan. He'll rate the Jayhawk scholarship players' individual performances, telling you who was worth tuning in to watch. If you agree or maybe even differ, make sure to comment and tell Tom how you really feel. (Scoring: Each week, the top player in the ratings will be awarded 10 points. Second best gets nine points. Third best gets eight points, and so on and so on. The season standings are at the bottom)

1. Darnell Jackson: His cousin, with whom he was close, was shot and killed Wednesday and on Saturday, Jackson not only played, he led KU in scoring and rebounding with 16 points and 10 boards.

2. Mario Chalmers: Not a great game in any respect, but he had plenty of company in that regard.

3. Russell Robinson: Torched repeatedly by Byron Eaton, Robinson did a nice job of scoring to break droughts and of taking care of the basketball. He had just two of KU’s 21 turnovers.

4. Cole Aldrich: Has earned more than nine minutes of playing time. Will he get it? Had two points, three rebounds and a steal.

5. Sasha Kaun: Appeared a little out of control, fouling too often and turning it over twice.

6. Brandon Rush: Invisible in the first half, he scored 12 points in the second half, which didn’t excuse his passive first-half play.

7. Rodrick Stewart: Showed up, despite the murder of his brother on Wednesday, but was the first to say afterward he wasn’t all there mentally.

8. Jeremy Case: Made cameo appearance in the final game he will play in his home state.

9. Sherron Collins: Was whistled for two quick fouls and was scoreless in 11 minutes. His knee must get right for KU to have a realistic shot at getting to the Final Four.

10. Darrell Arthur: Fouled out in just 17 minutes and attempted just three shots. His inside scoring is the key to KU’s offense and he can’t score when sitting on the bench. Arthur needs to find out a way to stay out of foul trouble.

The Keegan Ratings: Season Standings (based on average points)

1. Darnell Jackson 8.04 (217 points, 27 games)

2. Mario Chalmers 7.92 (206 points, 26 games)

3. Brandon Rush 7.12 (178 points, 25 games)

4. Darrell Arthur 6.74/b> (182 point, 27 games)

5. Russell Robinson 6.30 (170 points, 27 games)

6. Sasha Kaun 5.81 (157 points, 27 games)

7. Sherron Collins 5.76 (121 points, 21 games)

8. Cole Aldrich 4.38 (114 points, 26 games)

9. Rod Stewart 3.74 (101 points, 27 games)

10. Tyrel Reed 3.17 (57 points, 18 games)

11. Jeremy Case 2.25 (54 points, 24 games)

Comments

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Posted by Brock (anonymous) on February 24, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Arthur will have to learn about poise - and a lot about developing skills - when he goes to The League.

Posted by loudog (anonymous) on February 24, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At this point, it's not when he goes to The Leage, it's IF he goes to The League.

Posted by FlaHawk (anonymous) on February 24, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't see either Arthur or Rush going to the NBA this year. Arthur can play no defense and his offensive minutes are limited. Rush has proved he made it back from knee surgery, but his game has not improved at all.

Chalmers and Collins have only shown they they have regressed this year for different reasons. Chalmers is without a position and playing more out of control all the time. His defemse lacks the ball steals of old. The more you play him the more you own him (who is your Daddy).

Collins is trapped in a football body and is too liable to injury. He would never last in 82 game NBA season other than sitting on the bench and getting heavy.

Interesting to note that four potential NBA players and each has manged to under achieve this season. Makes Coach Self and Jackson look like the real MVPs of this team.

Wright may yet be the only NBA find in this group and he will never average more than 2-3 points a game in NBA.

Posted by bykcin (anonymous) on February 24, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

coach self an mvp? i think not. Lack of creativity in the offense and inability to adjust in-game makes him a poor candidate for team mvp

Posted by smitty33 (anonymous) on February 24, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FlaHawk, I agree with everything you said. Nevertheless, I still have hopes of a National Championship. I feel we're gonna make a real run for it.

Rush and Arther get all the NBA talk. However, MOST games we've played this year they are FAR from the best players on the court. Rush can't hit from his 'running jumper' and has has lost all quickness on Defense. He's only good for an open shot and some rebounds. Arthur has no awesome traits that I can see. I'm beginning to think we should play Kaun more than him. And Bill, although you're awesome and I'm an armchair coach.... why wouldn't you call timeout with 13 seconds left? Why do we seem to run the same play on offense everytime up the court? Why can ANY guard drive into the lane on us EVERY time up the court? Why do we get few open 3's yet allow 10 a game? Why are we turning the ball over 20 times a game late in the season? I can stand a loss to a great team when we played them tough. OSU is FAR from a great team. This one hurts.

Posted by lance1jhawk (anonymous) on February 24, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can we cut Brandon Rush's rating by two thirds since he only showed up for a third of the game?