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The Keegan Ratings

Mario's game for the ages

By Ryan Greene
March 16, 2008 | 2 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. Mario Chalmers: Wow! Generated 28 of his 30 points on field goals, even though he attempted just 15 shots, which of course would be equivalent to making 14 of 15 two-point field goal attempts. Talk about efficiency. Chalmers, who should have been a Big 12 first-team selection in the regular season, earned those honors in the tournament. He played 35 minutes, had six assists, four rebounds and two steals.

2. Brandon Rush: Had 19 points, six rebounds and six assists and worked wonders with Sherron Collins on the fastbreak. Rush, who is ending his Kansas career in style, also had three blocked shots and was named outstanding player of the tournament.

3. Sherron Collins: He makes Kansas so much harder to guard by putting the defense in constant retreat mode, by running the break at ridiculous speed an amazing precision. He also did a terrific job when guarding D.J. Augustin in the second half. Augustin scored just two second-half points, both from the line.

4. Darrell Arthur: Played 36 minutes, committed just one foul and contributed 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal.

5. Sasha Kaun: He’s playing the best basketball of his career, although he made just three of seven free throws in this one. Kaun had seven points, eight boards and two blocked shots in 23 minutes.

6. Russell Robinson: Scoreless, but did contribute three assists against just one turnover.

7. Darnell Jackson: Limited to 17 minutes by foul trouble, and did not score a field goal.

8. Cole Aldrich: He was needed for only three minutes in this one.

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

1. Mario Chalmers 7.48 (247 points, 33 games)

2. Darnell Jackson 7.27 (247 points, 34 games)

3. Brandon Rush 6.78 (217 points, 32 games)

4. Darrell Arthur 6.59 (224 point, 34 games)

5. Russell Robinson 6.32 (215 points, 34 games)

6. Sherron Collins 5.86 (164 points, 28 games)

7. Sasha Kaun 5.53 (188 points, 34 games)

8. Cole Aldrich 3.94 (134 points, 34 games)

9. Rod Stewart 3.48 (108 points, 31 games)

10. Tyrel Reed 3.05 (58 points, 19 games)

11. Jeremy Case 2.56 (64 points, 25 games)

Comments

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Posted by hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

how many turnovers did collins have? I'm starting to like him more (have definitely avoided the bandwagon and am down on him, not because he's bad, but because he's overrated so far by the media - especially keegan - and will continue to be overrated until he can use his speed and strengh AND play under control. He's SO WRECKLESS!!!). Collins is starting to go a few games here and there without a lot of mistakes and is making some pretty incredible plays, but he sure did make me cringe quite a bit yesterday. It seems once every couple games he runs down the lane and somehow just completely loses the ball out of bounds at the baseline without anybody forcing it, or just runs so fast he can't stop and ends up running out of bound. His speed is amazing, he just needs to learn how to use it inside the baselines. I finally admit that I think he's going to be amazing when he gets to start next year (we'll be fine next year - not deep, but fine!). At this point, though, he's still in the process of growing up. The best point guards use a higher than average intelligence and although Collins may have that, he hasn't proven it is part of his game, game in and game out.

Posted by KGphoto (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've never seen a shooting performance like Super Mario's. Texas seems to bring the best out of him.

Last year it was Brandon who stepped it up in the tourney. If Chalmers joins him this year? This could be fun.