Wednesday, December 12, 2007

‘Minnesota grunt’ identifies wild Aldrich

By Benton Smith

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Finals week halts KU games

Finals week on the hill means no KU basketball games to look forward to until Saturday.

Born on Halloween in 1988, perhaps Cole Aldrich was destined to be a little different, a little wild.

The Kansas University freshman center from Bloomington, Minn., has been on campus only a few months, and though he has played just 86 minutes in nine games and averages a mere 3.6 points an outing, he's establishing himself as a player who enjoys himself and makes his presence known.

Fellow post player Matt Kleinmann said the young center from the Land of 10,000 Lakes wasn't too hard to find during practices and pickup games. And it's not because of his 6-foot-11, 235-pound frame. It's because he brings the noise.

"He's got this Minnesota grunt that, whenever he gets fouled, everybody hears it," Kleinmann said, adding that those who hear the distinct bellow know it belongs to Aldrich.

Fellow freshman and roommate Tyrel Reed said Aldrich really was a pretty normal guy, with a personality to match his stature.

"You always know he's there. He's 6-11, loud voice," Reed said of his big buddy. "He's loud and that just gives him a great personality. You always know when he's there and he's just fun to be around."

Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur can attest to that.

"I hang around Cole all the time. He's a goofy cat," Arthur said. "He talks about off-the-wall things. He's funny, though."

Senior forward Darnell Jackson said the opposition doesn't have much fun trying to defend the freshman's go-to post move.

"He has a crazy, crazy jump hook," Jackson said. "Because he's so long, you can barely get up there and block it."

While his teammates take Aldrich's skills seriously, with his boisterous basketball nature and personality, Arthur admitted it's hard to do sometimes.

"He's just a funny guy in general, just the way he talks and stuff," Arthur said, before joking on the big man for ... being a big man.

Arthur described Aldrich as a lanky guy with long arms who walks funny: "Like a regular, tall, goofy cat."

But the ribbing is good-natured and Arthur said he likes playing with Aldrich because he never knows what he'll do next.

At one preseason workout Aldrich was in a shooting competition, going back and forth taking shots. Near the end of the drill, Aldrich moved to the final spot at the top of the key and kept missing - knowing all along that if he didn't hit the shot he would have to run. As the final allotted seconds ticked off, Aldrich never hit the jumper he needed and when time expired he let out one of his wild, Minnesota screams.

"I just dived on the floor cracking up," Arthur recalled.

Aldrich doesn't mind being a little different - he claims in KU's media guide that he likes dill pickles on his pizza - but when he talks KU hoops he isn't concerned with himself or his playing time. While the 6-foot-11 Bloomington, Minn., native was a McDonald's All-American his senior year at Jefferson High, his arrival on Mt. Oread has not generated much hype.

"I feel a little under the radar, but that's fine with me," Aldrich said. "I'm just trying to make my time here the best that I can. If it's totally hyped up or just mellow, I'm fine with that."

The down-to-earth big man realizes he's playing for a team that returned every key member, save Julian Wright, from a 33-5 squad that went to the Elite Eight last season. And Aldrich praised his elder KU bigs - through nine games, Arthur, Jackson and Kaun have combined to score 33.4 of KU's 84.7 points per game - for what they bring to the Jayhawks' frontcourt.

"We all have our own special thing that we're really good at," Aldrich said. "Shady (Arthur) will step outside and shoot some jumpers, and Darnell will, too. Sasha (Kaun) and I are more big guys who like to get inside and dunk on those little guys."

At 6-foot-10, Kleinmann's doesn't fall into the "little" category, but he appreciates the presence Aldrich has brought to the floor, especially in practice.

"It's good for guys like Sasha and I and us taller guys to have another (physical player) contesting shots at the rim," Kleinmann said.

Named the Associated Press Minnesota Defensive Player of the Year as a prep his sophomore, junior and senior seasons - becoming the first player to receive the honor three straight years - Aldrich takes pride in his defense (he's averaging one block a game, while playing just 9.6 minutes) and said he always gets a cheap laugh out of swatting an opponent's shot.

"I really like playing defense. I love blocking shots," Aldrich, who averaged 3.8 blocks his senior season at Jefferson High, said. "If a big guy comes to dunk on me, I'm gonna try to stop him."

Other than providing another big body to the KU rotation while playing behind Arthur, Jackson and Kaun - "He's going to be a good player, but it's going to take some time," coach Bill Self said - Aldrich hasn't set too many personal goals for his freshman campaign.

"Whether it be starting or coming off the bench or cheering my hardest," he said, "I'm just going to do anything I can to contribute to us winning."

And when he says winning, Aldrich means the whole darn thing, as in a national championship - something that has eluded the Jayhawks since 1988.

"We're looking to bring it back, and this is one of our best years to do it. We've got a lot of talent," Aldrich said. "It's going to be a fun ride."

With this Minnesota wild man on board, that much is certain.

Comments

flipborder02 (anonymous) says...

Aldrich seems cool but he needs to step up his play.

December 12, 2007 at 7:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

crooner (anonymous) says...

Cole has been a great presence on the team, and I think he has "stepped up his play" just fine. He sounds like Pollard v. 2.0 more and more every day!

December 12, 2007 at 7:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

I was thinking as I read this article he sounds like Pollard as well, crooner.

December 12, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

Cole is about a month away from being very productive, I think. He's had a lot thrown at him, and he's no longer both the biggest and most skilled player on the court every night. That's a tough transition to make. He doesn't look lost on the court, but he hasn't found ways that he can assert himself yet. I think that's coming very soon. I'd imagine that he will be especially helpful against teams with skilled big guys because he's another big body to deal with.

December 12, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

flipborder...good grief...Cole is just a freshman. A freshman behind three good bigs. Anything he offers this year is "gravy".

December 12, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cscher (anonymous) says...

It would be nice to see him develop a soft jumper from the top of the key, a la Raef or Nick C. Maybe Coach Manning can help him work on his J. His mechanics seem a little off. I like his inside presence, though. I like what jpstrayer mentioned...anything he does well this year is a bonus.

December 12, 2007 at 8:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BDub (anonymous) says...

Even the greatest players need time to develop and learn the college game. He will be contributing more and more as the season wears on. By March, he'll be in the thick of it.

December 12, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

I like his presence on the defensive end. He's got a quick first jump and gets up the second time pretty quick, too. You can see that he will be a shot blocking/altering beast down the road. He seems more athletic than Sasha and more polished on the offensive end. He's coming around.

December 12, 2007 at 11:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Crooner...

Bitchin' moniker, "Pollard, 2.0". Though you deserve style points for originality, Aldrich has yet to deserve the nickname. He has a lot of improving to do before he earns it. Yes, yes...I know, I know. hes a freshman. i like this kid and I think he'll come along under Self, but it's clear to me at least that he has room to improve his basketball I.Q. Consider his statement:

"I really like playing defense. I love blocking shots," Aldrich, who averaged 3.8 blocks his senior season at Jefferson High, said. "If a big guy comes to dunk on me, I'm gonna try to stop him."

Uh...he's better than the average freshman in defending the low post, perhaps. But someone needs to whisper in his ear that his high post defense is terrible as well as his perimeter defense (when he shows on screens when his man sets a pick). The farther from the basket a big man is, the wider he needs to set his feet in his defensive stance. This will limit his vulnerability to be dribbled around and juked altogether. Generally speaking, he's much too vertical away from the basket. Yes, yes...I know, I know. hes a freshman. But this brings me to another point, for which I may become known as the black Don Imus. Since Aldrich's footwork is so terrible, I think some of the black guys on the team (Collins and Jackson maybe) need to take him to the club and teach him some steps. In case you think Im not serious, let me assure you that I am. He needs to be cured of his two left feet.

"...Girl you look good, wont you back that a$$ up...call me 'Big Daddy' when you back that a$$ up..."

I know, I know...hes a freshman.

December 12, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News wrote a nice little column about Allen Field House. I'm not good w/ the hyperlinks, so you may have to copy and paste the link below...

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_y...

December 12, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

Aldrich wasn't even born when KU won it's last championship. Hope that changes soon.

December 12, 2007 at 1:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

yovoy (anonymous) says...

i don't think he's in shape yet, that or he's so excited to be in there that he gets winded quickly. he doesn't set picks well - yet. he looks like he has trouble getting to the spot the guards want him to. my guess is that the game is still a bit fast for him. he tries to block everything instead of making people score over him w/ good defensive position - he's young though.

that said, he's pretty fundamentally sound on offense. he doesn't bring the ball down much below his shoulders, he uses his elbows to clear out after a rebound very well, has a good nose for the ball (on both ends), shoots freethrows fairly well, and has soft hands. he seems to have a great attitude....oh, and he's tall. he's got allll the tools, and the coaches to help further his abilities.

December 12, 2007 at 7:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

yovoy...

I have never seen Aldrich play a game in which Id say he were "fundamentally sound" and this includes the All-American game in addition to all of the games this season. He had a great game two games ago (Eastern Washington I think?) but even at that it wasnt about fundamentals.

The honest truth is that both his fundamentals and his feel for the game could improve "a little", and doing so would make him a vastly better player. Understand what Im saying before hastily answering.

He only needs to improve a little, and if he did you would notice leaps and bounds in the stat line. I want that, you want that, and the people of Kansas and Minnesota want that. I like the kid but its the truth. Objective honesty never hurt anyone.

December 12, 2007 at 8:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

He was born on Halloween 1988? That's scary. That was the day the NCAA slapped Roy Williams' first KU team with probation all because Larry Brown gave money to a would-be transfer so he could visit his dying grandmother...

December 12, 2007 at 10:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

I have seen steady improvement in Aldrich. In fact, he made one of the most athletic moves of the year against Florida International on that mid-air put-back and slam. He is gaining confidence, rebounds very well, can defend and shoot freethrows. Life is good.

December 12, 2007 at 10:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

Make that Fla Atlantic. Man, there are just too many Fla universities.

December 12, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

I understand why people love Cole. I do myself. He looks like an All-american kid, doesnt he? You get the feeling he could just break out and become a Nick collison or Raef LaFrentz in a couple of years.

I also have been a fan of KU ball long enough to see how optimism for our team can sometime cloud an objective, realistic perspective of a player's progress. While I admitted that Aldrich had a great game a couple of games ago (and yes, the athletic move included), you can NOT say with any kind of objectivity that he defends well. You just cant. Hes a shot blocker, yes. Ive send him mark quite a few shots "return to sender", but defense includes positioning (which he is more often than not OUT of position on rebounds and Self cited this at a news conference), high post defense which he is poor at (and this is being kind, just honestly), and so much more. To use one good game as a platform to say a player has made "steady improvement" is fallacious. Sparko, in your post you dont even use a game to support your claim of improvement...you use one play in support of your position. WOW, dude! WOW. I agree, Sparko, that Cole is gaining confidence. At least that much is clear. His attitude appears to be changing and he looks less afraid. He's got great big men around him, and each can teach and show him something different. He's able to learn in a no-pressure situation right now. he doesnt have to be the man, cause we have the post covered. All he has to do is learn this year and that puts him in a good situation. Self knows this, and Aldrich certainly does.

But Self himself has made numerous comments about the game being too fast for Aldrich in the course of games occurring this season. What Im saying should not therefore be construed as being down on Cole; quite the opposite. I am hoping that the hope we invest in him pays huge dividends. It almost certainly will unless he forgets to pay some court fines, or beats up a girlfriend, or is involved in a stabbing incident, or...OH...I digress.

My point is that my optimism for Cole will not prevent me from being realistic about where is game is NOW, however. If I see a few games where he puts it together and shows improvement, then fine. But you guys are deluding yourself if you think he gonna go from awkward to superstud just eight or nine games into his first season. Big men--unless youre a Greg Oden--typically take more time to learn how to play at the collegiate level than guards. This is a learning process, so just be patient and you will see Aldrich blossom. Its gonna take time.

December 13, 2007 at 12:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

this is my house now!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gRC2MeW036w

December 13, 2007 at 1:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

blackDonImus,

I'm gonna bail all our rainbow colored @sses out on this one.

UR absolutely right he needs a degree in footwork from both the Bo Jangles and Fred Astaire Academies, but Sher's and Dblock's disco duckin' dunkin' ain't the solution.

Power Lifter Stewart laid the answer on Rod: boxing!!!!!

Boxing is still the sweet science, even if its the most corrupt business in the world.

Have you watched Rod this year? He's like a new human being! Boxing works. Boxing training has been turning ham fisted lugs into lean, mean fighting machines that can cut off opponents on the canvas since before Naismith nailed his high fiber hoop to the wall in Springfield, Mass.

Cole, jrossonenineseventwo, he be no blackDonImus reallly. He just be half wrong once in ten thousand posts.

Get yourself to boxing ring, Cole. Rod, tell Cole that if he doesn't, Power Lifter Stewart is going to throw all of our rainbow colored @sses into the waters off Point Barrow and watch us freeze.

December 13, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

cue "Rocky theme: Gonna Fly Now"

December 13, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jbreck (anonymous) says...

I haven"t read all of this blog, but I can't believe you guys have not been an 18 year old freshman. Cole is living life and hardly knows what life is. Has everyone forgotten what it's like to be a freshman in college? I am amazed that any of these young guys can even go in the game without peeing their shorts. The pressure is unbelievable.

December 15, 2007 at 6:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

jbreck...Bill Walker has apparently peed in his shorts, check it out on youtube.

December 16, 2007 at 4:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )