Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Sorrentino

Sorrentino: Beasley embraces pressure

By Eric Sorrentino

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Big 12 Spotlight

It has been an interesting year for men's basketball in the Big 12 Conference.

We've seen two teams battle through five overtimes in one game. We've seen college basketball's all-time winningest coach resign six games into the conference season.

We've followed a team that won its first 20 games. We've witnessed two of Manhattan's star-powered freshmen help their team break an embarrassing 24-year losing streak at home.

And there still are three weeks until the Big 12 Conference tournament.

The goal of the new Big 12 Spotlight page is to expand the Journal-World's coverage and that of KUSports.com to include content from the 11 conference schools outside of Lawrence.

This one-stop Big 12 shop is aimed at not only KU fans who are curious about other Big 12 schools, but also the many Lawrence residents who attended other Big 12 schools.

That brings us to this week's theme: clutch shooters in the conference.

With three teams (Kansas, Texas and Kansas State) within one game of each other at the top of the Big 12 standings, this list is bound to grow by season's end.

For now, the focus centers on the most clutch shooter on the list: K-State's Michael Beasley.

Sure, he's also the best player in the conference, but that's beside the point. The standard for fitting the "clutch" label is: "Who would you want taking the shot in a tie game with 10 seconds left?"

Or think of it this way: "Who from the opposing team do you fear most to break the tie?"

Field-goal percentage statistics suggest Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin, who leads the conference with a .567 shooting percentage on a minimum of five buckets made per game, would be a solid candidate.

It's more than just numbers, though. The most clutch shooter has to want the ball so badly that he's not afraid to miss. The more hesitation at the buzzer, the better the chance of misfiring.

Here's the part about Beasley that made him run away with my nomination: He makes you pick a poison.

With a specialist such as UT guard A.J. Abrams from the outside, teams can overstress the perimeter to make him a slightly less effective option.

With Beasley, it's different. Take away the perimeter, and he'll make his living under the basket. Just ask Oklahoma, which saw Beasley nail a game-winning layup with 2.3 seconds left on Jan. 12.

Overstress the paint, and Beasley can step outside with the 25.7 points per game and .548 field-goal percentage invisibly tattooed to his forehead.

Whoever takes the last shot in the final three weeks, particularly those players from conference-leading Kansas, Texas or Kansas State, could decide who wins the Big 12 championship this season.

Comments

leikness (anonymous) says...

KSU can look so scary at times. They go through 15 minute stretches where they look like a serious national title contender. It's nice to see that they're more competitive, but not this much more competitive.

February 20, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

killabees (anonymous) says...

Uhhh, who is this guy? Is he a new employee at LJworld?

February 20, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jukeboxhero (anonymous) says...

The funny thing about this article coming out today is the choke-job performed by Jerrells last night

February 20, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

I love the idea of these ancillary columns since it would seem the subject matter would directly dovetail into the hearts and minds of KU fans... this is, after all, very conference-centric.

KU (and its fans) can only benefit from more relevant information about the 'foe.'

February 20, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

easyfive (anonymous) says...

Beasley? What? How cares? This is KU!!! Cole had his number going backwards all nite! Why don't they talk about that fact.
KU, KU, KU is what we want to talk about!

February 20, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

TheChyna (anonymous) says...

I only want to hear about Kansas State if their losing !!!!!!!!!!! KU only !!!!! Aldrich, yeah !!!!!

February 20, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sho_tyme21 (anonymous) says...

ha ha they couldnt even beat Nebraska even with Beasley

February 21, 2008 at 4:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkman1031 (anonymous) says...

the chyna, it is not "their", but rather "they are" or "they're". And you dope, you sound like an old KSU fan, who seems to be satisfied if they happen to beat KU. The picture is a lot bigger than that, and of course, we still need for KSU to beat Texas. Most of us want to hear that.

Of course we need to know what is going on with the rest of the conference. Besides, the more they do in the NCAA tournament, the more $ for all Big 12 schools.

For those who thought KSU was taking over the world after beating KU, the road is a lot tougher. Only the elite can win consistently on the road, as poor, poor Beaswax is finding out.

February 21, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

suck it, kansas state!!!!!!!! (and jross)!!!!!!

February 21, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

What a shame that K-State lost at Lincoln last night. I've got a big red circle around March 1 on my calendar.

February 21, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

pleiker (anonymous) says...

That was a pretty clutch airball Beasley threw up at the end of that game last night...awesome timing on the article.

February 21, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

I totally agree, Beasley is an assassin. Anyone see how he bragged before last night's game that he was gonna drop 50? By the end of the game the assassin had scored in the teens and threw up the game losing airball. That's the definition of clutch.

February 21, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

Unfortunate timing for this piece. Beasley and Co. melt down yet again on national TV. That makes 0-4 on ESPN2.

February 21, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

northleavitt (anonymous) says...

Eric Sorrentino:

Although Beasley is immensely talented, we do not want to read feature articles about him or any other individual associated with KSU. Who are you? Is there an editorial board responsible for approving column topics? Last time, I checked this website has the following address: www.kusports.com.

You're not off to a good start here assuming you're not a "one and done" columnist ala Beasley.

February 21, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Hawksj (anonymous) says...

northleavitt, don't blame Mr. Sorrentino for pimping Beasley. His boss pimps K-State more than anybody outside of Manhattan, KS.

February 21, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

1977kufan (anonymous) says...

Eric, interesting article and it has a similar tenor to Bill Mayer's article in the first week of February ("NBA men in Mancrappin" is an fitting title for that article). Just like Bill I think that you have missed a key point. We are not discussing a game of a single (?best?) player but a team game. If these are "NBA men" and the best individual to take that last shot in a tie game, why do they struggle and lose to Nebraska (not taking anything away from the Huskers-they are a solid team with good players)? Why do they go to Lubbock and stink up that nice Texas town? Now if you ask me who I would want to take that shot? Well, I can think of several individuals, and they all wear Crimson and Blue. DJs dunk, Shady's reverse dunk, Mario's smooth three stroke, Brandon's power jam on the lob (gee, I am just beginning to name some of the individuals that I would choose-if I had more time I would give you an additional six, but I think you get the message). These guys do not throw up airballs at the end of a games. Sorry, but not overrated Measley (incorrect spelling intended). This a team game and any basketball intelligent individual does not care about an individual's performance (except for a "da ya wanna make some money" NBA scout). Eric, you need to improve your basketball understanding and your ability to write intelligent articles. If this is your only attempt on this website, you just threw an air ball from a 5 foot (actually feet) unguarded bank shot with 2 seconds in a tie game. rock chalk jayhawks!!!

February 21, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lance1jhawk (anonymous) says...

Eric, let me be the first to welcome you to kusports.com, where every sentence you type will be dissected, chewed up, then spit back at you if it's not wholly praise for KU, centered on KU, and only KU.

Come on people!

Don't we all go and 'research' other teams anyway? This is a great addition to the web-site, and we can get some great insight into other teams and players.

And, PS: Beasley is a great player, give the kid some props, but that doesn't make KSU a great team. Yes they're doing better overall, which only helps the conference and, in turn, helps us.

February 21, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUxSW (anonymous) says...

Is Sorrentino another Sports Ilustrated curse? "Beasley embraces pressure", huh? Keep 'em coming. I hope you plan another one of these on March 1.

February 21, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkman1031 (anonymous) says...

Some of you are so silly. I kind of like to know about the competition. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" - The Godfather.

For you K-State haters, this is just too silly. It is like the debate about MU-OU in football. We all thought we needed MU to beat OU for us to get in a BCS bowl, and so you had to go with it for the greater good.

Right exactly freaking now, we need KSU to beat Texas Monday if we want to finish ranked No. 1 in the conference, and thereby those two again clash before playing us for 1st in the tournament. Otherwise, our road goes through both of them. The cats can help us be no. 1. That is just a fact.

I think Sorrentino sounds like he could be our mafia connection and inform us of who is dangerous.

I am no more worried about Beasley than I was about Durant. Take that however you want. And Texas had more talent too. It is up to KU to be greater, and if it learns to be greater all of the time, it has a chance in March/April. You have to fight the beasts now if you want to be able to conquer them in the NCAA. Beasley, Walker, Augustin, Abrams, etc. fill this bill.

And poor poor beasley, beaten by none other than Maric. The road is treacherous, isn't it beaswax?
This reminds me of when all-world Wayman Tisdale was beaten much, much worse by Kelly Knight. I seem to remember Wayman lying on the floor of Kemper. He needed the crying towel.

It is great to support KU but criticism for other teams' players is out of line, except when they turn out to be criminals like (fill in the blank here).

February 22, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralphus (anonymous) says...

I'd like to offer comment about this column, but the lead was so mind-numbingly boring that i was asleep by the second paragraph.

I echo killabees' sentiment. Who is this guy, where did you find him, and can you give him back?

February 22, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )