Advertisement

Back to Men's Basketball coverage

Men's Basketball

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Keegan

Collins shares wealth

By Tom Keegan

KU's Sherron Collins drives between Oakland defenders Larry Wright (2) and Derrick Nelson (1) during the first hal fWednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Photo by Richard Gwin

KU's Sherron Collins drives between Oakland defenders Larry Wright (2) and Derrick Nelson (1) during the first hal fWednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Advertisement

Audio clips

2009 KU-Oakland

Photo Gallery

KU vs. Oakland

KU vs. Oakland

Box score

KU gobbles up Grizzlies

Oakland center stars on big stage

Jayhawks thankful for break

Gary Bedore's basketball notebook

Videos

KU vs. Oakland

video thumbnail

The Kansas men's basketball team takes on Oakland in Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.

Reader poll

Who do you think will lead KU in scoring this season?

  • Sherron Collins 26% 429 votes
  • Cole Aldrich 7% 126 votes
  • Xavier Henry 63% 1040 votes
  • Marcus Morris 1% 30 votes
  • Other 0% 8 votes

1633 total votes.

Reader poll

Which sport do you watch most during Thanksgiving weekend?

  • Football 65% 510 votes
  • Basketball 29% 228 votes
  • Other 4% 38 votes

776 total votes.

The McDonald’s All-American basketball game is a showcase for individual talent. Team play rarely is discussed, except when legendary UCLA coach John Wooden is interviewed from his seat in the stands and shares his displeasure with the game.

It’s all about style, flashy plays, scoring points. It’s a cross between a high-jumping competition and a game of H-O-R-S-E. Sherron Collins, then representing Crane High in Chicago, made a splash in the game when on a fast break he threw the ball off the glass and slammed it home. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Four years later, that play is about as far from who Collins is as a basketball player as the way Kansas played in dumping Oakland University, 89-59, is from the way high school all-star games are played.

The Jayhawks committed just six turnovers, none from Collins, who had all nine of his points and six of his seven assists in the first half.

Playing for a team that didn’t have a consistent third scorer, Collins averaged 18.9 points last season. Four games into his senior season, he’s averaging 14 points. These days, he seems to be deriving even more pleasure from setting up teammates than from scoring.

Collins can get a shot any time he desires, but he knows that’s not always the way to go. Three times with the ball in his hands, Collins pointed a finger in the air, and freshman Xavier Henry cut back-door and soared to catch a perfectly placed lob from his point guard.

In four games, Collins has committed just five turnovers, fourth-highest total on the team. He’s shooting .556 overall, .444 from three-point range. He leads the team with seven steals and ranks second to Henry in scoring.

“That just speaks to how good of a teammate he is that he can be the leading scorer, 19 points last year, when he gets a better team around him he doesn’t ball-hog it to make himself seem like a better scorer,” Henry said. “He feeds the ball around. I’m sure it makes it easier for him, but it makes it easier for us, too.”

Oakland, which has three very good Div. I players and is picked to win the Summit League, isn’t a particularly aggressive defensive team. Even so, Kansas moved the ball phenomenally well considering it’s November. It all starts with Collins. Anybody who came into the season worried that Collins would have trouble with the possibility he wouldn’t be the team’s leading scorer doesn’t know the guard as well as his coach does.

“I haven’t had any concerns about Sherron really since I’ve coached him,” seventh-year Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “... It doesn’t surprise me. That kid wants to win. That kid wants to leave a legacy behind, and he knows the only way he can do it is by winning, and I’m real pleased with him.”

Self said Collins was sick and threw up at halftime. He threw up just one second-half shot, but still influenced the game in a positive way.

“I never would have thought our three returning leading scorers (Collins, Cole Aldrich, Tyshawn Taylor) would combine for 19 points and we’d win by 30,” Self said. “In large part the reason we did is Sherron understands we’ve got to bring those young guys along. ... His attitude’s been unbelievable.”

More like this

Comments

soobawls (anonymous) says...

I still prefer a prototypical point guard like Jacque Vaughn in whose hands the ball was completely secure at all times. There are benefits to the way Self does things with two interchangeable guards, such as being resistant to a drop off in productivity due to injury and limiting the types of defenses the opponent can play. But, there is a lot to be said for having a true ball handler and we don't have one. Under Bill's system, the more we pass and the better we are at it the fewer turnovers we will have. We are still just an average passing team and this is part of the reason Cole is less productive, the guards are not very good at getting him the ball.

November 26, 2009 at 6:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lighthawk (anonymous) says...

This may become special year and here is why., he gets it. Thanks senior Sherron.

“In large part the reason we did is Sherron understands we’ve got to bring those young guys along. ... His attitude’s been unbelievable.” HCBS

plus the twins, as teams focus defense on our all americans and the fabulous freshman, the twins will rock. To think they orig. committed to Memphis. '
fortune smiles on AFH.

November 26, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

exiledhawkfan (anonymous) says...

...every time I see you post, it's something negative. geez man.

November 26, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says...

exiledhawkfan

it's OK...soobawls is the anti-Jaybate, you know...ying and yang. You need total despair to appreciate total happiness.

[soobawls, just kidding man...many times you voice the tough concerns some of us refrain from voicing. Just one thing, promise when Kansas wins the National Championship next April, you'll say something positive :} ]

Happy Thanksgiving to all

November 26, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

esteshawk (anonymous) says...

At the start of the season, I thought no way was Collins the best PG to ever play at KU. He's changing my mind.

November 26, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

I'm glad we have a "true ball handler" and so much more in Sherron. It was really sad near the end of some PG's careers to watch D's drop back 10' into a prevent D b/c they knew that the PG had no shot what so ever. Love the A/TO now that the team is growing up around him as well.

What an amazing luxury to have a 1 that you can play as a 2 b/c he can score from anywhere on the court. It means that you can play a back-up/young'un at the 1 so that they can learn to lead the team, yet have no drop off in pts plus the added security of having a NC 1 on the court if ever needed.

Some people were also boo-hooing coming into the season saying that Sherron was a ballhog, blah, bablah, bablah, yet forgetting that Sherron was also the best 1 on the NC teams tho he purposefully choose to come off the bench for the sake of team chemistry.

You rock SC.

November 26, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lighthawk (anonymous) says...

SC I also didn't think he was in our top 5 all time PG, and yes, he is changing my mind as well.
Yes, you rock SC.

November 26, 2009 at 10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BucknellJayhawk3 (anonymous) says...

not sure where to post this, but whats going on in the recruiting scene, we've got Royce, but I'm still hoping somebody will pop up among the top 25. I keep seeing other teams nail top recruits and I'm wondering when we'll get the sweet word. Its going to be hard to replace the three we lose to the draft.

November 26, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dmc8142 (anonymous) says...

We have the number 1, 4, and 21 rated players in the nation interested in us. I would be willing to bet a significant amount of money that HCBS will be able to land at least one of them by the end of the late signing peroid.

November 26, 2009 at 2:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tennesseest (anonymous) says...

"the three we lose to the draft"- I could see it potentially being 4-5, Mc Morris and TT...it's not that big of a stretch, either way you have to prepare.

November 26, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

drgnslayr (anonymous) says...

In my books, if we nail another NC this year then Sherron Collins is the best player KU has ever had (maybe even if we don't win it).

I will not forget his steal and 3pt shot in the last seconds against Memphis, and then the save-pass to Chalmers for "the shot." Mind you it was Sherron's efforts that set that shot up for the win. Sherron excelled as the best 6th man in basketball.

I will not forget how he's taken a different role every year to help the team as much as possible. He adapts at his new role then goes out and performs, always with the desire to succeed and never getting caught up with an ego in the way. Last year he carried the entire team on his shoulders, was often criticized for it, but almost made it into the big dance final again when KU was in a rebuilding year.

I will not forget that he stuck it out his senior year.

And I will not forget when he delivers a second title during his days as a Hawk! I will not forget how he realized his leadership and assists were worth more than his points... and so it was time to pass the ball to a freshman with a natural gift to score while the country says Sherron is one of the best guards in the land.

We won't know what we lost until he is gone. It will be a long time before KU is a contender again until another player comes along with the character of a Sherron Collins.

November 26, 2009 at 11:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lighthawk (anonymous) says...

slyr: I was fortunate to watch Wilt as a young kid, JoJo, Valentine, Robisch, Danny all 4 yrs., Raef, Pierce, Jacques, Kirk & NIck, etc. but because of what you said here:

I will not forget how he's taken a different role every year to help the team...

you are converting me.

Kansas best all time, maybe my order is wrong, don't think so though.
Wilt Chamberlain
Clyde Lovellete
Danny Manning

November 27, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

FairgroveJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Regarding loosing players to the draft. That is the bad thing about being ranked no. 1 in the country, all the publicity. Although there are many positives that go along with it, there is a lot of extra hype that can be thrown at players who may not be ready to enter the NBA. Taylor suddenly hit the draft scene in the summer after his international play and I thought no possible way after last season. So far this year I haven't seen any signs of consistent NBA readiness in Taylor. The Morris twins are still off the radar and lets hope it stays that way. Cole really didn't receive any recognition until his triple double in the NCAA tournament last year when his stock went through the roof. It's still amazing how one game can elicit a lottery draft projection. If I remember correctly he was projected mid second round before that game. Such is the nature of college basketball and the NBA.

drgnsalyr - I agree with you on Collins. He is the extension of Self's genius.

November 27, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralster (anonymous) says...

Look, I like Jacque Vaughn as much as anybody, but dammit, I too remember defenses just sagging away from him, daring him to shoot, and that continually reminded me of a "hole" in his game. Yes his assists were awesome, but that is his claim to fame--making those around him better. That forever drove me mad: a basketball player that wouldnt shoot (not that he couldnt). My personal favorites in the Roy era were Miles+Hinrich. And obviously, I love the 'combo' guard concept of Self immensely (scoring, defense, assists), as being more complete players. Just look at RussRob+Chalmers combined totals for assists+scoring and its just flat ridiculous (and unfair to Vaughn) to try to compare. Apples/oranges because of different systems.
--------------------------------
Soobawls needs to literally get with "this" program/coach if he's really a KU fan. Sherron has 0 turnovers and 7 assists, X says he makes it easy for teammates to score and X + Self confirm Sherron is without ego, yet the first comment under this Sherron story is a lament by soobawls for a KU guard from 10yrs ago. Soobawls, please dude.

November 27, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralster (anonymous) says...

Without Sherron's will & determination, and clearly superior basketball skills, last year we may/may not have made it to March madness? Yes, unplug Sherron from last season and plug in Vaughn at his KU best, and just maybe we are playing vs. KY in last years NIT.
---------------------------------
Soobawls, its OK, keep doing the "lucky-touch" of your 90's era Vaughn poster, and I'll keep praying at the altar of Self and the 08 ChampHawks. If you've every played this game as a guard and they keep sagging off of you, totally disrespecting your shot--that will just never sit well with me. Sherron proved last year he deserves eternal respect, and now can be the "steady" senior many of KU nation wants to see. It is time. I get that. Just like Jordan never won a ring until he got his supporting cast to shine. Everyone in the KU program says Sherron "gets it", but that apparently isnt good enough for some. Come on now...

November 27, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuclay (anonymous) says...

Sherron is about to become the all-time winningest Jayhawk. Nuff said. Argument over

November 29, 2009 at 12:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )