Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Aldrich shows off progress

By Ryan Greene

KU's Cole Aldrich (45) grabs one of his nine rebounds against the Tigers.

Photo by Thad Allender

KU's Cole Aldrich (45) grabs one of his nine rebounds against the Tigers.

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Jayhawks sweep border showdown

The KU men's basketball team took both games against the Missouri Tigers this year with their win Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

Useless trivia with DJ

DJ Whetter and Kevin Romary play useless fieldhouse trivia.

6Sports video: Aldrich steps up against Mizzou

KU center Cole Aldrich came up big against the Missouri Tigers on Monday.

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KU vs. Missouri

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2007-08 Feb. 4 KU-Mizzou Hoops

Just four months ago, the simplest of basketball tasks gave Cole Aldrich the most nerve-racking experience of his young career.

Even recalling it, he bends his knees and starts shaking just to emulate how he felt in October at Late Night in the Phog, stepping to the charity stripe for the first time in front of a full Allen Fieldhouse crowd.

"Oh, man, I was nervous ... I was real nervous," the Kansas University freshman forward said. "I remember shooting a free throw and thinking, 'Please hit the rim ... please!'"

Aldrich's six points and nine rebounds in just 12 minutes in Monday's 90-71 romp over Missouri are simply the fruits of just how far the 6-foot-11 big man with the thick northern-tundra accent has come.

"It amazes me," KU coach Bill Self said after the game. "Everybody talks about Darnell (Jackson) being most improved, and he is based on last year, but our players would tell you Cole from Late Night to now, it's unbelievable the progress he's made.

"I think that (assistant coach Danny Manning's) done a great job with him, but I also think those other three big guys have done a great job with him."

Aldrich agrees that going against his veteran teammates has been a big help, most notably senior Sasha Kaun.

"I really enjoy watching myself improve," said Aldrich, now averaging 3.0 points and 3.4 rebounds while playing just 8.7 minutes a game. "It's fun to really go through practice and think, 'Wow, four months ago, I couldn't score against Sasha, I couldn't do anything.' Now, I get a few moves on him every once in a while."

Kaun, who said he has made a point of providing an example for Aldrich in practice this year, gladly will take getting schooled a few times here and there. Especially in preparation for situations like Monday, when both were needed after sophomore Darrell Arthur picked up three fouls in just two first-half minutes.

The duo combined for 13 points and eight rebounds, playing a total of 16 minutes before halftime. Aldrich on his final line also attached a pair of blocked shots, giving him 24 on the season.

His performances have stayed steady despite inconsistent minutes for most of the year. For example, Aldrich went from playing one minute Saturday against Colorado to 12 on Monday. Earlier in the year, he went from one minute against Arizona on Nov. 25 to 15 against Florida Atlantic three days later. He then went from two against Georgia Tech on Dec. 18 to 13 against Miami (Ohio) after another three-day lay-off.

Aldrich is averaging one swat per 8.3 minutes. His total number of rejections ranks third behind Arthur and Kaun, but no one makes them more emphatically.

"The Missouri guys are kind of small, so it was easy for him to wall up on them when they were driving to the hole," Arthur said of Aldrich's presence Monday. "Taking their shots away from them, making it hard for them to shoot over, I thought he did good with that.

"He's been playing real well in practice, too, so he's improving a lot, and we look forward to him playing more."

KU vs. MU

Comments

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

Cole will be a cornerstone to our program, he should be getting a little more playing time

February 5, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Cole played great last night. I wish Coach Self would have rewarded him and sent a message to Shady in the second half by letting Shady cool his heels on the bench.

The best word I can think of to explain Shady's play is "immature". With the athletic ability he has, the sky is the limit. It just doesn't seem like we're getting everything out of him. I get the sense that he's holding himself back. I don't think we can blame the coaching. When you see the passion Sasha played with, the effort Darnell gives and the energy Cole is playing with it makes you frustrated with Shady.

February 5, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

By far the best Cole has looked this year. He clearly looks more comfortable on a D-1 floor, and his contributions were great last night. mizzboo does not have a lot of size or remarkable big men, though, so we need to take this progress with a grain of salt. None the less, it's one step at a time, and Cole certainly will have enormous impact on this team for years to come.

February 5, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sportdan30 (anonymous) says...

I would like to see his teamates get him the ball more in the low post. Generally, he'll get the pass at the perimeter, and then set a screen. Let the big man post up every once in a while and see what kind of moves he has.

February 5, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUMatt2001 (anonymous) says...

Shady's playing is "immature?"

Maybe it's because he's a sophomore! Sasha and DJ are both seniors. Do you want to compare their sophomore seasons to DA's? He's led the team in scoring almost all season! And I love Cole so far, and his tenacity on the glass and on D, but he still has a lot to figure out. And last night, he had no competition for those rebounds.

I do know where you're coming from, but there are some players that just never look real intense- they play well and make it look easy. (Paul Pierce comes to mind) Shady's still coming into his own. If we light a fire under his ass, he goes out there with reckless abandon and fouls out in five minutes. I still don't understand how he gets so many foul calls (and maybe that's why he doesn't seem intense). But give the kid time. We've seen some flashes of absolute brilliance out of him, let's let it grow.

Let's hope he's smart enough to stay one more year. He needs it, and just imagine how good he'd be next year!

February 5, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

KUMatt,
I like your comments alot about Shady. Yes we all DEARLY want to see him shine and dominate, as he does have the potential to outshine about any power forward except maybe Beasley. But he IS a sophomore, and he IS leading the team in scoring. He is a case of steady improvement so far. Darnell was the same way, but perhaps this year is showing a leaps-and-bounds type of improvement (although DJack was solid in the tourney last year--maybe his beginning). Maybe if Shady returns next year and is more of an offensive focus, he gets 20 pts/12 rbs a game? He is obviously still figuring out defensive footwork/handwork...

February 5, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

oldrocker (anonymous) says...

"The Missouri guys are kind of small, so it was easy for him to wall up on them when they were driving to the hole."

That comment by Darrell cracked me up.

February 5, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

KUMatt......There's a lot of truth in your statement, especially about Shady's youth. But I don't think there's any mystery about why he gets "stupid" fouls--he's not in position because he's just flat out playing "lazy", particularly on defense. He's got to play smart and position himself better to deny entry passes. If he does that, he won't have as many opportunities to pick up dumb fouls because his man won't have as many touches. He has to think like an offensive player on the defensive end and beat his opponent to his spots.

And on offense, he posts SOOOO weak if I were a guard I wouldn't even LOOK at him. Do you want the ball or NOT?! Don't flash half-heartedly in the lane. Burst in there and seal with some intention! If he played with some intensity on the offensive end and posted strong and quit throwing up that sorry fade-away......He was 4 inches taller than every defender. What does he have against taking it to the rack and finishing with authority?

February 5, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

I actually think KU and KUMatt are both correct in their respective views (hows that for playing the middle ground?). Clearly Arthur is young and still learning the game, but I've noticed the same things in his game that KU pointed out... I don't think it's quite as bad as you say, KU, but certainly he could pick up his intensity without going crazy and fouling out right away. That's were fundamentals come into play. He's so much more athletic than so many people he's been up against all his career, that I don't think he's needed to focus on fundamentals as much. This is were I think another year would benefit him greatly (setting my obvious bias aside for a moment). Unfortunately, my guess is he'll be gone at season's end.

His fade away will help him tremendously in the pro game where his 6-9 frame is undersized at the post position. But clearly being able to "get to the rack and finish with authority" will help him at both levels. Once again, though, the scouts will see the potential, and he will ride the bench for a couple seasons if he does go.

February 5, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcmostwanted (anonymous) says...

I agree with what some of you guys are saying but at the same time if you guys heard what Coach Self said after the game was very true as well...

I don't know if you can say he's playing lazy D... I think he's just too aggressive...also as HCBS said it's really the guards fault too because they're allowing the opposing guards dribble penetration which puts our Bigs in bad situations....

they're playing pretty good D but at the same time we still have our flaws (like every team)...

February 5, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

I just don't understand how when Aldrich has 6 points and 9 rebounds, he and Kaun can only combine for 13 point and 8 rebounds.

The points part is understandable, because Kaun doesn't usually score that many points, but the rebounds is kinda confusing.

February 5, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

ah, it was the first half... I had to read it again

February 5, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhawkerman (anonymous) says...

I have noticed one major difference between Kaun and Aldrich with regard to rebounding ... if you notice Kaun is lazy at time getting to a position and usually just runs up the back of the opposing player where Aldrich will move around the block-out and get into a good position to rebound (offensive I am referring to ). Kaun need to be more aggressive and move around the block-out when he can he will get a lot more rebounds in my opinion

February 5, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Have you noticed how well Aldrich moves laterally when the ball bounces off the rim? He seems to be able to cover a lot of territory to get rebounds.

February 6, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )