Andrew Wiggins plays all 45 minutes, tops ratings

By Staff     Mar 13, 2014

**1 – Andrew Wiggins:** A gutsy competitor, during the overtime period Wiggins didn’t score a point, but he hit the deck chasing loose balls, played disruptive defense and came away with two huge rebounds. He still had fuel in his tank, even though he played all 45 minutes. And come to think of it, he wasn’t too shabby in regulation either. He brings so many competitive traits to the floor. He always wants to be the one to guard the hot shooter and is very comfortable being the one to take the big shot, such as the tightly guarded jumper from the left corner to tie the game with 1:04 left in regulation.

Wiggins scored 17 of his game-high 30 points in the second half. For the game, he made 9 of 17 shots, 3 of 6 threes, 9 of 10 free throws and added eight rebounds, three assists and a steal.

**2 – Wayne Selden:** He guarded Marcus Smart and based on the way he embraced the assignment, he must have been looking forward to it from the moment the Big 12 tournament pairings were released. He played Smart in physical fashion, chucking him when he didn’t have the ball, slapping him on the forearm in mid-shot and generally letting him know he was there and enjoying being there. Smart made 4 of 14 shots, 1 of 4 three-pointers on his way to 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Whatever he got, Selden made him earn it.

Other than making just 1 of 5 three-pointers, Selden also had a nice game at the other end. He matched Smart’s 14 points and had four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.

**3 – Jamari Traylor:** With Joel Embiid there to protect the rim, weak-side help became even more important than usual and Traylor made sure to provide it in aggressive fashion. Smacked two shots off the backboard, bruised his way to nine rebounds and six points.

**4 – Tarik Black:** Contributed a strong defensive effort, used his bulk well and, as always, supplied verbal encouragement to teammates. He’s a senior and he played like it. Finished with seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

**5 – Perry Ellis:** Scored twice in a row in the second half and looked as if he was going to become the go-to scorer, but then was tagged for his fourth foul and headed to the bench. Totaled nine points and eight rebounds.

**6 – Naadir Tharpe:** Didn’t let defensive lapses and missed shots drag him down. He competed hard for 41 minutes and made some big plays in the clutch, including a blow-by drive with Markel Brown on him. Had seven assists and just two turnovers.

**7 – Frank Mason:** Played four minutes and made his lone shot, a three-pointer from the top of the arc.

**8 – Landen Lucas:** Blocked a Le’Bryan Nash shot, picked up a rebound and was whistled for three fouls in four minutes.

**9 – Brannen Greene:** Looked like a freshman playing in his first postseason game. In a word, nervous. Rattled against Oklahoma State’s pressure, he turned it over twice in seven minutes, picked up a defensive rebound missed his lone shot, a three from the top of the key. One thing he did not look was overmatched. He never does. He’ll be back out there and will perform better now that first-time jitters are out of the way.

*SEASON STANDINGS*

Andrew Wiggins 281

Perry Ellis 255

Joel Embiid 246

Wayne Selden Jr. 240

Naadir Tharpe 217

Frank Mason 195

Jamari Traylor 182

Tarik Black 166

Brannen Greene 89

Conner Frankamp 69

Andrew White III 66

Landen Lucas 58

Justin Wesley 18

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