Like most freshmen, Drew Gooden suffered some growing pains his first year in college.
Gooden, Kansas’ 6-foot-10 sophomore forward from Richmond, Calif., had great games 20 points against Missouri, Penn and Georgia Tech and lousy ones, too, as in a pair of two-point outings versus Kansas State and one two-pointer at Mizzou.
“It was almost like a coin toss. You didn’t know if it’d be heads I’m going to have a good game or tails a bad one,” Gooden said Wednesday. “I’ve kind of grown up a little bit, become more confident and more consistent.”
Gooden, who averages 15.6 points and 8.3 boards compared to last year’s averages of 10.6 points and 7.5 boards, has scored in double figures in all but one of KU’s 17 games this season. As a freshman, he scored in single digits in six of KU’s first 17 games.
He’s hitting an uncanny 52.9 percent of his shots after making 45.1 percent all of last year.
“This year I’ve changed my style a little bit,” Gooden said. “Last year I basically shot a jump hook and outside jumpers. This year I’m taking the ball to the basket more. I’m more a threat to the opposing team. I am much more confident taking the ball to the basket, posting up and shooting the jump hook.”
Gooden, who leads the Big 12 with seven double-doubles, had nine double doubles all of last season.
“If I get the ball where I always want it and go up, I feel it’s two points for our team and two points for myself,” Gooden said.
He believes maturation in Roy Williams’ system has helped him learn what is a good shot and what’s a bad shot.
As a team, the Jayhawks (16-1, 5-0) are hitting 51.4 percent of their shots, compared to 46 percent shooting in 1999-2000.
“Coach Williams has regulated a lot of outside shots that are not good shots,” Gooden said. “Early in the preseason he drilled in our heads what was a good shot and not a good shot. We’re leading the country in field goal shooting so there you have it. Give coach Williams the credit for that.”
Williams has drummed it into the heads of Gooden and forward Nick Collison they are better off shooting inside shots than outside.
“Both Nick and Drew as their careers go on will not be confined or restricted as much as some of the big guys we’ve had because they can do more things,” Williams said.
“Greg Ostertag couldn’t do more things. Eric Chenowith can’t do more things. Those two can do more things. We won’t restrict them. As they mature and develop, the other things they can do will be even better.”
Gooden says he is much more comfortable with his role, thus more confident this season. He is averaging 27.3 minutes per game compared to 20.8 minutes a year ago.
“You play with that security as far as knowing you can go hard, take yourself out of the game, come in whenever you please and not worry, ‘I’m getting 20 minutes,”‘ Gooden said. “You have the security you’ll play 30 minutes a game, so there’s no need to rush around, take bad shots. You know you are going to be out there.
“Last year we had a lot of guys rotating at the power forward position. This year the rotation is not as deep. Everybody knows their roles. Guys know who is coming in and out. The chemistry is there.”
Gooden he’s shown some intelligence on the court with 34 assists to 45 turnovers compared to 14 assists versus 34 turnovers after 17 games last year also is shining in the classroom.
He had the highest GPA of anybody on the team last semester.
“Hard work,” Gooden grinned, estimating his GPA as “over a 3.0. I’ve always been a pretty good student. Yes I’m proud of that.”
He also takes pride in his family his dad, stepmom and grandfather live in California his mom and stepdad in Arkansas. Gooden’s mom, Ulla Lear, last year knit each member of the Jayhawks a pair of socks and presented them to the players as Christmas presents.
She was at it again this year.
“She knitted hats for Mario (Kinsey) and Bryant (Nash),” Gooden said of Ulla, who made the caps with the same yarn as the socks. “They wear those hats every day. They like ’em.”
KU coach Williams admits he can be a stern taskmaster. However, even he was impressed with Monday’s grueling 85-75 victory at Colorado.
“The kids might have been as exhausted at the end of the game as any team I’ve had,” Williams said. “A lot of people have said good things about our team this year. I haven’t necessarily done the same. I was very proud of our team. They impressed me for sure.”
Kansas will meet Kansas State at 3:05 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
