J-W sports editor Tom Keegan each week will observe and analyze the national college basketball scene. Here are his thoughts this week:
Player of the week: J.P. Batista, Gonzaga
If only David Padgett had informed Bill Self of his plans to transfer one week earlier, Batista would be playing at KU. The Brazilian behemoth is averaging 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. In two wins this past week, the 6-foot-9, 269-pound Batista averaged 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. He and guard Derek Raivio are perfect complements to Player of the Year candidate Adam Morrison.
Team of the week: Ohio State
With victories over Michigan and Illinois, Thad Matta’s Buckeyes are in the national spotlight one year ahead of schedule. Next year’s freshman class, already dubbed “The Thad Four,” is led by No. 1-ranked recruit, 7-footer Greg Oden of Indianapolis, and has three others in the top 26.
Bust of the week: Indiana
A portion of the fan base showed a lack of class in clamoring for ouster of coach Mike Davis, and the Hoosiers lost to Wisconsin and Iowa. If Davis, who missed the Iowa game and said he had the flu, resigns or is fired, consider KU the favorite to land prize Dallas recruit Darrell Arthur.
Game to watch: UConn vs. Villanova
If trades were allowed in college basketball, these teams would have cooked a deal a long time ago. Top-ranked UConn has an abundance of big men and could use one of Villanova’s hot-shooting guards. Villanova starts four guards.
6 p.m. tonight, ESPN (Sunflower Broadband Channel 33)
J-W sports editor Tom Keegan each week will observe and analyze the national college basketball scene. His thoughts for last week:
Player of the week: J.J. Redick, Duke
Redick has had better shooting weeks, but he came through in the clutch in a pair of close victories over Boston College and Florida State. He averaged 32 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Against Florida State, Redick scored eight of his 36 points in overtime and hit the go-ahead three-point shot. A senior who steadily has improved at creating his own shots, Redick is averaging 28.1 points per game.
Team of the week: George Washington
The Colonials, coached by Karl Hobbs, a high school teammate of Patrick Ewing and a former Jim Calhoun assistant coach at UConn, won at Xavier for the first time in 10 years and blew out Richmond to improve to 18-1 overall and 8-0 in the Atlantic 10.
Bust of the week: Missouri
Winless in five games since defeating Kansas University, Quin Snyder’s Tigers were toothless in getting pasted by Bob Knight’s talent-challenged Texas Tech Red Raiders, 73-55. Thomas Gardner, who dropped 40 points on KU, was limited to two points and is averaging 15 points since the KU game.
Game to watch: Duke vs. North Carolina
Tobacco Road freshmen Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and Josh McRoberts of Duke play against each other for the first time, but, even on the road, Duke has the big advantage thanks to its seniors.
8 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN
(Sunflower Broadband Channel 33)
J-W sports editor Tom Keegan each week will observe and analyze the national college basketball scene.
Here are his thoughts for Jan. 22-29:
Player of the week: Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
The nation’s best player and leading scorer (29.0) had what, even by his standards, was a huge week. A Type 1 diabetic who injects himself with insulin during games, Morrison averaged 41 points and seven rebounds in two victories in which he made seven of 13 three-pointers. Morrison has scored at least 30 points nine times, including five of the last six games. He has hit 40 four times, twice this past week.
Team of the week: Michigan
The Wolverines knocked off Michigan State and Wisconsin without third-leading scorer Lester Abram Jr. to run their winning streak to four games. Michigan will undoubtedly appear in the Top 25. Its only losses were to ranked teams UCLA, Indiana and Illinois.
Bust of the week: Louisville
Everyone repeat after me: “Louisville does not deserve to be ranked. Louisville does not deserve to be ranked.” Losing at Rutgers in itself is no disgrace. The RAC is a tough place to play. The fact it was not the least surprising is more the issue for the overrated Cardinals, 2-5 in the Big East.
Game to watch: So. Illinois vs. Wichita State
Huge game for the at-large berth hopes of teams in the hunt for the conference title in the underrated Missouri Valley Conference. Mix in Northern Iowa and Creighton, and the conference will get anywhere from one to four bids.
11:05 a.m. Saturday, ESPN2
(Sunflower Broadband Channel 34)
6Sports video: KU men’s basketball safe bet for top 25
Self hoping for a happier homecoming
Sign up for cell phone updates
Sign up for e-mail updates
Hear Bill: KU-OU postgame audio
Photo gallery: KU vs. Oklahoma