Here’s guessing Barack Obama will get off to a better start than the newcomers to college basketball’s defending national champions did Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
Then again, giving young players a chance to ease their way into college basketball is a big reason why Div. I teams schedule exhibition games against Div. II programs.
Kansas coach Bill Self didn’t mince words when discussing the performance of the newcomers, but he also wasn’t freaked out by it. He’s seen it too many times. He knows how rare it is that a high school basketball player makes a seamless transition to the college game.
Remember, Russell Robinson, who played like a senior and ultimate team player from his sophomore season on, had a difficult transition as a freshman, once even declining to enter a blowout against Baylor.
Mario Chalmers couldn’t get the ball past halfcourt in Hawaii against Arizona.
Brandon Rush couldn’t prevent St. Joseph sharp-shooter Chet Stachitas from scoring 27 points in Madison Square Garden.
It paid to remember all that Tuesday night when only Quintrell Thomas (10 points, six rebounds) played well in a 98-79 victory against Washburn University.
Whether Thomas has the quickness to duplicate such a performance against major-college talent remains in question, but effort shouldn’t be a problem. Can the same be said for the more talented Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus? We’ll see.
They combined to play 21 minutes, score seven points, commit eight personal fouls and grab six rebounds. Neither twin appeared fully engaged defensively until his man caught the ball. Marcus fouled out in seven minutes after producing two points and one rebound. The third foul was of the phantom variety, but that happens. After the fifth, Cole Aldrich tried to tell him something, but Marcus didn’t appear interested in hearing it and told him something back.
“Other than Quintrell, the freshmen weren’t factors at all tonight,” Self said. “They’ve played better than that (in practice).”
Tyshawn Taylor made mistakes at both ends and was charged with five turnovers in 16 minutes, but with such length, quickness and energy, he’ll move to the head of the freshman pack in no time.
Travis Releford forced things offensively and didn’t seem completely comfortable on the perimeter, but hustled at the other end.
Junior college transfer Tyrone Appleton dribbles far too much, and fellow juco Mario Little sat on the end of the bench, sidelined by a stress reaction.
The ticket to playing time for the talented bunch of new faces, as always, starts with defense.
“Our young kids just don’t know how to guard yet,” Self said. “The best way they can help the team is to become good defensively and good rebounders, aggressive, steal some extra possessions for us. You do those things, and the scoring will come. They can all score, Tyshawn and the twins especially, but if you’re not going to guard, you’re not going to get many opportunities to shoot because you’re not going to be in that much.”
Self captured the value of the evening in saying, “I think this will be a great teaching tape.”
