The Keegan Ratings: Back to ‘basics’

By Staff     Dec 20, 2006

_After each KU basketball game this season, this is where you can find out the basketball equivalent of The Nielsen Ratings from Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan. He’ll rate the Jayhawks’ individual performances from top to bottom, telling you who was worth tuning in to watch and who has seen better days. If you agree or maybe even differ, make sure to comment and tell Tom how you really feel._**1. Julian Wright**: Had the look of a player on a mission to make amends for a poor performance against Toledo. Brought the same enthusiasm as he did in the Florida victory. Grabbed nine rebounds, scored 15 points and missed just one shot from the field. He is making only 61 percent of his free throws.**2. Darrell Arthur**: Came off the bench again and this time did not commit a personal foul and blocked four shots against the much shorter Rams and had three steals. Displayed a smooth array of shots, none more memorable than a lefty bank hook. The next time he cracks a smile on the court will be the first. He’s all business, an attentive student of the game.**3. Sherron Collins**: He flew with the ball in his hands and made the Jayhawks play faster. Turned the ball over just once in 18 minutes and cemented his standing as the team’s top three-point shooter by hitting two of three.**4. Mario Chalmers**: Driving and dishing at will, Chalmers’ best of eight assists came on a beauty of a behind-the-back pass on a two-on-one fastbreak. He still hasn’t found his three-point stroke (1-for-4), which was the case in the first half of last season as well.**5. Brandon Rush**: Had a quiet day on the boards with only two and another poor long-distance shooting day (1-for-4), but had a memorable three-possession flurry after getting an earful from the coach for a sloppy play. Rush responded to that criticism by blocking a shot, then sprinting ahead to catch up to Jeremy Case’s nice pass, taking it over to the right side of the lane and throwing down the night’s wildest jam, a one-hander. Rush came back down to the other end to block another shot.**6. Sasha Kaun**: As usual, he scored in double figures against a team that didn’t have any height. He could have scored more than his 11 points if he didn’t rush a couple of shots. Nobody sets better picks than he does.**7. Russell Robinson**: When he makes a bad mistake on the offensive end, he has a tendency to race down and get a steal at the other end. Robinson made life miserable for the Winston-Salem guards trying to penetrate. The pace was faster with Collins in the game, though. **8. Jeremy Case**: Looked like a point guard with a number of terrific passes and hit a pair of three-point shots, including an extremely deep one he only shot because the shot clock was expiring.**9. Darnell Jackson**: Took one bad shot, but overall played well. He always hustles and hits the boards hard.**10. Brady Morningstar**: Goes to the glass hard, sees the floor well and hustles, but still looks a little nervous when shooting from the perimeter.**11. Rodrick Stewart**: Didn’t get into the game until well after Morningstar and had a far quieter performance than the freshman.**12. Matt Kleinmann**: Gets on the sheet with an assist. Could have had a rebound too, if only he were blessed with average leaping ability. **13. Brennan Bechard**: Heads, Bechard wins. Tails, he loses. Heads it is. Bechard wins.**14. Brad Witherspoon**: Heads it is, Witherspoon loses.**The Keegan Ratings: Season Standings (Average rank)** **1.** Julian Wright 2.82 **2.** Darrell Arthur 3.36 **3.** Mario Chalmers 3.64 **4.** Brandon Rush 4.27 **5.** Russell Robinson 5.00 **6.** Sherron Collins 5.18 **7.** Darnell Jackson 5.27 **8.** Sasha Kaun 6.50 **9.** Rodrick Stewart 8.90 **10.** Brady Morningstar 9.40 **11.** Jeremy Case 10.00 **12.** Matt Kleinmann 10.12 **13.** Brennan Bechard 12.67 **14.** Brad Witherspoon 13.0

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