After each KU basketball game this season, this is where you can find out the hardwood equivalent of The Nielsen Ratings from Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan. He’ll rate the Jayhawk scholarship players’ individual performances, telling you who was worth tuning in to watch. If you agree or maybe even differ, make sure to comment and tell Tom how you really feel. (Scoring: Each week, the top player in the ratings will be awarded 10 points. Second best gets nine points. Third best gets eight points, and so on and so on. The season standings are at the bottom.)
1. Cole Aldrich: Had 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds and clogged the middle defensively.
2. Mario Little: So many memorable moves: The jab-step to free himself for a three-pointer, the up-and-under, the three offensive rebounds. Little led the team that he’s changed with 13 points.
3. Sherron Collins: Did a nice job defensively on Byron Eaton (eight points) and made 4 of 8 three-pointers.
4. Tyshawn Taylor: Used his quickness to pick up 12 points, four assists and two steals. Tends to be the team’s best scorer late in games that already have been decided.
5. Tyrel Reed: Slowly getting better defensively. His active hands disrupt ballhandlers and he never stops hustling. Had six points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
6. Brady Morningstar: Had nine points, six assists and a steal.
7. Marcus Morris: Started the game well, as a force inside, and finished with nine points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.
8. Travis Releford: He can jump. Collins fed him a beauty of a lob and he threw it down. That seemed to pump him up, maybe a little too much, which led to a turnover that started on a baseline drive to oblivion. Scored five points in seven minutes.
9. Tyrone Appleton: Was given rare first-half opportunity and committed two turnovers in three minutes. Also hustled for two rebounds and an assist.
10. Markieff Morris: Played six minutes, didn’t score, had three turnovers and two fouls and picked up three rebounds.
The Keegan Ratings: Season Standings (total points)
1. Sherron Collins (203 points)
2. Cole Aldrich (197 points)
3. Tyshawn Taylor (149 points)
4. Brady Morningstar (145 points)
5. Tyrel Reed (125 points)
6. Marcus Morris (119 points)
7. Markieff Morris (110 points)
8. Travis Releford (75 points)
9. Mario Little (62 points)
10. Quintrell Thomas (50 points)
11. Tyrone Appleton (24 points)
The Keegan Ratings: Conference Standings (total points)
1. Sherron Collins (69 points)
2. Cole Aldrich (65 points)
3. Brady Morningstar (55 points)
4. Mario Little (52 points)
5. Tyshawn Taylor (47 points)
6. Tyrel Reed (41 points)
7. Marcus Morris (39 points)
8. Markieff Morris (38 points)
9. Travis Releford (18 points)
10. Quintrell Thomas (8 points)
11. Tyrone Appleton (5 points)
