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: The defense was designed to stop him, but once he was fed the ball, there was no stopping him. Aldrich had 23 points, 13 rebounds, eight dunks and two blocked shots.
2. Sherron Collins: Shot too much in the second half and couldn’t keep NDSU’s Ben Woodside in front of him when guarding him, but Collins still contributed 32 points and eight assists, turned it over just two times and kept the defense in retreat mode all game.
3. Marcus Morris: Showed how much he has grown as a player during the course of the year. Repeatedly passed the ball in situations he would have shot early in the year. Made all three field-goal attempts, finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists and did not commit a turnover.
4. Tyshawn Taylor: Had 40 percent of the team’s turnovers, but that’s not as bad as it sounds, considering the Jayhawks had just five turnovers. Scored eight points.
5. Tyrone Appleton: Matched career high with six minutes and rewarded Self for playing him with a strong defensive effort against Ben Woodside (37 points).
6. Markieff Morris: Took an ill-advised three-pointer, but did battle hard on the boards, picking up three in 13 minutes and contributed a nifty assist and a steal.
7. Brady Morningstar: Didn’t have one of his better defensive games and did not pick up a rebound or an assist, but did score eight points.
8. Tyrel Reed: Didn’t make a field goal in three attempts, but totaled three points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
9. Mario Little: Scoreless in eight minutes.
The Keegan Ratings: Season Standings (total points)
1. Sherron Collins (283 points)
2. Cole Aldrich (282 points)
3. Tyshawn Taylor (222 points)
4. Brady Morningstar (196 points)
5. Marcus Morris (186 points)
6. Tyrel Reed (172 points)
7. Markieff Morris (157 points)
8. Travis Releford (112 points)
9. Mario Little (99 points)
10. Quintrell Thomas (64 points)
11. Tyrone Appleton (33 points)
The Keegan Ratings: Conference/Postseason Standings (total points)
1. Cole Aldrich (150 points)
2. Sherron Collins (149 points)
3. Tyshawn Taylor (120 points)
T4. Brady Morningstar (106 points)
T4. Marcus Morris (106 points)
6. Mario Little (89 points)
7. Tyrel Reed (88 points)
8. Markieff Morris (85 points)
9. Travis Releford (55 points)
10. Quintrell Thomas (22 points)
11. Tyrone Appleton (14 points)
