Darrell Arthur a Top Ten Freshman
Jason Tomassini of CollegeHoops.Net names Darrell Arthur as the #5 rookie in the nation this season based on games played so far…
5. Darrell Arthur, Kansas - Despite playing only 16 minutes against Florida he was the player of the game with 19 points and more aggressive play than anyone else on the court. I didn’t really know anything about him before that game but that’s arguably the best performance by a freshman in a big game this season. Since then he’s struggled a bit but Bill Self has to get him off the bench, he’s only averaging 21 minutes per game. I always thought you want to play your leading scorer as much as possible but then again, I’m not a coach.
Stats- 14.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.2 apg, 2.1 bpg, 1.2 spg, 1.6 TO, 62.2 FG%, 79.4 FT% Freshman perk- His roommates switched his toothpaste to Crest so he wouldn’t be reminded of the Jayhawks embarrassing loss to Oral Roberts earlier this season.
Kevin Durant (Texas), Chase Buddinger (AZ), Greg Oden (Ohio State) and Javaris Crittenton (GA Tech) head up the list.
* Have the Phog Blog come to you! * Subscribe to Comments
7 Responses to “Darrell Arthur a Top Ten Freshman”
Leave a Reply
Comment Policy:Be polite.You must be logged in to post a comment.
December 10th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Please someone tell me why Shady does not touch the ball every time down the court. He posts up wide open and we don’t hit him. Everything should run through him on the offensive side. If they double down he can kick out to any of the guards or dump to the other big man. We have to make him a threat or we have no chance.
Rock Chalk
December 11th, 2006 at 11:55 am
I kind of agree with you, but take a look at Ken Pomeroy’s numbers for KU:
http://kenpom.com/sr.php?team=Kansas&y=2007
He already is highest on the team in the possession and shot categories, meaning that when he’s in the game, he’s more of the focus than anybody else is. And he’s REALLY low in the Assist Rate, which makes me think he might not be that great at, say, dumping off to the other big men.
But take everything I say with a grain of salt, because the only game I’ve been able to watch this year is the Florida one. So I don’t have much personal observation to draw on.
December 11th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Because he has been in foul trouble in 7 of 10 games, and thusly can only average 22 minutes per game so far, and so he doesn’t get in a rhythm.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
I don’t see rhythm as the problem. He seems to be fine either playing 40 or 20 minutes. Take the Florida game for example. He played like 16 min and scored 19. All I am saying is that Self needs to figure out a way to get the ball in his hands down low. It will take some pressure off of our guards to hit 10 threes a game. He is also our best free throw shooter.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
It is not unusual for freshmen big men to have foul problems when they first play D-1 ball. In high school, they’re so much bigger, stronger, and faster than their opponents, and their body and athleticism allows them to make up for mistakes without whistles. In college, however, the speed and physical nature of the game is at a higher level, and the opponents are better physically. The result is that most young big men experience foul problems.
I am actually surprised at how well Arthur has played with foul problems. Sometimes having the whistle blow causes young men to lose their aggressiveness or get frustrated. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Arthur. It also hasn’t shaken his confidence.
With every day of practice and every non-conference game, he’s learning and acclimating to the D-1 game. Coach Self will do everything possible to shorten his learning curve. He’ll be in the big games when it counts in conference play and the post-season.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
I have seen limited games to date due to a traveling schedule but I enjoyed the post and the comment feedback.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
On the Bill Self show last night, Self mentioned that Arthur is playing out of position because he is always guarding the other team’s tallest guy. He is more accustomed to guarding the 4, but Wright has that assignment.
What he needs to do is quit with the silly away from the basket fouls and he’ll be fine. The dude is a phenomenal player.