“That’s the Sherron we recruited,” he said after the game. “(He) was the man tonight."
Collins and fellow freshman Darrell Arthur combined for 17 of Kansas’ last 19 points, and helped the fifth-ranked Jayhawks hold off Missouri 80-77.
“I was a little surprised that we were both in there at the end,” Arthur said.
Arthur may have been surprised to find himself playing in the final minutes of a tough conference matchup—but it’s a situation that he and Kansas fans should get used to.
“I was a little surprised that we were both in there at the end,” Arthur said.
Arthur may have been surprised to find himself playing in the final minutes of a tough conference matchup—but it’s a situation that he and Kansas fans should get used to.
With new NBA rules forcing high school players to wait a year before entering the league, an influx of young talent has taken over the college game. Add in the fact that most of the top collegiate players bolt for the pros after their freshman or sophomore seasons, and you’re looking at a situation in which the fate of your favorite program will be riding on the shoulders of 18-year-olds for years to come.
Scary thought huh?
It seems like only yesterday that Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national title in his freshman season. Anthony’s play in the 2003 NCAA Tournament showed coaches that raw ability can produce championships—and fat new contracts for the men who engineer them. Besides that, molding young athletes into savvy players isn’t really an option anymore, as most high school recruits won’t even look at a program unless they’re guaranteed playing time from day one.
So what else is a coach to do?
Consider this: Four of the top teams in the country—North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio State, and Texas—rely heavily on 18-year-old talent.
The Tar Heels have three freshman starters in forward Brandan Wright, guard Wayne Ellington, and guard Ty Lawson. Wright is averaging 15.6 points a game —14th best in the ACC—while Lawson is fifth in the conference with 5.2 assists per game.
Collins has been a major contributor for Kansas of late, but fellow freshman Arthur has also played a big part in the Jayhawks’ success, averaging 11.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
The Longhorns have four freshmen in their starting lineup, with player-of-the-year candidate Kevin Durant (23.7 points, 11.0 rebounds) leading the way.
And then there’s Ohio State, where Thad Matta managed to put together one of the greatest recruiting classes in recent history. Seven-foot Greg Oden has been the crown jewel thus far, averaging 14.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He’s as dominant a big man the game has seen since the days of Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor—and he’s been playing with a bum shooting hand. His freshman teammates—guard Mike Conley Jr., guard Daequan Cook, and forward David Lighty —have also made a splash in the Big 10, and the four youngsters are only getting better every time they step on the court.
On one level, the abundance of contributing freshmen in men’s Division I basketball is great for a sport that has long suffered from a diluted talent pool. The young stars have performed commendably in the college spotlight, navigating the bright lights and media scrutiny as they try to deliver championships to programs with long histories of winning.
But here’s a question:
What happens in March, when the pressure of one-and-done—to say nothing of the nation’s rapt attention—lands squarely on their shoulders?
As much fun as they are to watch, the freshmen in the class of 2006 are still just that: freshmen. They’re sloppy, undisciplined, liable at any moment to heave up a 23-footer with 25 seconds left on the shot clock.
Last week, Wisconsin was able to shut down Ohio State’s offense by forcing the ball into the hands of shooters with itchy trigger fingers. Time and time again, the Buckeyes settled for one pass and a three-pointer, leaving Oden underutilized in the paint.
The result?
Wisconsin 72, Ohio State 69.
The simple truth is that a methodical offensive scheme is often a poor fit for a kid just months removed from dominating overmatched competition at the high school level. More to the point, it takes time and practice to master the nuances of a system—to the extent that even a full season may not be enough to make new players feel entirely comfortable. So it was that Wisconsin, with their experienced squad of upperclassmen, was able to hold off a far superior Ohio State team.
By March, many of these “rookie” tendencies should be resolved, and you can expect young teams to have developed a new level of fluidity on the court in time for the postseason. But it’s funny how fluidity can fall apart when the term “Sweet 16” or “Final 4” is hung on an upcoming game. Without doubt, nerves will come into play—and it’s a safe bet that nerves will cost a few teams their tournament lives. A fan can only hope that it isn’t his 18-year-old stud who buckles under the Madness.
After solidifying his stellar freshman class, Texas coach Rick Barnes said, “This is one of the better situations in the country. I know this—there are a lot of guys who would like to be sitting in my chair.”
Scary thought huh?
It seems like only yesterday that Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national title in his freshman season. Anthony’s play in the 2003 NCAA Tournament showed coaches that raw ability can produce championships—and fat new contracts for the men who engineer them. Besides that, molding young athletes into savvy players isn’t really an option anymore, as most high school recruits won’t even look at a program unless they’re guaranteed playing time from day one.
So what else is a coach to do?
Consider this: Four of the top teams in the country—North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio State, and Texas—rely heavily on 18-year-old talent.
The Tar Heels have three freshman starters in forward Brandan Wright, guard Wayne Ellington, and guard Ty Lawson. Wright is averaging 15.6 points a game —14th best in the ACC—while Lawson is fifth in the conference with 5.2 assists per game.
Collins has been a major contributor for Kansas of late, but fellow freshman Arthur has also played a big part in the Jayhawks’ success, averaging 11.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
The Longhorns have four freshmen in their starting lineup, with player-of-the-year candidate Kevin Durant (23.7 points, 11.0 rebounds) leading the way.
And then there’s Ohio State, where Thad Matta managed to put together one of the greatest recruiting classes in recent history. Seven-foot Greg Oden has been the crown jewel thus far, averaging 14.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He’s as dominant a big man the game has seen since the days of Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor—and he’s been playing with a bum shooting hand. His freshman teammates—guard Mike Conley Jr., guard Daequan Cook, and forward David Lighty —have also made a splash in the Big 10, and the four youngsters are only getting better every time they step on the court.
On one level, the abundance of contributing freshmen in men’s Division I basketball is great for a sport that has long suffered from a diluted talent pool. The young stars have performed commendably in the college spotlight, navigating the bright lights and media scrutiny as they try to deliver championships to programs with long histories of winning.
But here’s a question:
What happens in March, when the pressure of one-and-done—to say nothing of the nation’s rapt attention—lands squarely on their shoulders?
As much fun as they are to watch, the freshmen in the class of 2006 are still just that: freshmen. They’re sloppy, undisciplined, liable at any moment to heave up a 23-footer with 25 seconds left on the shot clock.
Last week, Wisconsin was able to shut down Ohio State’s offense by forcing the ball into the hands of shooters with itchy trigger fingers. Time and time again, the Buckeyes settled for one pass and a three-pointer, leaving Oden underutilized in the paint.
The result?
Wisconsin 72, Ohio State 69.
The simple truth is that a methodical offensive scheme is often a poor fit for a kid just months removed from dominating overmatched competition at the high school level. More to the point, it takes time and practice to master the nuances of a system—to the extent that even a full season may not be enough to make new players feel entirely comfortable. So it was that Wisconsin, with their experienced squad of upperclassmen, was able to hold off a far superior Ohio State team.
By March, many of these “rookie” tendencies should be resolved, and you can expect young teams to have developed a new level of fluidity on the court in time for the postseason. But it’s funny how fluidity can fall apart when the term “Sweet 16” or “Final 4” is hung on an upcoming game. Without doubt, nerves will come into play—and it’s a safe bet that nerves will cost a few teams their tournament lives. A fan can only hope that it isn’t his 18-year-old stud who buckles under the Madness.
After solidifying his stellar freshman class, Texas coach Rick Barnes said, “This is one of the better situations in the country. I know this—there are a lot of guys who would like to be sitting in my chair.”
You have to wonder, though, if Barnes will be singing the same tune come March, when he suddenly finds his seat supported by four wobbly legs. For my money, it seems like a sturdier, more experienced piece of furniture—like the one belonging to Florida coach Billy Donovan—would be more comfortable when push really comes to shove.
Kids these days, you know?—you just can't trust 'em.
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