THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015
PAGE 7
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THE DAILY DEBATE
Face of the Streak: Jeff Withey or Wayne Simien?
Evan Riggs
@EvanRiggs15
WAYNE SIMIEN
The Kansas men's basketball team has had a lot of good post players in the Bill Self era. However, Wayne Simien, the first big man Self had, was his best one and should advance to the Final Four.
"Wayne Simien is the best college basketball player I've ever coached," Self said at the annual Kansas basketball awards banquet earlier this month.
Despite an injury-filled career, Simien still managed to put up big numbers offensively and on the glass. He finished his Kansas career ranked No. 12 in scoring (1,593 points), No. 7 in rebounds (884) and No. 4 in double-doubles (38).
In Simien's two seasons under Self, he averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and one assist per game. In Self's first season, Kansas did not win the Big 12 championship, but that can be attributed to a group of upperclassmen adjusting to a new coach.
Simien had one of the best seasons ever for a Kansas
Simien
post his senior year. He averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game.His points and rebounds ranked first in the Big 12,as did his total rebounds (287).He did all of this while shooting 55 percent from the floor, second in the Big 12.
"Wayne's senior year was probably the best year an individual has had since we've been here," Self said in a press release in 2010.
Naturally, with the fantastic numbers Simien posted during his senior season, many awards followed: Consensus first team All-American,All-Big 12 First team,Big 12 Player of the Year,five-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year
finalist and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner his final year, which recognized him as the nation's top senior basketball player.
The All-American forward from Leavenworth was difficult to stop offensively because of his versatility. He scored in as many ways as you could expect from a post player, which resulted in him shooting 57 percent for his career, sixth-best in Big 12 history. He could out-muscle guys down low, hit a mid-range jump shot and had a great post game.
Simien shot very well from the free-throw line, which, for a big man attempting eight free-throws a game, is incredibly impressive. He was a career 78 percent free throw shooter. In his final two seasons, he shot 81 percent, fourth- and fifth-best in the Big 12 in those seasons.
Statistically, no big man in the Self-era stacks up to what Simien did. If Self says that Simien is the best college basketball player he's ever coached, it seems impossible for him not to advance to the Final Four of this bracket.
Edited by Victoria Kirk
Amie Just
@Amie Just
JEFF WITHEY
Jeff Withey kept the bench warm for Cole Aldrich and the Morris twins during the beginning of his collegiate career at Kansas. The seven-footer averaged just over six minutes per game during the 2010-11 season. He started one game that season, when coach Bill Self was trying to teach the Morrises a lesson. But then, the twins declared for the NBA.
Cue #WitheyBlockParty.
11/11/11 was a day to remember for Withey. It was the best game of his college career up until that point. He scored at least 10 points for the first time at Kansas and set a new personal best in blocks with four. This was only the beginning.
Withey broke out during the 2011-12 season. He started each contest. He notched more blocks than points on five occasions, and he registered six double-doubles. He also paced the Big 12 in blocks, recording 140.
He led the Big 12 in blocks that season with 146, more than doubling Kansas State's Jordan Henriquez (64) who was second in the conference.
His senior season, he
exploded out of his shell even more. On Nov. 26, 2012, Withey recorded the second triple-double in Kansas basketball history. Withey added 10 more double-doubles to his resume, and scored a tying career-high 25 points against St. Louis. Withey was also perfect from behind the arc as well, making his only three-point attempt on Senior Night.
Withey
By the time Withey's career at Kansas was over, he had rewritten the entire record book. He broke every single record (that he could), relating to blocks.
Withey's 311 career blocks blew Greg Ostertag, Aldrich and Nick Collison out of the water. Most blocked shots during conference play during his career? Withey set that record after outblocking Collison by one.
Most blocked shots in a season? Withey holds the No. 1 spot, with 146 from his senior season. Withey also holds the No. 2 spot, with 140 from his junior season. He has the one and two spots for highest blocked shot average per season, as well as the most blocked shots during conference play per season.
Withey recorded 12 blocked shots in a game to set the record for most blocked shots in a game, and also had seven of the top eight performances in that category.
Most blocks by a senior? Jeff Withey. Most blocks by a junior? Jeff Withey. Most blocked shots in a conference game? Jeff Withey. Most blocked shots in a half? Jeff Withey. Withey's 11 school records are the most by an individual. Yes. Withey has even more records than Wilt Chamberlain or Danny Manning.
Edited by Victoria Kirk
Former Jayhawks sparking Wizards' postseason success
COMMENTARY
Ben Felderstein
@Ben_Felderstein
Former Jayhawks Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden have been playing valuable minutes for the Washington Wizards in the playoffs this season. Both players are veterans of the league and the majority of their playing days are behind them.
Pierce is a future NBA Hall of Famer while Gooden spent most of his career as a role player. The Wizards are coming off of a four-game sweep against the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Pierce has been a contributing factor for the Wizards both on and off the court. He was recently quoted challenging teammates Bradley Beal and John Wall to take their games to the next level. The two young stars look to Pierce as a leader
and a role model. Pierce's words seemed effective as the team went on to sweep the series.
"I talk to them a lot about mental preparation and consistency," Pierce said. "I keep telling Wall and Beal, 'You've got to make up your mind. Do you want to be good, or do you want to be great? Because if you want to be great, you gotta do it every single night, not just when you feel like it."
Averaging 28.5 minutes per game during the series, Pierce posted double-digit scoring numbers in every game while averaging 15.5 points per contest in the first round.
Coming off the bench. Gooden played 20.5 minutes and posted 9 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest as well.
Pierce hasn't won an NBA title since the Celtics took home the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2008. Pierce was a focal point of the Celtic's big three in 2008
and one of their go-to scorers during the season.
Pierce has been forced to accept a smaller role this season for the Wizards. He must act as a mentor to the younger players.
"The Truth," as Pierce is often referred to, still has one of the best pump fakes and step-back moves in the NBA, which makes him a valuable asset to any team looking to make the playoffs.
Pierce and Gooden are valuable assets to the Washington Wizards' playoff run. With the injury to Kevin Love and the struggles of the Chicago Bulls, the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it has been all season. If Wall and Beal continue to listen to Pierce, the Wizards may be able to make a name for themselves this postseason.
Edited by Vicky Diaz Camacho
Washington Wizards' Paul Pierce, center, is congratulated after their 93-86 overtime win against the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs on April 18 in Toronto. Both Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden are former Jayhawks who play for Washington, and are key players for the Wizards coming in the postseason.
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