kansan.com
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Volume 126 Issue 47
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COMMENTARY Wiggins isn't only NCAA star
Andrew Wiggins has experienced some backlash the last month from writers and fans across the country who built up his legend to a point where any game under 50 points was a disappointment and a reason he shouldn't be taken with the first pick in next summer's NBA draft (I'm looking at you, Jeff Goodman at ESPN).
He had a good game in his collegiate opener (16 points, three rebounds) but most of the talk remained for the other two freshmen high-lighting Tuesday's Champions Classic—Duke's Jabari Parker and Kentucky's Julius Randle.
Randle didn't disappoint,
finishing with 27 points and
13 rebounds.
Parker was fantastic as well, also finishing with 27 points and nine rebounds.
Wiggins struggled with foul problems in the first half and played only 25 minutes on the night. Those 25 minutes though, were about as efficient as you can ask for: 22 points, 9-15 from the field, eight rebounds, and only one turnover. Oh, and when he decided to guard Jabari Parker in the second half, he outscored him 16-8.
And unlike Randle and Parker, it came in a winning effort.
While Randle dominated the ball for Kentucky, while committing eight turnovers, and Parker took eight more shots than any other Duke teammate. Kansas played even with Duke as Wiggins sat out with those early fouls. When he played, though, fans saw glimpses of a trio that could surpass any other group in the country by March: Wiggins, Wayne Selden and Perry Ellis. The three underclassmen took 38 of the Jayhawks' 57 shots against Duke, scoring 61 of the team's 94 points. Ellis shot nearly 70 percent from the field and led the team with 24 points, while Selden played 38 minutes with 15 points.
And that's not counting young players like Joel Embiid, Brannen Greene and Frank Mason (who else was shocked by Mason's 15-point performance against Duke?), who have shown early flashes of brilliance.
The Jayhawks are deep is the point. And while Wiggins is the most talented player Bill Self has ever coached and a future NBA All-Star, he won't have to shoulder the load every night for this team to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Luckily for fans, though, he will most nights. And it will be fun to watch.
Edited by Hannah Barling
OVERLOOKED TALENT
PAGE 7B
Underrated running back James Sims reflects on four years in Kansas program
CAREER HIGH
Junior Asia Boyd leads Jayhawks to a victory against SIU-Edwardsville Cougars
PAGE 7B
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