Wednesday, November 7, 2007
After growing up in Kansas and dreaming about playing inside Allen Fieldhouse, the first possession of Tyrel Reed’s career is something he’d rather forget. With Kansas leading Pittsburg State 29-13 early in the second half, Pittsburg State’s Keith Windom drove down the right sideline on the Kansas freshman. Windom turned the corner on Reed and burned him for a layup. Kansas 29, Pittsburg State 15.
“My defense was not very good at all tonight, and they scored way too many on me,” Reed said. “That’s one thing I need to get better at. That is one thing I know with a little experience guarding all of our guards, it will get better in the future.”
But Reed showed glimpses of the game that made him a top 100 recruit out of Burlington High School in Burlington.
Reed played 15 minutes and finished with three points and four assists in his Kansas debut.
Reed also showed he has a short memory. After surrendering the layup to Windom, Reed sparked Kansas to a 9-0 run that gave the team its first 20 point lead of the night. After fellow freshman Cole Aldrich pulled down a rebound and threw an outlet pass to sophomore Mario Chalmers, Chalmers found Reed spotted up in the corner, and Reed sank his first three-pointer in a Kansas uniform. Reed returned the favor on the next possession, finding Chalmers on the wing for an open three pointer. Kansas 35, Pittsburg State 15.
Reed’s talent wasn’t a secret coming out of Burlington – Roy Williams tried to get him to North Carolina – but some people had doubts about how much Reed could contribute right away to a Kansas team stacked with talented guards.
“We have such great guards, I am just going to do what Coach Self tells me,” Reed said.
And then there were those pesky Kirk Hinrich comparisons. Whether it’s the hair, the height – both are 6’3” – or the ability to play both guard positions, Reed just can’t get away from comparisons to the former Kansas star.
“Everyone compares me to Kirk Hinrich, and that’s a great comparison to have, and I try to mold my game after him I guess you could say,” Reed said.
“Whenever my name is mentioned with my name is mentioned with Kirk Hinrich it kind of sends chills through your body, but he’s such a great player, I’m not even in his league.”
Reed played both guard positions, manning the point guard spot for a length of time in the second half, and managed four assists in 15 minutes with no turnovers. But he still has a way to go before he gets words of praise from his coach.
“I thought Tyrel played fine,” coach Bill Self said. “I’ve got Tyrel a little screw up right now because I’ve got him thinking instead of just playing.”
But for Reed, the key word is “playing,” and Reed’s finally doing in Allen Fieldhouse.
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