Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Michael Beasley had just played the biggest game of his life. The 6-foot-10 freshman had just led Kansas State to its first home victory against Kansas in 24 years, and now, Beasley’s mouth was full of chicken. For two hours against Kansas, Beasley looked like a grown man on the basketball court. Now, off the court, he finally looked like an 18-year-old. Beasley – who turns 19 on Saturday – could hardly contain himself. He smiled, giggled and nibbled on the chicken fingers in front of him.
“These are good,” he said to fellow freshman Bill Walker.
Just watch the player that Bill Self called “maybe the best player in the country” for a few moments off the court, and one thing is apparent: In the Big 12, youth is being served.
Freshmen are dominating across the board in the Big 12 this season, and with half of Kansas’ conference games complete, Self has taken notice.
“You can just go down the line on these guys that are stepping in and making an impact,” Self said on Monday during his weekly conference call.
It starts with Beasley. The Wildcat freshman is leading the conference at 24.9 points per game, and leading the country with 12.3 rebounds per game. Together with Walker – who is averaging 15.8 rebounds – Beasley has led K-State to their best Big 12 start since the inception of the league in 1996.
In any other year, Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin would be getting most of the headlines reserved for Beasley and Walker. Griffin is 11th in the conference in scoring at 14.3 points per game, and 4th in rebounding at 8.7 rebounds per game.
Baylor’s Scott Drew witnessed Griffin in action last week. Griffin’s Sooners beat Drew’s Bears 77-71.
“There’s a reason he projected a lottery pick whenever he comes out,” Drew said Monday during his weekly conference call. For someone as strong as he is with his athleticism, it makes it very tough to guard.”
The list goes on.
Iowa State freshman Craig Brackins scored 33 points earlier this season against Baylor. Baylor’s own freshman, LaceDarius Dunn has been a key contributor to its turnaround. Texas A&M’s 7-foot freshman, DeAndre Jordan has caused match-up nightmares for opposing coaches. And then there’s Oklahoma State’s James Anderson – who’s averaging 14.8 points per game. Texas coach Rick Barnes said he spoke with former Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton earlier this season. Barnes said that Sutton told him that he thought Anderson had a chance to be one of the best players in Oklahoma State history.
Drew said that the influx of talented youngsters has made the league stronger.
“You can go down the list to every team,” Drew said. “Most have a freshman having a major impact on their team.”
Self watched former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant light up Kansas twice last season as a freshman. Durant’s teammate, D.J. Augustin, had an good season as well. And at times last season, then freshmen Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur were the best players on a Kansas team, which advanced to the Elite Eight.
Still, Self said this year’s freshman class might top last year’s group.
“This year, I would rank right up there with last year,” Self said.
—Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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