Kansas Jayhawks Player Ratings to the Theme of Little Things
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Well, the season has ended and not in the way that most Kansas fans saw coming. In this I mean, that KU lost, in large part, because they failed to do the little things right. They missed the front end of two one and one situations. They failed to get the ball across the timeline once, resulting in a turnover and two crucial Arkansas points. They got called for a five second violation on an inbounds, and they were called for a lot of small fouls that added up to big trouble. Jalen Wilson even made a free throw he was trying to miss. The list goes on. So, today, as the season ends, we give one last player ratings post, this time to the theme of little things. As always, the criteria:
5 Stars: Out of this world performance. This is a hard to achieve rating and is only reserved for the most impressive or impressionable performances.
4.5 Stars: Very strong performance, packed the stat sheet, provided undeniable intangibles.
4 Stars: A strong performance that falls just short of the standards above.
3.5 Stars: Above average performance, perhaps stands out in one category or one aspect of the game.
3 Stars: Average performance. Also could be a very strong game in one aspect but a very poor game in another such as 15 points but seven turnovers. Could also be that the player played, did their job, but didn't do much spectacularly.
2 Stars: Below average performance, or we simply have higher expectations for the player on this particular night.
1 Star: Rare, but if a player has a stinker in all aspects.
5 Stars: Humans, in the scope of the universe
Perspective. Sometimes, it’s hard. The world is a large place, but in the grand scope of the universe, it’s not. I think that sometimes people need to take this into consideration a tad bit more often. You are not the center of the universe, no matter what you may think.
No one was a five star.
4.5 Stars: Grains of sand
Can you even imagine the insane number of grains of sand there are on Earth? No you cannot. Sand is also cool in that it comes in various sizes, shapes, and textures, all tiny.
No one was a 4.5 either.
4 Stars: Eric Musselmann’s self awareness
To be the coach of a traditionally successful Power Five university and rip off your shirt like Ronaldo and whip it over your head like a juiced up frat boy after winning a game that assures that still you have to win at least two more to achieve anything significant sure is something.
Kevin McCullar was the best player on the court for KU. He had intensity at both ends, nailed some big shots, and drove to the hole better than any other Jayhawk. It sucks that he fouled out in his last game at Kansas. He scored 13, had five rebounds, and added two blocks.
I guess KJ Adams is more important than anyone was giving him credit for because without KJ out there, Arkansas cut and cut and cut and eventually took the lead. KJ re-emerged and energized KU, but it wasn't enough. In hindsight, they should've played him about three to four minutes earlier. He had 14 points and I never would've said this at the beginning of the year, I wish he was the one taking the front end of KU's one and ones.
3.5 Stars: That pebble in your shoe
It doesn’t matter how small the pebble in your shoe is, and and it’s usually absurdly tiny, walking becomes incredibly painful. I always try to battle through it, shake my foot a few times, hoping the rock will move somewhere out from under my foot, but it never works and I always have to take the shoe off and shake it out.
Jalen Wilson somehow scored twenty in this one, but it didn't seem like it. In fact, his drive late in the game for a two was the straw that broke the camel's back as Kansas had to do too much and have too many crazy things fall in their favor. He even made a free throw when he was trying to miss. I will say this, JWill is a Jayhawk legend and I look forward to watching his ceremony when they lift his jersey to the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.
Dajuan Harris was a bit all over the place, but his driving to the rack kept KU afloat when no one else was contributing. The ankle was probably bothering him more than anyone will admit, but I'm excited to see what he has to offer up next season. He finished this one with eleven points and five assists.
3 Stars: All the Small Things by Blink 182
You either love Blink 182 or you think they’re whiny and annoying so this song gets the three star treatment.
Defenders were all over Gradey Dick all game long. His rebounding tenacity keeps him at the three star spot, and I wish him all the best in the Association. This year was fun. He finished this game with seven point and seven rebounds.
Bobby Pettiford did fine filling in for an injured Dajuan Harris at the end of the first half.
Joseph Yesufu nailed a three from close to the half way line and then wheeled off like he does that all the time. Pure Yesufu.
Norm Roberts experimented with both Zuby Ejiofor and Zach Clemence out of pure desperation in this one. Zuby was the better of the two.
2 Stars: My interest in this tournament going forward
As it happens every year Kansas loses, I immediately lose interest in this tournament. This format doesn’t really reward you for anything so I’m just going to savor that conference championship and last year’s natty and watch some soccer.
Granted, I don't think all of Ernest Udeh's fouls were actual fouls, but man, learn to set a screen without moving. These officials go for low hanging fruit and you're lowering the branch to ground level.
1 Star: Small Wonder
Somehow, the TV sitcom Small Wonder, a show about a robot girl living with real parents survived four seasons from 1985-1989. I have no idea how, as it was terrible. Then again, it wasn’t exactly the golden age of sitcoms either. I used to think ALF was quality television and recently tried to watch a rerun and it was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen in my life.
Despite the outcome, no one was a one star.
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