Player Ratings to the Theme of European Car Brands not Available in the US
After several seasons where Kansas struggled to get a W when they went down to Stillwater to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys, KU is on a bit of a roll down there now. The Jayhawks have won four of the last five in Gallagher-Iba, so in honor of the now current “unavailablity” of a home win for OSU against KU, we’ll rate the players to things that are unavailable to you.
I’m feeling a little Euro-centric, what can I say? Being over here on the continent has led me to think about things differently and just the other day I was kinda thinking about what kind of car I might buy if I had to get some transportation. I’d probably just buy a bike or scooter, but if I had to get a car, I’d have plenty of options. I’ve always owned Volkwagens, but those are plentiful in the US, so today I’ll rate the players to cars you can’t buy in the United States (yet). Here’s the evaluating process:
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.
Memorial No Star: Named after former KU walk-on Chris Teahan and is awarded to the player(s) who didn't have enough playing time to contribute or whose performance isn't worthy of a rating for another reason.
5 Stars: Peugeot
These used to be available in the US, but they haven’t been sold there for several decades now. I think this French stalwart would be my first choice. They look sharp and have a reliable name behind it.
Offensively, there isn't much that Gradey Dick can't do. Against OSU, and in the face of the chants directed at his last name, he nailed four of nine threes, finishing with 26 points. That three in the corner to end the half was a knife in OSU's back. He also added some strong drives to the lane, had three assists, and grabbed three rebounds.
4.5 Stars: Seat
The only Spanish company on this list, and I’ve spent a great deal of time in Spain, so why not? Plus, they are owned by VW, so for me, this is a big plus.
Kevin McCullar was great in this one. He scored 15 points, all of them inside the arc or at the charity stripe, and better yet, dished out eight assists. Let's hope that ankle stabilizes before Baylor on Saturday.
4 Stars: Škoda
Ever wanted to own a car made in the Czech Republic? Well, that dream can become a reality if you purchase a Škoda.
Jalen Wilson showed why he is an All-American in this one as his tenacity was right up there with his basketball ability. He forced up a few too many shots, but a few of them fell and gave KU the momentum, including a big and-one circus shot late in the contest. Finished with 14 points and four rebounds.
It seemed like Dajuan Harris had more than two steals, didn't it? He added nine assists and five points, including that huge three that was a dagger in the closing minutes of the match.
Is Joe Yesufu the most red-hot "let's play this guy all the time, how is he so good" to ice cold "please don't give this guy another minute of action" player in the Bill Self era? He scored eight points in this one, nailing two threes. He also added three steals. Solidly in the "he should play a lot" camp after that game.
3.5 Stars: Renault
Another brand that was available in the United States until the 1980s or so, but alas, not any longer. Definitely the lesser of the French-made cars. These seem like generic Peugeots to me.
Defensively, KJ Adams couldn't hang with the bigs of OSU, but offensively, he got to the rim and made mid range jumpers. Finished with a low-key 15 points and four rebounds.
Zuby Ejiofor proved that he still has a role to play on this team. Gave KU a solid eight minutes and make a crucial save along the baseline to extend a possession. Scored two points.
3 Stars: Dacia
I’ve been seeing more and more of these. They’re not bad (they actually look pretty nice if I’m being honest), but this might be the one car you’ve never heard of on this list, so this Romanian car manufacturer is a perfect three star.
Fouling out with two points is usually a bit lower, but when Ernest Udeh wasn't fouling, he was very effective against Okie State's big guys. His two slap it away steals were particularly impressive.
2 Stars: Citroën
Another French vehicle, that also seem like generic Renaults. But they're not! They're generic Peugeots, as they are now owned by their parent group DSA.
No one landed in this spot.
1 Star: Yugo
They don’t make these anymore, but hey, what if they did? Would you be down to buy an extremely cheap car? I’m currently in Croatia, a part of the former Yugoslavia, so I’ve been expecting to see a few of these still out there, but alas, I’ve only seen one and it was parked and looked like it hadn't been moved since the first Bush administration.
No one was a one star.
Chris Teahan Memorial No Star:
Bobby Pettiford got a few minutes when Dajuan Harris went out with an ankle issue and MJ Rice played three minutes
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