Player Ratings to the Theme of Turnarounds
Well, that was quite the adjustment made at the half. Whatever Bill Self said, man, it worked. And to Scott Drew, maybe complaining about the refs at the half of a national TV game where you’d already equaled your season average for made three pointers wasn’t such a good idea because if he brought that attitude into the locker room, I can understand why Baylor came out deflated in the second half.
Either way, it was a completely different game in the second 20 minutes, and in honor of that, today we rate the players to some classic turnarounds. Here are 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.
Memorial No Star: Named after former KU 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: Kansas over North Carolina for the 2022 National Championship
I have to start out with a modern classic and a beloved favorite in these parts. KU erased a 15-point halftime deficit in practically no time on their way to their fourth NCAA title. As you’re well aware, it was the largest halftime deficit ever overcome to win the title.
After such a slow first half, no one gets a five star.
4.5 Stars: The turnaround jumper
A lost art really. But man, that classic pivot and turn and shoot was mimicked at playgrounds by kids all over America. Bonus points for adding your own countdown clock. Double bonus points for redoing the clock every time until you finally made it.
Jalen Wilson had nine points at the interval, but five of those were free throws and he’d missed an uncharacteristic amount of shots, especially from close range. That changed in the second where Jalen scored 12 and grabbed eight boards on his way to a nice 21-point, 13-rebound game.
Dajuan Harris came out of the half possessed. He scored 14 points, nailed both of his threes, and played superb defense. He added nine assists in the game as well.
KJ Adams was good in this one. Jay Bilas used to the term slithery to describe Wilson, but I’d use it for Adams in the way he gets to the rim. Seventeen points, four rebounds, and three assists for KJ who got to play in front of his mother.
4 Stars: Super Bowl LIV
A personal favorite. The score was San Francisco 20, Kansas City 10 after three quarters. Then Patrick Mahomes took over and KC won its second ever Super Bowl 31-20. Quite the fourth-quarter turnaround.
The stats won’t show it and maybe they rarely will with Bobby Pettiford, but he had a great night. When he is under control and composed, it usually goes pretty well for KU. Also nailed a rare three late in the second half.
3.5 Stars: Turnstiles
Is it just me or is it completely satisfying to go through an old-school turnstile? I like the ones in the fences at playgrounds and ball fields, too, but none are quite as good as the ones you push with your hip and they click as you pass. So many places are eliminating the turnstile and that is a shame. I’m pro turnstile and I’m not changing.
Gradey Dick missed too many shots to be a high-star man on this occasion, but both threes he hit were huge and that hustle play where he stole back a ball to give KU another possession was one of those plays that you won’t find in the stat sheet but made a huge difference in the game. He finished with 16 points.
Ernest Udeh dunks are great. And he continues to give KU the minutes that they need. He’s far from a finished product, but he’s learning. Finished the game with five points.
3 Stars: Total Eclipse of the Heart
You either love this song or you’ve forgotten that it exists making it the perfect middle ground, the perfect three star. The “turn around” part in the middle is always sung, at least in my mind with and emotional wrought voice. Bonnie Tyler sings this hit and there’s no way I could’ve told you that before looking it up.
Kevin McCullar had nine points and eight assists and even nailed a corner three, but he’s getting pegged down because of his four fouls. If this game were closer, not having Kevin for large stretches could’ve been very costly.
2 Stars: I’ll turn this car around right this instant!
Ah, the classic parent road trip threat. It absolutely sucked to hear this one when you were on your way to that exotic vacation in…St. Louis. Anyway, with all the devices and entertainment options available to kids in cars, do parents even have to make this empty threat anymore?
No one was a two.
1 Star: The turnover
Be it basketball, football, soccer, hockey, or any other sport that features a turnover, you just hate to see your team commit them. Too many turnovers is not a recipe for a good turn around and therefore, it is the one star today.
No one was a one.
Chris Teahan Memorial No Star:
Joe Yesufu played sparingly in the first half
