Player Ratings to Theme of Spanish Tapas
Since I’m over here in Spain at the moment, what better way to rate the players’ performances from the first game than to compare them to some of the foods I’ve been eating down here in Seville. And since Spain is a very regional country, you’re going to see traditional tapas from Andalucía, the southernmost region where we are currently living.
Just in case you're new to these player ratings (or just need a refresher on how they work or forgot from last season), here's how the evaluation process happens. First, I choose a subject and rank things according to my preferences. Your preferences will no doubt vary, but that's part of the fun. Then I assign a player to each star rating based on performance, but please note that not all games and not all ratings are equal. It's not completely stats based, but of course stats play a large role in how a player stacks up to others in a particular game.
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 a former KU walk-on or obscure player 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: Jamón Ibérico
The undisputed champion of Spanish food, the king, el rey, is the jamón ibérico. Every bar has a ham leg behind the counter and the person behind the bar hand slices the meat with a razor sharp knife in thin slices. It’s hammy, nutty, oily heaven. If you buy in bulk at the market, it can cost you up to 90 Euros per kilo.
Gradey Dick. Man, what a start to a Kansas career. 23 points on nine of 16 shooting including four of six from long range. And that dunk? Tom Chambers-esque indeed. I'm excited about Dick.
4.5 Stars: Cazón en Adobo
If you love fried fish, you’ll love cazón en adobo. It’s chunks of whitefish (dogfish shark to be precise) marinated overnight in a mix of garlic, cumin, oregano and more and then deep fried and served piping hot. It’s a flavor explosion.
Jalen Wilson had a nice night as well, fueled by a great first half. A double-double to start the season (19 and 11) is a fantastic way to get the Denton, TX junior off to a flying start. He even added seven assists.
Dajuan Harris had an exceptional game as well. The junior did all you can ask from your point guard and he continued to be excellent defensively. Ended with 11 points and eight assists.
4 Stars: Carrillada
Pork cheek. This is one of the most tender muscles in the entire animal because of its constant use and the Spanish make it even more tender by slow cooking it for hours before serving it on a bed of fried potatoes. Delicioso.
A great debut from Kevin McCullar. He doesn't exactly fill up the box score, but an overall impressive start to his Kansas career.
KJ Adams was an offensive rebounding machine, grabbing a total of eight (seven in the first half) and that energy that he brings will be a key to the season for Kansas.
Bobby Pettiford came in played alongside Harris and also gave Dajuan some much needed rest. The result was Bobby's best game as a Jayhawk. Finished with a career high 13.
3.5 Stars: Espinacas con Garbanzos
I had to throw a vegetarian tapa on here and there are none better than the humble spinach and garbanzos. Stewed all day with a mix of spices, this stuff is awesome, especially with a slice of bread or breadsticks to accompany it.
Ernest Udeh. Once this guy gets comfortable with the system, he could be a real force. Love the athleticism that we saw in game one.
3 Stars: Calamari Frito
You can’t go wrong with calamari, they’re delicious, but wherever you can get them, you can also get chocos which are other chunks from the squid or calimaritos which are whole baby squids. Both are better.
A bunch of players with minimal time go here. They didn't do anything wrong per se, but just didn't have enough time to shine. Zach Clemence and Zuby Ejiofor grabbed a few late boards, Kyle Cuffe hustled but missed some free throws, and Michael Jankovich made a basket.
2 Stars: Patatas Bravas
I put this Spanish standard here because you can get bad bravas at many places. Not many people try very hard. They simply fry up some potatoes and squirt a bunch of aoili and hot sauce on there. It’s fine, but when you have really good bravas (like the one pictured), you know you’ve been duped by the imposters.
Joseph Yesufu looked like he was trying too hard. Maybe with the amount of depth, he thinks he has to. When he calms down, he'll be better and his rating will improve.
1 Star: Ensaladilla Ruso
This is a dish I never get because it looks like a pile of slop. It’s essentially a cold salad of potatoes (I guess) some veggies and some tuna. No thanks. There’s so many more things to order and I’ll never order this.
No one was as bad as this "food."
Conner Teahan Memorial No Star:
This category could become permanently named for the red headed, mulleted wonder. But today, no one fits the bill.
