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| This is me, and my favorite Kansas State star, Rodney McGruder. Way back in 2006. McGruuuuuuuuuuuuder! |
It’s hard to keep track of college basketball players. At
the most, they’ll be around for four years, but quite realistically, many of
the best players are only around for one, maybe two years. Quite honestly, if
you’re a hardcore fan like myself, you really appreciate the guys that are true
to their school and might not necessarily be NBA legends, or NBA players at
all. That little tweener level of basketball greatness makes college basketball
so special. And, well, it’s nice to see some top notch NBA high rollers trickle
through the tumbleweeds from time to time.
I have listed a few of my favorites to watch…
All Zerfas
2013 NCAA Tornament Team
In no particular order or makeup…
F Victor
Oladipo, 6’5 Jr., Indiana
Cody Zellar scores more points. Christian Watford hits more
threes. Yogi Ferrell was more recruited. Jordan Hulls is more…white. Oladipo is
literally the engine that drives this Indiana regeneration. He never stops, and
very rarely has an off game. I think of him as a Red Bull. He plays, wearing
red, like a bull would be if it were wearing red. Somebody twisted his
testicles and he runs and bucks around the court causing mayhem—steals, blocks,
dunks in a hugely mobile frame. If he is coming through the lane, you’re not a
pansy if you get the “F” out of the way. Toro!
C Patric Young, 6’9 Sr., Florida
Florida has one of the most talented teams in the nation.
They run a barrage of do-everything wings that slash, hit threes, play defense
and dominate the backcourts. They have a true “step out 4” in Erik Murphy who
can post up, but is most effective stepping behind the arc and knocking down
threes. But, 10.5 ppg come from the tenacious play of Young down low. He’s the
grit and guts of a pretty loaded Florida team. He plays the tough defense,
rebounds and creates second opportunities for himself and the rest of the
offense. I think he’s the key reason Florida ranks in the Top 5 in offense AND
defensive efficiency. They are the only team that can say that. Someone has to
do the dirty work, and nobody is better at it than Young. He’s so much more
than a ginder, but, boy, does he grind.
F Doug
McDermott, 6’8 Jr., Creighton
McDermott is a do-it-all Power Forward, coaches son,
possible Player of the Year, and a hell of a model (All) American (from what I
can tell.) It just seems that way as he often leaves the court arm-in-arm with
his dad. Creighton leads the league in field goal shooting, netting over 50% of
their shots, and it all starts, and often ends in the hands of Dougy Fresh. He
shoots almost 50% three’s and 56% overall, which is unreal, considering
everybody knows who’s getting the ball. I have Creighton slated to play three
games this tournament, upsetting Duke and getting a shot at Michigan State. He
could very easily be the face of the tournament. A face you should know. If not
for you, for your daughter.
G Gary
Harris, 6’4 Fr., Michigan State
Tom Izzo rarely depends on Freshman. On the championship
team in 2000, Jason Richardson was the 8th man, I kid you not. This
year, Harris almost led the Spartans in scoring, but without a doubt he led the
Spartans in the most undocumented, yet crucial category…consistency. With his
tall frame, and superior mental toughness, he’s able to shoot over defenders in
a way that reminds me of Shawn Respert. It seems no amount of defense bothers
his shot, but if you make him drive, he’ll make you pay there to with an array
of ways to beat you around the basket. He’s as versatile as they come, and if
Spartan fans expect to keep Izzo’s legacy in March, it’ll be on the back and
shoulders of Harris. Who, by the way, has had nagging back and shoulder
problems all year. This isn’t a figurative testament, more of a warrior testament,
the guy gives it ALL for his school, and fans should appreciate that notion.
He’s done everything one could ask for and much, much more. And, the tally
continues…
G Shane
Larkin, 5’11 So., Miami
Son of Hall of Fame Cincinnati Red Barry Larkin, Shane finds
himself, as a sophomore, leading one of the most experienced teams in the
country to their first legitimate March Madness run since I can remember.
Everyone around him is talented in their own role player way, but he’s the
pilot, circling and swaying through the lane, knocking down huge, often long
three’s, and more or less carrying the team as far as he can. He has a pretty Tony
Parker style floater, but what really impresses me is the fearless nature he
hits the lane with. A brick wall wouldn’t slow him down, and with the
efficiency he approaches the game with, he’s not going to be building one any
time soon.
G David
Stockton, 5’11 Jr., Gonzaga
While we’re on the lineage thing, I have to mention my
favorite one to follow. He only plays 18 minutes a game and scores less than
four points per contest, but I just keep waiting for him to break out. He can
shoot, but he serves as mostly a distributer and backup to Kevin Pangos and
Gary Bell, Jr.. It’s just a wonderful story, with his dad, John, being what put
Gonzaga on the map. It would be something if Gonzaga could make some noise
again, under the new Stockton regime. I’d say this year is their best chance as
they earned their first ever No. 1 seed.
F Otto Porter Jr., 6’8 So., Georgetown
I’ve always been a sucker for the do it all, kind of
physical freak. Porter is your guy, perhaps the most complete player in the
country, he does it all for G’Town in a serious way, that reminds me of Jeff
Green (not Curb Your Enthusiasm). He’s the main part of a suffocating
Georgetown defense that has no shortage of size and length to stifle one right
up.
F Rodney
McGruder, 6’4 Sr., Kansas State
He probably belongs in the “All-Name” team (see below), for
being close to Will Forte’s character that’s SO FUN to say over and over again
at the bar. Seriously, your friends will love you if you shout this. All the
time. Obnoxiously. Its bell curve of humor is directly parallel to that of the
movie. Ha. Anyway, he’s also a testament to the way kids can improve in their
time in college. As a freshman, he was a defensive sub, playing small chunks of
the game, scoring very little. For the last two years, he’s been the face of a
program, knocking down three’s, scoring 15 points a game, on the cusp of making
some serious noise. His midrange game reminds you of a more fluid Richard
Hamilton, perhaps he can channel that kind of late game heroics to add to his
legacy. They have a new coach, and they’re right in the mix again, thankfully,
for a team guy like…McGruuuuuuuuuuder!!!
G Briante
Weber, 6’3 Jr., VCU
Shaka Smart is like the indie-rock Tom Izzo. He’s built a
nice little program at Virginia Commonwealth University, with a niche that
reaps big rewards in March. His trademark full court “reeking havoc” defense pressurizes
opposing teams souls into the court, shellacs over them and then polishes the
remains with a fluffy sheepskin mitt, 10 college athletes at a time. Seriously,
it’s a psychotic Red Bull experiment, gone completely mad. March Mad, my
friends. The intensity is contagious. Weber was in the Top 10 in the nation in
steals (almost three a game!), which is MAD, considering he comes off the bench
and only plays 20 minutes a game. He’s one of the main reasons I like VCU to
get back to the Final Four this year, as a No. 5 seed.
Quick
Hitters
G Aaron
Craft, Ohio State – Like
releasing a dog off a chain and he’s chasing YOU. Hounds opposing teams into
flustered mistakes. Recently developed a shooting stroke, though, two of this
three 20 point games this year were against Michigan State. It’s so helpful to
me that he didn’t have it in the Michigan games. So, I kind of hate him and his
rosy cheeks.
G Seth
Curry, Duke – Another lineage play. His father was a great NBA
shooter Dell Curry. His brother, Stephen, was a March Madness maven a few years
ago with Davidson and now with Golden State remains one of the NBA’s premiere
budding stars. Seth’s game is similar and fun to watch. He loves to shoot, and
shoot it well.
G Will
Cherry, Montana – Reminds me a great deal of Chris Paul. Not a
great shooter, but is feisty on defense and can hurt you a number of ways.
Mainly running through the lane or creating possessions with pressure D. Montana
is one of the nations best three-point shooting teams as well as one of the
best at getting to the foul line. That drive and dish mentality starts with
Cherry.
G Mark
Lyons, Arizona – Transfer from Xavier that loves to shoot. Like a
kid figuring out the buttons in Double
Dribble. With Mark Lyons, the “B” button is clearly broken. He’s the kind
of guy that can make a name for himself under the Madness lights, for his
ability sling without regard for civilization. He’s in the parking lot right
now, open.
G Korie
Lucious, Iowa State – He stirred up some chemistry issues at Michigan
State and bolted town (well, was probably shipped away). I could hate him, but
in my entire life of watching NCAA basketball as a Michigan State fan, I have
one buzzer beating memory (in our favor), and it was that Maryland game. Oh,
that was a great day, and for that, I will always be a Lucious fan. I’d love to
see him have a wonderful tournament.
G Nate
Wolters, South Dakota – Has a chance to send Michigan packing a
second year in a row. What he lacks in athletic prowess, he makes up for with
intelligence, spacing, charm and just a simple ability to make it happen. He
gives the Jackrabbits a chance against a fairly dynamic Michigan team.
The
All-Name Team
G Spencer
Dinwiddie, Colorado – Sounds like suspenders, glasses and a
protractor. He’ll cost you 20 points a game and a possible upset or two.
F Grandy
Glaze, St. Louis – The extra bit of juice Yankee Outfielder
Curtis Granderson puts on his swing.
F Jordair
Jett, St. Louis – A name that needs no pontification.
G Avery
Dingman, Creighton – More like dingbat. TWO POINTS, DING!
G Travis
Trice, Michigan State – Real name, no gimmicks. Not from Detroit.
F Shabazz
Muhummad, UCLA – My favorite boardwalk magician. He’ll make the
Pacific Ocean disappear. Sometimes, that’s what it looks like he’s shooting
basketballs into.
C Moses
Ayegba, G’Town – Quick, what do G’Town fans shout when he turns the
ball over?
F Kareem
Jamar, Montana – So close.
G Will
Cherry, Montana – What will he do when the other team has the ball?
Tie his shoe? Fake a hammy injury? Lay low?
G Marcus
Smart, Oklahoma State – Mark is…intelligent. Mark is…sharp. Mark
is…quick. What is Mark again? He IS one of the premiere freshman in college basketball.
C Phillip
Jurick, Oklahoma State – Sounds like your typical run of the mill
bastard!
C Cheikh
Mbodj, Cincinnati – Can I buy an apostrophe, Alex?
F Titus
Rubles, Cincinnati – Building a house…of...ummm….BRICKS!?
G Cashmere
Wright, Cincinnati – What’s the fabric of your life?
G Ge’Lawn
Guyn, Cincinnati – His family moves next door in the sequel to
Gran Torino.
F Arsalan
Kazemi, Oregon – He takes the ball fearlessly to the rack with no
intention of scoring.
C Przemek
Karnowski, Gonzaga – John Stockton’s personal 7-foot butcher.
G Malcom
Armstead, Wichita State – Bobby Knight’s favorite player.
G Tekele
Cotton, Wichita State – Sounds like a high flyer. It’s because his
clothes are so light.
C Rakeem
Christmas, Syracuse – Apparently the town WAS that way…
G Vander
Blue, Marquette – Sounds like a fake Wisconsin blues legend.
G Achraf
Yacoubou, Villanova – Ow. Now. Brown. Yacoubou.
C
Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova – Say that name with a frown, and I’ll give
you $20.
G Je’lon
Hornbeak, Oklahoma – His family breeds narwhals and pelicans together.
