Big 12 hoops mid-week news and notes.
Beasley the Beast
There’s a good chance that the Big 12 could have the country’s top freshman for the second year in a row, if K-State hotshot Michael Beasley keeps up his Kevin Durant-like pace.
In his debut last Friday against Sacramento St., Beasley scored 32 points, snagged 24 rebounds, and had four assists and four blocked shots in a 94-63 victory.
Then, two days later, Beasley had 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 assists before fouling out in a 76-66 win.
He’s doing more than just keeping up with O.J. Mayo (32 points in his USC debut vs. Mercer) and Eric Gordon (33 points, 7-11 from three-point range in his Indiana debut vs. UT-Chattanooga).
The one thing that all three have to work on is the fouls - Beasley has nine in two games, and Mayo and Gordon both had four in their debuts.
Good Starts All Around
It’s been a nearly perfect start for the Big 12 in the early going of the hoops season.
The only conference member to have a loss is Colorado, who lost 54-47 to New Mexico in Jeff Bzdelik’s debut as coach.
Collins Out for Six Weeks
Kansas got a big blow earlier this week when sophomore guard Sherron Collins had to have surgery on a stress fracture in his left foot.
Collins was averaging 16 points in the first two games for the #4 Jayhawks, but now, he’ll have to be laid up for the next six weeks.
But, if there’s good timing for an injury, it’s now. He’ll return just in time for the start of conference play.
But, with Brandon Rush still mending from ACL surgery, where’s the scoring going to come from in the meantime?
Mario Chalmers scored 23 points in Sunday’s win over Missouri-Kansas City, and with Collins out, Chalmers might get more opportunities to score. And, there’s also Darnell Jackson, Russell Robinson, and Darrell Arthur, so…Kansas should be a-okay.
And, Collins’ absence should also give freshman Tyrel Reed a chance to play more minutes. He’s a great shooter (as shown by his 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the season opener vs. Louisiana-Monroe), so he might be able to provide a big boost for the team and hone his skills at the same time.
Tags: Big 12 Basketball, Colorado Buffaloes, Jeff Bzdelik, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Michael Beasley, Sherron Collins