I have a hunch in this year's NCAA tournament.
His name is Michael Beasley.
Actually, he's more than a hunch. He's the Big 12 Player of the Year and the likely No. 1 overall pick in this year's NBA draft.
Beasley was third in the nation in scoring with 26.5 points per game and led the nation with 12.5 rebounds per game. He's a once-in-a-decade freak of nature at 6"10, 235 lbs., a physical power forward who can also step back and make 39 percent of his three-pointers, tops on the team.
Beasley isn't the only good player on the Wildcats. Bill Walker averaged 15.8 PPG and 6.4 RPG to complement Beasley nicely.
A note of interest: I picked Texas to make some noise in the tournament simply because of a freshman, and look what they did: They lost to USC.
Crap. K-State plays USC in the first round.
Still, there's just something about Beasley that makes me think he'll play extremely well in the tournament.
Yes, Frank Martin is an inexperienced and all-around poor head coach. And yes, K-State has struggled since beating Kansas January 30th, going 5-7 in their final 12 games.
That stretch included losses to bottom-half Big 12 teams like Mizzou (which, ironically, was the one time I've seen K-State in person this year), Texas Tech, and Nebraska.
The Wildcats were also unable to pull off victories against Baylor, Texas, Kansas, and Texas A&M in that stretch. They fell from being a top-25 team to an 11-seed in the tournament.
So why am I picking K-State to upend USC and Wisconsin?
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I haven't followed my gut in the last couple of NCAA Tournaments, and it's landed me at the bottom of the pools I've been in—while the people who haven't watched a college basketball game all year get all the glory.
So, I'm taking what my gut tells me. And my gut tells me Kansas State.
Here's hoping Michael Beasley doesn't forget his power towel.
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6 months ago
I can understand that you picked them because you should always follow your instinct, but I can't see a team that's been losing lately to do much of anything. Just remember that USC has a little freshman superstar too, just not as good as Mr. Beasley. I can sort of see them beating USC, but not against Wisconsin.
6 months ago
USC has OJ Mayo, Davon Jefferson, and Taj Gibson
Thats too much shit for Kansas State to deal with
Plus, Tim Floyd vs Frank Martin...
Yeah, USC will get em, but it will be a sweet game
from 6 months ago
I agree, minus the expletive.
USC-Kansas State will be the game to watch in the opening round. I can't wait.
6 months ago
I love Michael Beasley and I think he is a Carmelo Anthony/Chris Bosh combination that is going to completely tear up the league next year. However Kansas State simply does not match up well against USC at all. Tim Floyd runs a lot of gimmicky defenses that really only get burned when teams shoot the three well against them, which KSU is extremely inconsistent in doing. I think you'll see Beasley surrounded by 3 to 4 guys every time he touches the ball. That's not to say he won't still put up 30/15, but the Trojans have too much firepower for the two-man team that is Kansas State.
6 months ago
"He's a once-in-a-decade freak of nature ".
I'll just start naming some names and we'll see where that gets us: Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Lebron James, Vince Carter, Josh Smith, just to name a few. Maybe you are starting your decade in 2007.
And i would have to disagree with your gut.
from 6 months ago
By "freak of nature" I just meant "big man who can shoot the three." There are very few of those players in the NBA–the only two that come to mind off the top of my head are Dirk and Garnett.
from 6 months ago
Wait a minute Bailey. Vince Carter and Josh Smith a freak of nature? Freak of Nature is used to describe a immensely sized basketball player 6-10 and up. I'll give you Lebron James because he's a built like a WR, which he played in High School. People only hyped up Vince Carter as a freak because they were blinded by his dunking ability. Granted he was a alright scorer in his younger time, but never great, not even Top 5 in the league at that time. What happens Carter is no longer youthful and able to throw down those insane dunks? This year and last year that's what happens. Sure Carter has been able to score 20+ points a game but in crunch time all New Jersey fans hold their breath because he is not a go to olayer when a team needs a basket. Exactly why New Jersey was attempting to deal Carter at the deadline, and second guessing and kicking themselves for signing Vince to the $60 million deal in the offseason. Josh Smith is one of the best defenders in the game today, but he turns the ball over way too much, isn't even his team's leading scorer, or their best player. Smith and Carter are versatile not freaks of nature. Good article JJ.
from 6 months ago
JJ I'm with you about Beasley being a freak of nature, but not because of his outside shooting ability. Because of his athleticism and his basketball IQ. He is a tremendous rebounder and finisher around the rim with both hands. I've seen him outsmart his opponent hundreds of times this year to get a rebound or to get an easy basket.
He has a nice jumpshot, but that is not what makes him special. Its the combination of pure talent and brains. I have never seen a college freshman so far advanced in both areas and that includes Durant and Melo.
Plus big men who can shoot the three include Memo Okur, Rasheed Wallace, Troy Murphy and Andrea Bargnani. Garnett hasn't hit a three all season, and that really isn't part of his game. All of those guys are also quite a bit bigger then Beasley. Beasley's body type is more like a slightly more bulky Antawn Jamison.
6 months ago
Beasley is a Beast, no doubt about that, but it takes a team to take down teams like USC and Wisconsin. I'll give you credit for putting it out there and going with your gut, but i have to go with my gut and disagree. Maybe USC, but not Wisconsin. The whole team isn't good enough as a whole for that to happen.
You did get one thing right in my opinion though, Beasley will be the No.1 overall pick next season.
6 months ago
Problem is, Beasley is going up against a team that can somewhat match up with him. Gibson can stay with him inside and Davon Jefferson can get out with him on the perimeter. Who on Kansas State can defend Mayo though? This should be a fun game watching a couple lottery picks, but I'm going with SC here.
6 months ago
I can see a possible win over USC, but they will need more than Beasley to get past Wisconsin. Then again, what do any of us know? K-State could very well be a bracket buster this year.
6 months ago
There really is no favorite in this game. As I read somewhere else, this game could be decided by a coin toss...
Nice article, JJ.
6 months ago
This is who I picked in my bracket to win it all. Carmello Anthony and Syracuse anyone? Michael Beasley and Bill Walker are a better 1-2 than 'Cuse had in 2002. And this team reminds me of them, the team I picked in 2002 to win it all.
6 months ago
Only thing is, Beasley and Walker are Kansas State...there's no one else. Beasley and Walker almost have to put up 50-60 a night in the tourney to win games.
Even so it's going to take me a while to decide between USC and Kansas State. I'm picking whoever wins between them to beat Wisconsin because I'm still upset about UNLV beating the Badgers last year and destroying my bracket
6 months ago
does not improve the players around him.
6 months ago
wait, garnett can shoot threes? does he know?
6 months ago
wait, garnett can shoot threes? does he know?
6 months ago
Sweet! One win away from a free t-shirt!
(Being in college, I'm obliged to love free shirts.)
6 months ago
Good call JJ. That was an interesting game with Beasley getting in to foul trouble early. I knew KState was going to end up winning when they had a 10 point first half lead before Beasley even started his game. No matter what you do to him he's going to get his 20-30 points and 10-15 rebounds.
Walker won the game for them in the first half and Beasley just finished it off.
I think USC didn't let OJ Mayo run the point enough. Hackett has proven time and time again he is not a good decision maker, and Mayo is the best passer on that team. Every time the offense ran through him something good happened. The USC offense was just ugly when it didn't involve OJ.
Taj Gibson having to sit much of the second half didn't help either.
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