Sherron Collins: Best Point Guard in the Country

What an awkward time for the University of Kansas. 

The football team is getting more press than its No. 1-rated basketball team and will likely continue to do so until a new head football coach is hired. 

Also, what little attention (if you can call it "little") that is currently being directed at Kansas basketball seems to be aimed at Xavier Henry, the Morris twins, and Cole Aldrich.

In fact, even opposing defenses have focused their attention on the Kansas number three, four, and five men on the floor and left poor little Sherron Collins to his own devices.

Now, while Kansas fans understand Collins' vital role on this championship-caliber team, I'm starting to hear musings from the rest of the Big 12 and the nation that Collins is just along for the ride.

14 points a game? A lot of guards put up that number.

Three rebounds a contest? Just the average long rebounds he chases down.

Almost two steals every outing? That's not bad.

Nearly a 4:1 assist to turnover ratio? That's to be expected of a guard with his experience.

But what is most impressive? Which of these stats garners All-American hype? 

It's the part where he's doing absolutely whatever it takes to win, even if that means doing less. 

With Collins, it's the part of him that has to pass up the decent shots, let someone else control the ball, defend the most talented of the opposing guards, and still be warm when they need him.

Right now, Collins averages less than four assists per game, but Tyshawn Taylor is currently getting most of the handles. The added work will come in handy to Kansas later on as Bill Self gains trust in the increasingly reliable sophomore guard.

Collins is averaging a respectable 14 points a game, accepting the assumed five-point drop from last season—thanks to such good surrounding talent.

I can tell you right now, too, that if Self asked Collins to shoot less, I know for a fact that he would. It's easy to do when four other guys on your team average more than nine points a game.

The best part is that Collins, despite playing almost 30 minutes per contest, barely coughs up one turnover a game. This is his best stat, demonstrating his exceptional consistency, reliability, and experience.

Why is Collins playing so well? That's easy. As far as being a major factor on a national stage, this is the end of the road for Collins.

Most draft boards have him landing safely in the second round of the 2010 Draft, and he will likely have a long career as a reliable backup in the NBA. I hope he proves me wrong, but I might as well be realistic. Collins is, at least.

No giant stats, massive performances, super highlights, or personal bests are likely to raise the point guard's draft status much. 

In fact, what NBA scouts are looking for, in terms of a reliable, long-term backup guard in the big leagues is the ability to do exactly what we've seen Collins doing. He shoots a high percentage of quality shots, he takes the biggest shots, he takes care of the ball, he plays defense, and he truly aims to do whatever it takes to win.

What will really impress the next-level big-wigs is a second national championship on Collins' resume as a result of his leadership.

A second national championship is just about the only thing Collins can add to his resume at this point, actually. As a seasoned veteran who was a role player on his first national championship squad, who has been on every end of the spectrum, being the leader of the best team in America would be the perfect ending to a storied collegiate athlete.

I know it's a cliche we've all heard before, but every great team needs the kind of guy that will do whatever it takes to win. Right now, Collins is better at that than any guard in the country.

Combine that with his astonishing talent and ability to come up huge whenever necessary, it's convincing, statistics or not, that he's still the most dangerous guy around.

There will be nay-sayers, and there should be. That's part of what makes basketball great.

However, at the end of the day, if Collins gets to cut down the nets one last time, it will be hard to argue against the senior Kansas guard as being the best in the nation.