In the final part of my 4-part preview on the upcoming college basketball season, I look at five seniors that could create a buzz for their squads this season.
The most underrated college basketball players are often those that have been around the longest and have experienced the greatest variety of situations on the floor. The senior basketball player receives less and less attention from the national media as fabulous freshmen continue to enter the college basketball landscape and set it ablaze. Since the days of Carmelo Anthony, everybody looks for that one guy that will have the greatest combination of skill, maturity, and star power to take his team to the national championship. But this article examines some seniors that could help take their teams to the highest level in March. Two seniors I will not examine are Wisconsin’s Jordan Taylor and North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller, whom I evaluated in my Naismith Award Watch list.
Ashton Gibbs – Guard, Pittsburgh
Jamie Dixon’s Pittsburgh Panthers do not often rely on freshmen, or any underclassmen for that matter, but rather rely on their experienced seniors and juniors to lead them to the top of the Big East. Gibbs enters his senior year having averaged over 16 points per game the last two years, and it is rare to see a Pittsburgh senior (especially a guard) take a step back in his senior year. Gibbs will get a lot of looks this year, especially from beyond the arc, where he hit nearly 50% (!) a year ago. If he can carry over his hot shooting to 2012, Pitt will be in good shape in a Big East conference that has many talented yet raw guards.
Tyshawn Taylor – Guard, Kansas
Kansas is not getting the usual love from experts this year, and a big part of it is the departure of the Morris twins and oft-troubled guard Josh Selby. With all of them gone, the team’s leadership rests on the shoulders of Taylor, who is the top returning scorer and assist man from a year ago. Between him and Thomas Robinson, Kansas should contend for a Big 12 title in a very down year for the conference. Taylor has started the majority of his four years in Lawrence, but has often been overshadowed by players like Sherron Collins and NBA darling Selby. This is now Taylor’s team, and his performance will largely dictate the success of the Jayhawks.
Robbie Hummel – Forward, Purdue
The high school class of 2007 provided the Big Ten with arguably it’s strongest recruiting class in the last 20 years, and Hummel is the lone remaining player from that year. He had a phenomenal first three years with the Boilermakers, and all signs pointed to them contending for the national championship a year ago. But Hummel’s entire season was lost to knee surgery and he returns this season with a team lacking all-conference performers E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson. The offense will rely more on Hummel and his stellar shooting this season, and he has a great point guard in Lewis Jackson to help facilitate.
Kyle Kuric – Forward, Louisville
On a team with only one other senior, Kyle Kuric has the task of steadying an erratic roster while living up to big expectations. He may not have the star power of Peyton Siva or Jared Swopshire, but he is their most dependable player beyond the arc and was their top scorer overall down the stretch in 2011. A team that fell in a first round shocker to Morehead State in last season’s tournament, Louisville is often considered a raw team that runs a lot of full-court press and quick offensive sets. Kuric will get more looks this year and can slide over to the 2-guard spot, as well. He should see a ton of minutes and will really be given every chance to succeed his senior year.
Festus Ezeli – Center, Vanderbilt
I profiled Ezeli’s teammate, John Jenkins, in an earlier post, and he will be responsible for most of Vandy’s scoring down the stretch in 2012. But Festus Ezeli is the motor and main post presence. Despite already missing the first month of the season due to injury, Ezeli will be needed as soon as possible to shore up a frontcourt that lacks shotblocking and toughness without him. He is primed for a big year, with the Commodores coach Kevin Stallings already saying that Ezeli is going to be a huge part of their success. That comment can be taken several ways, but I see it as Stallings saying that Ezeli will get plenty of looks in the post. If Ezeli can take advantage of the extra opportunities, he will be just as feared as Jenkins.
