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Midwest: Patience pays off | | | ||
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 | Thursday, January 27 Beach, bikinis and ball all part of California scene Special to ESPN.com | |||
See, it's not the shoes. It's the sun.
It makes for better pickup games outside. It makes for warmer nights in the back yard. It makes these California-grown kids motivated to shoot jumpers on courts sitting a few steps through sand from the Pacific Ocean.
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Pac-10 USC at Oregon (Thursday) A trip to McArthur Court (where the Ducks are 5-2 this season) is rarely welcomed by the Trojans, or any conference team. But few nationally are playing with the confidence of Henry Bibby's side right now. Oregon has found recent success inside, leading the conference in shooting as it moves away from relying on its 3-point shooters. Matchups might bother Oregon here if it becomes a game of transition, but Ernie Kent's team won 13 of its first 16 by controlling tempo. Just wondering: Did emotion help USC beat Arizona without Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner and can the Trojans sustain the momentum?
Mountain West
WAC |
Hometown: Lakewood
Vitals: 6-foot-7, 210 pounds
The present: He has been somewhat of a constant in the maze that is this program's inconsistency. Kapono ranks ninth among conference players in scoring (15.3) and is shooting 60 percent in league games. It's a feel for the game that sets him apart. A shorter Larry Bird, say some. Overplay him, and Kapono back-cuts. Slide behind a screen, and he'll flair out. He is efficient. He is highly skilled. No tattoos. No earrings. Just a burning desire to take the last shot. The quote: "When he does something with a flair, it's with a purpose," said UCLA coach Steve Lavin. "It's not just to make a highlight film. I've never been around a player this young who came out of high school more prepared to play college basketball than Jason Kapono. Ever." The future: He nailed a jumper at the buzzer against Washington, but his feet were inches from the 3-point line and the Bruins lost by one. Kapono cried after the game and we're glad for it. UCLA needs this kind of passion and hunger to locate a piece of its glorious past. Kapono is already the team's best all-around player and is quickly becoming its emotional leader. His story will only get better. Casey Jacobsen, Stanford
Hometown: Glendora
Vitals: 6-6, 205
The present: He showed remarkable maturity early on, when the second-ranked Cardinal played without senior leader Mark Madsen. Jacobsen might be the team's youngest player at 18, but his is an ability to score well beyond those years. Few at this level exhibit as much composure and confidence. He is unfazed at the jump to Division I ball and proves it with shots that at times flirt with the 28-foot range. Crazy thing ... he makes a lot of them. The quote: "I'm a driven person," said Jacobsen. "I always have been, driven to succeed. I've waited my whole life for an opportunity like this. I have very high expectations of myself. The day I'm satisfied is the day I stop playing." The future: Stanford is good enough to advance deep into the NCAA Tournament and no doubt will count on Jacobsen to supply his share of points. He isn't just a shooter. He's much more. He can get to the rim and finish. His development the next month or so could have a big say on how much an impact the Cardinal makes come March. Gilbert Arenas, Arizona
Hometown: North Hollywood
Vitals: 6-3, 191
The present: The shooting guard in one of the nation's best backcourts, Arenas has teamed with fellow freshman Jason Gardner to help keep Arizona among the country's elite. His can be an erratic style, but Arenas also has the ability to score in bunches. He averages 13.5 points and is third on the team in rebounds and minutes. Problems arise when Gardner needs a rest and Arenas has to play the point for extended minutes. It's not his strength. The quote: "Gilbert is his own person, that's for sure," said Arizona coach Lute Olson. "He's outspoken at times, but when it gets down to it, he knows how to play. He has great potential if he learns how to channel all his emotions." The future: Benched a few times for small infractions like showing up to team functions late, Arenas is definitely more flashy than the likes of Kapono or Jacobsen. But on a team that is depleted by injuries and defection, Arenas needs to find consistency in his game if Arizona has any chance come NCAAs. The Wildcats have a few who might opt early for the NBA, but expect to see Arenas in Tucson for a while. Joe Shipp and Brian Wethers, Cal
Hometowns: Shipp (Los Angeles), Wethers (Murietta).
Vitals: Shipp (6-5, 215), Wethers (6-5, 205)
The present: Playing time is not a question. Cal is younger than your average Hugh Hefner wife. Each is averaging around 24 minutes for the struggling Bears and each has showed glimpses of great promise. A coachable duo, Shipp and Wethers have also made their share of first-year mistakes that coaches predict will produce better players next year. Results that came early are now harder to find against tougher conference opponents. The quote: "They have come a very long way," said Cal coach Ben Braun. "I think Brian has now figured out ways to get to the basket or to the free-throw line, excellent ways to score. It's just discipline and patience. Those are the hardest things to learn, especially for younger players. The same thing with Joe, although he has shown more of an ability early to make shots." The future: They are two of the major building blocks in a process Braun hopes will produce a conference contender within two years. Shipp and Wethers are each highly competitive kids who will see much better days (and several more wins) in their college careers. Thumbs up
Henry Bibby: We haven't confirmed this yet (spies are en route to Los Angeles), but word is the USC coach might have actually laughed at practice recently. True or not (we're betting against it), Bibby's demanding style has obviously been embraced by his current group. Some might think USC would be a top 15 team or better had the likes of Kevin Augustine, Shannon Swillis, Greg Lakey, Quincy Wilder and Danny Walker stayed in the program. Then again, maybe their departures are what pushed USC over the top. Utah State: D-E-F-E-N-S-E ... D-E-F-E-N-S-E ... D-E-F-E-N-S-E ...
Kaspars Kambala: UNLV junior center owns that Mountain West Conference player of the week award like Wayne Newton does the MGM buffet.
Thumbs downColorado State: Such a promising preseason. Such high hopes for conference play. And four games into league play, we hear the whisper of those familiar letters ... NIT. Eddie House: Someone call Ben Matlock, because the jumper has been missing for three games now. Brad Millard: More and more, Big Continent at St. Mary's is looking like a Big Bust. Michael Wright: Didn't anyone ever teach this Arizona sophomore the rules about elbows? Don't put them on the dinner table and don't use them to clock an opponent in the head (twice) away from the ball. Quote to note
"He plays the game like a small forward. You can't take away one hand because he goes both ways on the dribble. He can shoot over you. He creates, but he's being defended by a bigger guy. He understands how to play. He is tremendous."
-- Arizona coach Lute Olson on USC junior forward Brian Scalabrine.
Did you know?
Washington State, still searching for its first conference
win under first-year coach Paul Graham, will unveil a new parquet floor on Feb.
5 against Washington.
Thought for the day
If UCLA loses the rest of its games, it will not come
close to making any postseason tournament, but you can bet your last blue and gold
tank-top it will find a place in the Coaches Top 25 poll. Another week passes. Bruins
moving up, USC still not ranked. Pictures. Steve Lavin must have pictures.
Ed Graney of the San Diego Union-Tribune is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
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