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Week at a Glance

Scoring up, but so are fouls

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By Albert Lin, CNNSI.com

	• Our New Favorite Player • Checking In • Benched • Storylines • Don't Miss It • Eric Chenowith Watch

Roy Williams admitted that while he is not a nuclear physicist, even he knew that Kansas' 99-98 opening victory over UCLA was more exciting than "19-17 at the half," a reference to Michigan State's Final Four battle with Wisconsin. The increased scoring was a result, presumably, of the crackdown on physical defensive play mandated by the NCAA.

Despite the Jayhawks allowing the most points since February 1990, losing one player to a disqualification and having "four guys and two assistant coaches" with four fouls, Williams was pleased with the pace and quality of play on the floor.

"If I have to defend that kind of a game, then I'm not the problem," he said.

It seemed like teams made an inordinately high number of trips to the line at the Coaches vs. Cancer Ikon Classic. And a look at the foul totals reveals that each club was whistled for an average of 23.9 fouls over the four games, with a low of 20 and a high of 28 (in overtime). While that's not appreciably more than the 21.3 per game Kansas averaged last season, the number is significantly higher than in the Jayhawks' previous eight seasons (when the average sat in the upper teens). UCLA's average last season was 19.0, Kentucky's 16.3 and St. John's 16.1.

"I saw a couple of [close] calls early and I think as a result both teams started adjusting, players moving their feet more, which is what you emphasize anyway," UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. "I guess this year the big difference is the arm bar or handcheck, similar to what the NBA has done, is what they're going to call."

Lavin was quick to point out, though, that in the last four minutes of the game officials backed off and let the teams bang a little more. Indeed, asked if he expected to hear a whistle when St. John's Willie Shaw knocked the ball out of the hands of Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince late in their game, a turnover that led to the winning basket, Red Storm coach Mike Jarvis said no way.

As long as officials blow the whistle on both sides and don't let a cheap foul affect the outcome of a game, this point of emphasis should make for an exciting season. Talent should win out over tactics, which is what fans like to see.

Jason Kapono, 6-8, so., SF, UCLA

We sang his praises last Thursday following his performance against Kansas (22 points, eight rebounds, six assists), but after watching him light it up again Friday we just needed to reiterate: When Kapono is open, he doesn't miss. In two games he hit 11 of 16 3-pointers, and we think he is the best shooter college basketball has seen in several years. Kapono didn't finish as well around the basket as he normally does, but with his stroke the opportunity to go by people will always be there.

Joseph Forte: After struggling in a season-opening win over Winthrop, the North Carolina sophomore exploded for a career-high 38 points (6-8 three-pt. FG), 10 rebounds and six assists the next day against Tulsa.

Brendan Haywood: Perhaps our favorite whipping boy has turned the corner, but we still need to see it against quality opposition. An impressive 24 points, eight rebounds and six blocks against Tulsa, on the heels of a 10-5-5 night.

Kentucky's post players: We'll take the inconsistencies that come with this young trio given the immense talent they possess. Is there a group with more promise than Marvin Stone, Marquis Estill and Jason Parker? And just think if the Wildcats could suit up Mike Southall and the late John Stewart as well.

Mario Kinsey: The Kansas freshman, a quarterback on the Jayhawks football team, provided 26 quality minutes as the backup point guard, totalling six points, four rebounds, six assists, three steals and even a block -- against just one turnover.

Omar Cook's shot selection: The St. John's freshman had a great shooting first half to start his college career, which somehow made him think he could jack up 16 shots from behind the arc -- making just four -- in his second game.

Defense: We know it was still being played, but there were some awfully high point totals last week at Madison Square Garden. How much is officiating a factor? We'll have to wait and see.

First to fall?

There are no Top 25 matchups this week, with most programs taking an easy nonconference breather to open the season before getting into meatier intersectional tilts. Will one of the small schools have enough to shock a national power?

Family ties

In addition to the debut of John Thompson III at Princeton (see Don't Miss It) and a Friday battle of the Dean Smith coaching tree when Jeff Lebo leads Tennessee Tech into Columbia to face Eddie Fogler's South Carolina club, this week features a rare father-son coaching matchup. Nolan Richardson and Arkansas face Nolan III and Tennessee State Friday night in the first round of the Razorbacks' John Thompson Classic.

Pepperdine at Indiana, Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET

The last team that Bob Knight faced as Hoosiers coach is the first opponent for his successor, Mike Davis. The Waves have a top talent in SG Brandon Armstrong, but Indiana is much stronger top to bottom and will not want to embarrass itself under these circumstances.

Princeton at Duke, Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET

If the status quo reigned at Princeton, this would be a compelling matchup, featuring the nation's top defensive team a year ago against the top scoring one. But with a new coach and their top two players departed, the Tigers will have an almost impossible task trying to beat the Blue Devils.

Georgia State at Georgia, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Lefty Driesell's Panthers from the Trans America Athletic Conference may have more top-end talent that Jim Harrick's Bulldogs, who play in the mighty SEC. But even if the perimeter players negate each other, Georgia's size should make the difference.

Temple at Memphis, Friday, 9 p.m. ET

A pair of intriguing teams, but our eyes will be on the sidelines as much as the court as John Chaney brings his Owls to meet former nemesis John Calipari's new team. This game means the two obviously bear no ill will toward each other, but remember that Chaney once went ballistic in the middle of Calipari's postgame press conference.

Another year, another underachiever to pick on. True, we could have flayed Brendan Haywood for another 16 weeks, but after Chenowith's performance in 1999-2000 -- the 7-1, 270-pound pivot regressed from 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds as a sophomore to 8.6 and 5.6, losing his starting job in the process -- how could we resist? The senior needs to prove that last year was an anomaly; if he does that, KU's 24-10 record (11-5, fifth in Big 12) will have been one, too.

2000-01 stats: 10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.5 bpg in 18.5 minutes per game. Yes, it was a plug for the tournament, but the mention still had us rolling. In the program for last week's Coaches vs. Cancer Ikon Classic, there was a preview section listing, among other things, five player-of-the-year candidates. Atop the quintet? Our man Chenowith, who proceeded to turn the ball over nine times and foul out of both games, playing a grand total of 37 minutes. When he is on the floor he still tantalizes with flashes of skill, like when he drove through a double team and scored over a third UCLA player, but too often he plays without passion, something teammates Drew Gooden and Nick Collison have in abundance.

Come back every Monday for a new Week at a Glance.

 

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