8 to watch: Kevin Durant
The men’s basketball tournament subregional in Spokane boasts two players, Texas’ Kevin Durant and Oregon’s Aaron Brooks, being touted as potential NCAA players of the year.
Sports Illustrated listed them among six to watch in a story in early February.
The most intriguing, perhaps, is Durant, who SI two weeks later featured in a cover story that placed him at the head of a freshman class the national publication touted as perhaps the finest in college basketball history.
Because freshmen have been denied access to the NBA, players such as Durant have made an effect on the NCAA this season. Texas, in particular, is young, starting four freshmen.
A potential No. 1 professional pick, Durant and the East Region fourth-seeded Longhorns (24-9) take the floor at 4:25 p.m. today in the Arena against 13th-seeded New Mexico State (25-8).
Durant, a willowy 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, averaged 25.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game during the season that led the Longhorns and ranked him among the nation’s top five in both categories.
For all the accolades and impressive statistics, Durant remains unfailingly modest. He said on Thursday that coming to Texas was the best decision he’s made and that playing there has kept him level-headed.
“I know I’m not ready (for the NBA) yet,” he said about the attention. “When that time comes, I’ll make the right decision. Those accolades and things are always good, but I came here to win games and that’s what I’m trying to do for my team.”
Such sincerity is genuine, said his coach, Rick Barnes. Barnes said that Durant doesn’t have an ego, and from the time he stepped on campus wanted to be treated the same as any other student.
When asked if the numbers put up by a young man (who turned 18 on Sept. 29) met or exceeded his expectations, Barnes quipped, “We thought he would be a guy that would probably score 45 a night and block 10 shots. So he hasn’t lived up to his potential in terms of what we thought.”
Seriously, he said, he didn’t know what he expected.
“We knew he was a great talent and we knew he had great passion for it,” said Barnes. “But we didn’t go into the season saying he had to score this, he had to do this.”
Despite his size, they knew Durant could shoot 3-pointers. This year he’s added a midrange game and learned to play with his back to the basket.
Texas graduated nearly all of its Elite Eight team from a year ago. With the emergence of Durant as a player of the year candidate, as well as freshmen such as point guard D.J. Augustin, the Longhorns made it back to the tournament.
“I think we’re a good team,” Durant said. “We can defend. We can rebound. We’re just worrying about the next game.”
The young man with a huge upside will help give the Longhorns a chance to continue.
By Mike Vlahovich, Staff writer