Long Arm of the Law

Player of the Week

The Memphis-transfer has put on a clinic during his fresh start with Kansas.  Redshirt junior Dedric Lawson has put up 20 or more points in four straight contests for the Jayhawks, which have all resulted in wins.  He’s a multi-dimensional player who’s able to effect the game in an assortment of ways; from getting buckets, crashing the glass, finding open teammates, and getting gritty on defense.  Kansas kicked off December by barely edging out Stanford in overtime 90-84.  Lawson definitely did his part to keep his team in the game, racking up a double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds in 36 minutes of action.  He also knocked down all but one of his 11 attempts from the charity stripe, which certainly helps in games down the stretch.  Lawson followed up the performance by stuffing the stats sheet with 20 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and two steals en route to the 72-47 victory over Wofford.  While head coach Bill Self is still figuring out how to incorporate his young talent into the offensive game plan, it’s good to know that he has a vet with an "old man game" who can bring it every time out in Lawson.

Who’s Hot

Lindy Waters III

Despite losing to Minnesota 83-76 the previous game, junior Lindy Waters III is beginning to come into his own, which will be very beneficial for Oklahoma State down the road.  After an efficient outing during the upset victory over No. 19 LSU, Waters was able to carve out 18 points and eight rebounds against the Golden Gophers.  He drained four out of
six shots from beyond the arc and only missed one free throw as well. Waters has seen a steady rise in minutes over his three year career with the Sooners, so don’t be surprised to see Waters keep putting up impressive numbers when conference play begins.

Who’s Not 

Junior Lamont West has been in a bit of a funk since his impressive game against Rider.  While West Virginia was able to handle Youngstown State pretty easily, West wasn’t particularly effective, scoring 10 points on eight shot attempts.  Now it’s not a huge deal since the Mountaineers won that game 106-72, but he struggled mightily during the 66-56 loss to Florida.  His sole free throw make was the only time he scratched, while he missed all six attempts from the field, including five from the deep. With West Virginia as a collective play below preseason expectations, the team will need West to play better in order to get back on track.

Top 5 Rebounders in the Big 12

1.) Dedric Lawson

As alluded to earlier, Dedric Lawson is able to effect the game in multiple facets. His ability to rebound at such a prolific rate creates fast break opportunities for the Jayhawks, who normally have four players on the court who are able to take the ball coast-to-coast.  He is also the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double with his league leading 11.2 rebounds per game.

2.) Sagaba Konate

Junior forward Sagaba Konate is a force to be reckoned with down low, as he’s listed at a sturdy 6’8" and 250 lbs.  The Mali product is able to keep the defense modest with his ability to stretch the floor, but his bread and butter is working down in the post. His active hands and drive enable West Virginia to control pace-of-game, which is an important ingredient for winning basketball games.

3.) Dylan Osetkowski

The senior forward for Texas has been a stabilizing force for the woeful team this season.  The Longhorns have had their high and low points, but Osetkowski is consistently hustling and doing the little things that makes a basketball team function smoothly. Despite being upset by Radford 62-59, Osetkowski cleaned up 17 boards. While he isn’t the most athletic of physically gifted athlete, he simply wants it more than most and forces his will in the paint every single game.

4.) Brady Manek

Sophomore forward Brady Manek is a player who knows his role and makes the most of his opportunities.  He looks much more composed his second go-around at Oklahoma compared to his freshman year.  He kicked off the season with four straight double-digit rebound games, and has grabbed at least five boards in every game.  Another fun fact, he is averaging more rebounds than points this season, with 8.9 points per game compared to
9.1 rebounds per game.

5.) Michael Jacobson

The transfer from Nebraska has acclimated himself nicely into the Iowa State’s plan of attack.  For one, he’s top six in both scoring and rebounding in the Big 12 currently, which shows the ability Jacobson has to effect the game.  He currently coming off two straight double-doubles, which is a first during his career with the Cyclones. It’s also worth noting that he’s a great offensive rebounders, which plays in the hands of Iowa State whom presents one of the most explosive offenses in the conference.