by Paul Jordan
For now, Terrence Jones is going to be a Washington Huskie. Whether or not the rumors of him having second thoughts are true or not, (Terrence Ross’s FB page now says “At least one Terrence is still coming”) let’s assume that for now, Kentucky has a probable starting front court next year of Enes Kanter, Josh Harrellson, and Darius Miller. I know that some Cat fans are looking at that lineup and predicting doom and gloom for next year’s Wildcats, but for you pencil us in the NIT again … I beg you to stop and take a second look at UK’s roster.
Yes, Kentucky fans were spoiled last season with Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins manning the F and C positions with Daniel Orton providing bench support. Miller had a pretty good grasp on the starting SF position and Dodson and Liggins added support there. But as good as Kentucky’s frontcourt was last year, it did not lead to national title number 8. And for those bemoaning and lamenting the loss of Jones and Leslie, Kentucky is still in pretty good shape if you compare our current frontcourt with the last five NCAA champions.
Duke’s frontcourt this year consisted of 7’1 Brian Zoubek, and 6’8 Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas. Of the three, only Singler put up impressive numbers, posting 17.7 points and 7 rebounds a game. Thomas added 4.8 points and 4.9 boards a game and Zoubek scored 5.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. In a footrace with a great tortoise, and an elephant, Zoubek would finish a distant third.
The 2009 Tar Heels had two forwards and a G/F swingman making up their frontcourt for their title run although all three players were major contributors. But they were not a big team. Deon Thompson and Tyler Hansborough were 6’9 and Danny Green was 6’6. Thompson averaged 13.7-6.7, while Hansborough posted 20.7 points and 8.1 boards. Green was good for 13.1 points and 4.7 rebounds.
The 2008 Jayhawks frontcourt was even smaller with 6’9 Darrell Arthur, 6’8 Darnell Jackson, and G Brandon Rush (6’6) manned the three spot most of the year. All three players averaged at least 11 points a game and 5 rebounds however.
The 2006 and 2007 champion Gators were the last truly big frontcourt to win the national title as Joakim Noah (6’11), Al Horford (6’10) and Corey Brewer (6’9). As with the Kansas frontcourt, this was a very balanced group, averaging about 12 points and 5 boards per player for the two seasons. They did not put up huge numbers individually (Horford had 13.2 points and 9.5 boards in 2007 to lead the group) but as a trio, they had great chemistry and were very effective.
Now let’s look at the 2010 Kentucky frontcourt in comparision. Josh Harrellson is 6’10, Enes Kanter is 6’9 and Darius Miller is 6’7. Certainly the size factor is comparable with the past NCAA champions. And it is easy to imagine Kanter having a solid 15 point, 8 rebound season and let’s say with progression, Darius Miller becomes a 10 point, 7 rebound a night guy. Certainly these numbers are in line with some of the past NCAA champion frontcourts. Harrellson is a great unknown. We have heard great things from Rock’s work with him in the weight room so it is not out of the realm of possibility to imagine him surpassing either Zoubek’s or Thomas’s numbers with Duke.
We all know that Terrence Jones and C.J. Leslie were supposed to be the saviors at the four position and it was easy to imagine a Jones/Kanter frontcourt wrecking havoc. But for now, it appears that Terrence Jones is not walking through that door, so a lot of Wildcat fans are turning their fancy to former Clemson commit Marcus Thornton.
Thornton is a nice player, but at 6’7, I don’t consider him a big man, and he would not help the size deficit in the frontcourt. The answer, it appears, may be former Gator commit Eloy vargas. Vargas, at 6’10, would team with Kanter to give UK that physically imposing frontcourt and Vargas does have the pedigree as a stud player. He was a top 50 recruit and some national publications had Vargas as a key part of the Gator’s “reloading effort” in 2008.
Make no mistake, Vargas would be a risk. He would carry the stigma of being a “bust” but you could also look at his situation as he was mismanaged by Billy Donovan and has had a year in the JUCO ranks to improve his game. But for now, he is the best available PF out there. Team him with Kanter, and get Marcus Thornton and Harrellson coming off the bench for depth, and you may have a frontcourt that can make a title run.
No, it’s not Patterson-Cousins II, but that will never be duplicated. But it does give Kentucky a chance to win every night.
And if Terrence Jones, does reconsider and becomes a Wildcat eventually? You can forget everything I said and we can start the countdown for number eight. But for now … the BBN awaits Eloy Vargas and Marcus Thornton to come on down…..
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