The Andrew Wiggins watch continues as the University of Kansas Jayhawks are sputtering their way through the early portion of their schedule. The Hawks have been struggling as a team as they dropped games to the unranked Villanova and Colorado. Subsequent to the Colorado loss. the Hawks then dropped their next game to the #19 ranked University of Florida.
The Villanova loss could be partially placed on Wiggins shoulders as he did not have a stellar game. Wiggins chipped in with a mere 10 points and 3 rebounds on 3-8 from the field. The other two losses though cannot be beared by Wiggins as he scored 22 points against Colorado and 26 points against Florida to go along with his 11 boards.
The knock on Wiggins has been his lack of assertiveness and willingness to take over a game. Pundits point to Duke’s Jabari Parker as a measuring stick given the fact that Parker will assert himself to the extreme. There is little doubt that at this point in the season Parker is more comfortable in his playing situation; however, all still agree that Wiggins is the more talented of the two players.
Wiggins has shown a slight crack in his stoic on-court demeanour as his frustration is bubbling out. The realization for Wiggins is setting in and that is that he needs some help on the court. Wiggins can’t do it all because he is being double-teamed on nearly every possession and as the game wanes on, defenses are keying on him even more so.
Despite all the extra attention Wiggins is still averaging 15.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.2 apg. His field goal percentage has not been great, but one must remember that he is battling on every shot attempt.
Wiggins has made it clear that he intends to play only the one season at Kansas and one really can’t blame him as he continues to project as the first overall selection in the 2014 NBA entry draft.
Of course the competition for the top draft spot could be fierce and as of now it would appear that Duke’s Parker and Kentucky’s Julius Randle have emerged as the most serious competition. Parker has been profound for the Blue Devils so far as he is posting 22.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Randle on the other hand has also displayed his dominance at the collegiate level by putting up his own impressive slash line that looks like 17.2 ppg, 11.4 rpg and 2.0 apg.
As it stands right now the Milwaukee Bucks are leading the race to win the draft lottery. Other teams are certainly doing their best to get into the top-three as the Toronto Raptors are doing their best to gut the roster. The Bucks and Raptors are the most likely candidates to land the top overall spot and I’m certain that they will do everything they can do stay in that conversation as any of the top-three prospects are being pegged as can’t miss future NBA studs.