Coach K, Devils laud Jayhawk
Anaheim, Calif. ? If somebody handed Duke’s Dahntay Jones a Wooden Award ballot, Kansas’ Nick Collison would absolutely, positively receive his vote.
“He’s a warrior,” Jones said about the 6-foot-9 Kansas senior. “He IS the best player in the country and he proved it tonight.”
The 6-foot-6 Jones, also a senior, had a pretty good night himself, collecting 23 points and seven rebounds in KU’s 69-65 NCAA West Regional Sweet 16 victory Thursday night at Arrowhead Pond.
Yet Jones’ performance paled in comparison to Collison’s 33-point, 19-rebound outing.
Jones wasn’t the only Duke senior wishing for a Wooden ballot. Chris Duhon wanted to join the Collison Fan Club, too.
“I played with him in Japan and I definitely saw something special in him. He’s a great player,” Duhon said.
In Wednesday’s pre-tournament media session, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who had recruited Collison unsuccessfully, tossed bouquet after bouquet at the limber postman from Iowa Falls, Iowa.
“I told you before he’s the best player in the country,” Krzyzewski remarked after Collison’s one-man show Thursday night. “He had one of the great performances you can have in the tournament. He played like a champion.”
While Collison was soaring, fellow KU senior Kirk Hinrich was struggling on offense. Thanks mainly to Duhon, Hinrich was held to only two points — the fewest since his freshman year.
WIBW video: Jayhawks battle to hard-won victory over Duke, 69-65
KU fans enjoy Nick’s time
Photos: Duke game pix
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