Originally Posted by Saul Good
(Post 9419280)
Withey is the best player on the team so far this year. Ben has the higher upside and will become the better player, but Withey as a senior is better than Ben as a freshman.
Withey is on another level defensively. He completely changes the game, and he does it without fouling. It's pretty incredible. He's also an underrated scorer. He shoots a higher percentage that Ben, and he has more points per attempt than Ben. Obviously, he doesn't create like Ben, though.
McLemore is incredibly talented, but he isn't dominant yet. There are times when he does things that nobody else in college basketball can do, but there are other times where he just kind of stands sound and blends into the background. He isn't the defender Withey is. He isn't the rebounder Withey is. You wouldn't expect a guard to be, but he isn't a guy who creates for his teammates particularly well, and he has more turnovers than assists. He really doesn't even score much more than Withey despite the fact that he shoots 26% more often.
Don't get me wrong, I'm being hyper-critical in order to illustrate Withey's relative value. Ben is an amazing player, and it wouldn't shock me to see him go Carmello Anthony in the tournament. So far, though, Withey is the much better player. I don't think Kansas fans appreciate just how good he is.
Withey averages 13.2 ppg while shooting 55% from the field and 70% from the line, 8.4 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 1.6 fouls per game.
Last year, Anthony Davis won NPOTY with numbers that were very similar. They were better, but not by all that much.
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