Durant top freshman ever?

[K-State Spur]

I'll disagree. The UT recruiting class was loaded with 5 and 4 star recruits, but you wouldn't know that because none of them shine with Durant, except for maybe Augustine a bit. If next year they don't make the big dance, and then maybe you have an arguement.

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=110&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2006

If Durant hadn't been around, Texas would have gotten buried before Augustin had a chance to really find his game. Not to mention that Durant makes everything easier for everybody else on his team by drawing all kinds of defensive attention.

There are quite a few top recruiting classes that ended up in the NIT. Duke's roster is littered with McD's AA's. And if it weren't for a single player - McRoberts - they might not have even qualified for the NIT.

[Cry Havoc]

Watch some Pistol Pete footage. Steve Nash reminds me a lot of him, the way he can pass, though arguably Pistol was a better pure shooter. The fact that he never shot well is a result of the ENTIRE defense of the opponent keyed on him, forcing him into incredibly difficult shots.

In one of his first games, Pistol put up 50 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. If he ever had a decent player on his team to go to, his assist numbers would have been even higher. If he had a three point line, his stats would be absolutely unfathomable.

Say what you want about Durant. Pistol Pete owned the floor. I've never seen anyone take over a college game like he did. Durant isn't even close in that respect, although he is obviously an incredible force.

Pete is #1. There is no discussion here.

[Kermit]

pistol pete never played ncaa ball as a freshman, hence no mention of being the greatest freshman ever.

i've watched texas basketball for 23 years and to say that t.j. is even close in the better player argument is corky re ed. it's basically arguing for the sake of arguing. ford was great and texas wouldn't be where it is as a program without his contributions, but durant is talent personified far exceeding anything t.j. ever brought to the table and i think that he'd be the first one to tell you so.

[Cry Havoc]

pistol pete never played ncaa ball as a freshman, hence no mention of being the greatest freshman ever.

Wow, so I guess those 50 points, 11 boards and 11 assists against Southeastern Louisiana just materialized out of thin air, eh? I guess the fact that his freshman team lost one game that entire year (16-1 record) obviously means that he wasn't playing college ball.

[K-State Spur]

Watch some Pistol Pete footage. Steve Nash reminds me a lot of him, the way he can pass, though arguably Pistol was a better pure shooter. The fact that he never shot well is a result of the ENTIRE defense of the opponent keyed on him, forcing him into incredibly difficult shots.

In one of his first games, Pistol put up 50 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. If he ever had a decent player on his team to go to, his assist numbers would have been even higher. If he had a three point line, his stats would be absolutely unfathomable.

Say what you want about Durant. Pistol Pete owned the floor. I've never seen anyone take over a college game like he did. Durant isn't even close in that respect, although he is obviously an incredible force.

Pete is #1. There is no discussion here.

I'm not saying that he wasn't an incredible player, just that Durant was more efficient (that doesn't necessarily mean better). It's just 40 shots a game over a 3 year career is a pretty incredible number in its own right.

[Kermit]

Wow, so I guess those 50 points, 11 boards and 11 assists against Southeastern Louisiana just materialized out of thin air, eh? I guess the fact that his freshman team lost one game that entire year (16-1 record) obviously means that he wasn't playing college ball.

let me explain something to you...

freshman weren't allowed to play ncaa ball back then. they had to play against other FRESHMAN. so yes, the 50 points and whatever other meaningless bull stats he had against whatever butt opponent he played that year meant that he wasn't playing college ball. it was glorified high school basketball. the statistics didn't count as official stats. you were only given 3 years of eligbility. had pete played ncaa ball his freshman year, i have no doubt that he would be rated as one of the finest and best freshman to ever play college ball, but he isn't and will never be. discussion over.

and if we really want to make the argument using stats that pete compiled playing his freshman peers, just imagine what durant would do to a bunch of 18 year old knuckle-heads. the words "we surrender" come to mind.

[BUMP]

Durant is the team

atleast give Augustine and Abrams a little credit. i know what your trying to say but theyve played too well to be completely overshadowed by Durant's greatness

[2centsworth]

pistol pete never played ncaa ball as a freshman, hence no mention of being the greatest freshman ever.

i've watched texas basketball for 23 years and to say that t.j. is even close in the better player argument is corky re ed. it's basically arguing for the sake of arguing. ford was great and texas wouldn't be where it is as a program without his contributions, but durant is talent personified far exceeding anything t.j. ever brought to the table and i think that he'd be the first one to tell you so.

talent and value to a team do not coincide. Durant is the most talented freshman ever in UT history, but that wasn't the question. The question was is he the top freshman ever? More than talent enters into that equation. Tracy Mcgrady, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony are all more talented than Steve Nash. However, Nash is more valuable.

I would take Magic in a heartbeat over Durant.

[Kermit]

talent and value to a team do not coincide. Durant is the most talented freshman ever in UT history, but that wasn't the question. The question was is he the top freshman ever? More than talent enters into that equation. Tracy Mcgrady, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony are all more talented than Steve Nash. However, Nash is more valuable.

I would take Magic in a heartbeat over Durant.

...

i'd take magic too. i'm not arguing for kevin as the top freshman (i ing hate conjecture on these types of issues), i'm just saying that i'd take him over t.j....

in a heartbeat.

[ShoogarBear]

The greatest freshman ever was Lew Alcindor, even though he never played a game of varisty.

When Alcindor was a freshman, the UCLA Freshman team beat the UCLA Varsity 75-60. Oh, that UCLA Varsity was 2-time defending national champions.

[Pugglekicker_21]

his team went 88-2 while he was there. Alcindor's skyhook was a thing of masterful beauty.

Pistol Pete was before my time, but I do know that he was amazing at scoring.

bottom line is, its all your opinion.