If you were thinking who the best post player was in Kentucky you would probably think he plays at Kentucky, Louisville, or even Western Kentucky. You would be wrong on all accounts.
I had a chance to watch the best big man in Kentucky last night at Morehead State University.
Kenneth Faried, who is one of 30 players on the Naismith Watch List for Player of the Year, is the best kept secret in Kentucky right now. If you haven’t had a chance to watch him play then you have definitely missed out on a show in the paint.
Faried leads the Eagles averaging 17.3 pts and 14.2 rebounds per game. I am sure some people are thinking that his stats are little inflated because of the competition he faces in the OVC. Faried had 15 points and 12 rebounds vs. Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and 20pts and 18 rebounds in a 6 point loss at Florida.
Morehead played Southeast Missouri on Senior Night and Faried had his usual double double with 23 points and 16 rebounds. He also had his jersey retired and put in the rafters in a ceremony before the game. How many players were still playing when they had their jersey retired?
He also moved into second place on the NCAA all time rebounding list ahead of Derrick Coleman and only trails Tim Duncan for the most in NCAA history.
I asked Coach Donnie Tyndall what he thought of the comment that Faried is the best big man in the state of Kentucky. Coach Tyndall said,”There is not a better post player in the state better than Kenneth Faried, and this is not being egotistical or anything else, he is just that good.”
What would Kentucky be if they had Kenneth Faried raking the boards and throwing down monster slams on a nightly basis? I know what it makes Morehead… A team that has a great shot of winning the OVC and making the NCAA tournament for the 2nd time in 3 years.
I know if I was coaching a team in the NCAA tournament I wouldn’t want to see Kenneth Faried in the first round? Would you?
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