Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:48 pm EDT
If the NCAA tournament is a showcase for the country's best unknown
talent, Ben Woodside -- North Dakota State's lightning-quick senior point
guard -- is thus far its prime attraction.
Some college hoops freaks, or at least people who furiously studied up
on the tournament in the past few days, were familiar with the Woodside
hype. The senior averaged 22 points and six assists in his 2008-09
campaign. He scored 60 points on Stephen F. Austin. He was the main reason the N.D. State Bison have made it to the NCAA tournament,
their first after a five-year probation period. Still it's possible, even likely, that you have never heard Ben Woodside's name before today.
Today, though, you had a chance to see him. I hope you did. Woodside was every bit as good as that minimal hype, and maybe better.
He scored 37 points in N.D. State's first-round loss to Kansas today on
13-of-22 shooting and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. And it wasn't
all on three-point shots, either; Woodside was as quick as any Jayhawk,
and was able to get into the paint at will. At one point, Gus Johnson
compared him to Steve Nash ("He's a baller!"), and the comparison seems
fair: Woodside, like Nash, isn't nearly as limited by his size as you'd
think. He gets into the defense, passes effectively, and then, when
forced to, will drain whatever shot you end up giving him. It was a
beatiful thing to watch.
Of course, it wasn't enough. Woodside's team was eventually overwhelmed
by Kansas' size and talent -- Sherron Collins isn't too shabby either
-- and N.D. State lost 85-74.
Woodside hasn't been the only new star of the early weekend. Memphis' Roburt Sallie came off the bench to score 35 in Memphis' win over Cal. St. Northridge, and American's Garrison Carr put on a show in his team's loss to Villanova last night. Thus far, though, the closest thing we have to a Stephen Curry is Woodside. Pity he won't have a chance at an encore.
The Dagger is a college basketball blog edited by Jeff Eisenberg. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Posted Jan 28 2010
Posted Jan 28 2010
Posted Jan 28 2010
Edited by MJD
Edited by 'Duk
Edited by J.E. Skeets
Edited by Greg Wyshynski
Edited by Matt Hinton
Edited by Chris Chase
Edited by Jay Busbee
Edited by Jay Busbee
Edited by Steve Cofield
Edited by Chris Chase
Edited by Chris Chase
Edited by Brooks Peck
Edited by Andy Behrens
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this Woodside guy is for real, as is someone who is in Kobe's head & under his skin & ready to pick his pocket - Rajon Rondo
hope to see you again in May, but for the next two weeks, who cares about the NBA? we've got fun & games
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