By Jason King, Yahoo! Sports
February 13, 2008
 PORTLAND, Ore. – About this time last year more than a few folks around college basketball predicted that "we'd never see another Kevin Durant."
It took less than 12 months for Kansas State's Michael Beasley to prove them wrong.
You may not think Beasley is as good as Durant, who spent just one season at Texas before Seattle made him the No. 2 pick in last spring's draft. But no one can say the topic isn't at least debatable.
Beasley averages 25.2 points and 12.3 rebounds for a Wildcats team that sits alone atop the Big 12 standings. Kansas State entered the season having gone 12 years without an NCAA tournament berth. Now, not only are the Wildcats a shoo-in to make the Big Dance but also they are a threat to advance to college basketball's premier weekend: the Final Four.
That's all because of Beasley, who seems poised to become the second consecutive freshman to bring home National Player of the Year honors. North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough and Memphis guard Chris Douglas-Roberts also will contend for the honor.
Still, if the award truly is given to the game's most dominant player, than no one deserves it more than the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Beasley, who has scored fewer than 13 points just twice all year.
Beasley is expected to be the first pick in this spring's NBA draft.
As good as Beasley has been, he's one of just many freshmen who have commanded attention this season. Never before has college basketball featured such widespread success from first-year players.
Here is one man's list of the top 25 freshmen in college basketball. And remember: This is based on performance, not potential.
FIRST TEAM
Michael Beasley, Kansas State – College basketball's best player stays within team concept.
Kevin Love, UCLA – Outlet passes are becoming the stuff of legend in Westwood.
Kyle Singler, Duke – Most fundamentally sound member of the class has helped Duke to a No. 2 national ranking.
Jerryd Bayless, Arizona – Point guard could be a top-10 pick after averaging 20 points and 4.4 assists.
Eric Gordon, Indiana – Scoring machine came through in the clutch at Illinois.
SECOND TEAM
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma – One web site lists the forward as the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
Derrick Rose, Memphis – Floor leader of country's lone undefeated team.
O.J. Mayo, USC – Some are turned off by his poor shot selection, but he has played well in the Trojans' big wins.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky – Averages 16.9 and 7.9 but the Wildcats' struggles have deprived him of his hype.
Donte Green, Syracuse – Leads the Orange in scoring with 17.9 points per game.
THIRD TEAM
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Austin Daye, Gonzaga – Scouts are salivating over his length and ball-handling ability. Will be an even bigger force once he gains weight.
Andrew Ogilvy, Vanderbilt – Aussie has keyed the Commodores' breakthrough season
Bill Walker, Kansas State – Responded well to knee surgery. Combines with Beasley for a deadly one-two punch
James Harden, Arizona State – Hoping that 18.1-point scoring average will propel Sun Devils into NCAA tournament.
Robbie Hummel, Purdue – Boilermakers' leading rebounder shoots 46 percent from three-point range.
FOURTH TEAM
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Davon Jefferson, USC – Can take Trojans to a different level when he's "on."
Patrick Mills, St. Mary's – Speedy Australian has helped catapult the Gaels into the Top 25.
Nick Calathes, Florida – Gators' leading scorer also averages 6.2 assists.
James Anderson, Oklahoma State – One of the few bright spots for the Big 12's biggest disappointment.
J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State – Leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker for the inconsistent Wolfpack.
FIFTH TEAM
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DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M – Aggies were expecting more than nine points and 6.5 rebounds from the highly touted 7-footer.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh – Averaging a team-high 9.7 rebounds.
Anthony Randolph, LSU – Averaging 8.5 boards and 2.4 blocks for the worst team in the SEC.
Terrence Oglesby, Clemson – Shooting 41 percent from long range and has seven games with four or more three-pointers – and that's off the bench.
Kosta Koufos, Ohio State – Averages 13.5 points and has scored in double figures in his last seven games.
 Jeremy Pargo – Austin Daye is garnering the most attention, but there's not a player on Gonzaga's team that I enjoy watching more than Pargo. The future pro is one of the best big-game players in the country.
Stuckey's – Nothing says "Texas" quite like the well-known road stops on various highways throughout the state. Where else can you purchase a pecan roll, a new belt buckle, sweet tea, Big Red, a Moon Pie, divinity and Hall & Oates' Greatest Hits – all at the same place?
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Tim Floyd – Don't be surprised if the USC coach ends up replacing John Brady at LSU. One possibility I'm hearing is Floyd to LSU, Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon to USC and Xavier's Sean Miller to Pittsburgh. Should be interesting.
Ric Flair one-liners – One of my favorites: "I've spent more money on spilt drinks than you'll spend in your entire life."
Curtis Jerrells – Baylor guard scored 30 of his team's 90 points against Kansas on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. A year from now he should be the Bears' first first-round pick since Brian Skinner.
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Wang – As in "Hey Wang: It's a parking lot!" Quite possibly my favorite line from Caddyshack.
Connecticut – Jim Calhoun haters can't say much in the midst of the Huskies' seven-game winning streak.
The exit row – It takes a lot to kickstart my Excite-O-Meter these days, but I get pretty geeked when I board a plane and notice that no one has claimed one of the seats in this aisle. Leg room, dear friends, is of the utmost importance.
UCLA-USC – The Trojans shocked the Bruins by stealing a victory on their home court last month. I'm hoping Sunday's game is equally exciting.
Underrated Movies – Here are six: City Hall, Bachelor Party, Eight Men Out, Ernest Goes to Camp, Some Kind of Wonderful, The Legend of Billie Jean.
OK, I was kidding about that last one. "Fair is fair!"
 Sam Lufti – If those police reports are truthful, and this schmo really drugged up Britney and treated her like a dog, then someone needs to dump him into a hot tub filled with piranhas.
Spicy Funyuns – Some things are better left as is.
Bank Greeters – I promise I'm not a sour person, but I hate the inevitable fake banter that occurs with the designated smiley face while I'm waiting in line to deposit a check.
Bottled Soft Drinks – Not glass bottles. The plastic ones. Ice cubes stay colder in steam rooms longer than these things after they leave the refrigerator.
Roy Scheider – The star of the original "Jaws" passed away last week.
Kansas guards – The "nation's best backcourt" hasn't lived up to its billing in recent games.
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Jumbo Pretzels – I just about ordered one at a concession stand last week, but then I remembered that I had a sack of woodchips at home that probably would be more moist and tasty. Seriously, I've never understood the appeal.
Chester Frazier – Don't know if the hit was ordered, but the Illinois guard looked pretty classless when he chest-checked Indiana's Eric Gordon during pregame handshakes last week.
Spicy Dish – Don't fret. The weekly Q-and-A with a celebrity female isn't dead. It's just off the menu this week because of some communication foul-ups. Good stuff is in store for the future.
 Being a sportswriter I always tell strangers that I'm unbiased and that I never – ever – root for certain schools to win.
That, of course, is a mammoth lie.
Deep down I'm a huge Iowa State fan. Huge!
For one, the Cyclones used to boast the spiciest cheerleader in the history of mankind in Rachel Lea. You've probably heard the term "walk-into-a-pole-gorgeous" to describe a good-looking female. I always said Rachel was "miss-a-game-winning-shot-gorgeous" because years ago, I was so dazed by her beauty that I was looking at her and not the court when Curtis Stinson swished a teardrop to beat Kansas at Hilton Coliseum. So it's probably a good thing she graduated because now I can pay attention to the games again.
OK, what I was saying? Oh yeah, I always pull for Iowa State. You see, the more the Cyclones win, the better my chances become of being dispatched to Ames, which in my opinion features one of the country's best restaurants – Hickory Park.
With its 15 different hickory burgers and generous helpings of barbeque ribs and chicken, Hickory Park's grub has contributed to the weight gain of thousands of Iowans since it opened back in 1970.
A reporter once teased me about making three stops at Hickory Park during each of my trips to Ames. But then we drove up to the massive barn and saw about 100 folks waiting outside for a table. At that point he realized I probably wasn't overhyping the place. Seriously, it looked like your local movie theater the day the Miley Cyrus movie opened, except there weren't as many rug-rats running around, and everyone's bellies looked like bean bags.
When I go to Hickory Park I almost always order the chicken and pork ribs dinner, which is a half-chicken and about six meaty pork ribs for $14.50. Heckuva bargain, considering it also includes two sides and a roll.
One time I went to Hickory Park with the Washington Post's Ivan Carter, and both of us decided to show off. We had the waitress bring us the Combo Dinner, which consisted of various types of ribs, chicken, sausage and brisket. We ate all of our food, but our bar-hopping plans got squashed because we could hardly breathe afterward. In the car Ivan said I looked like a goldfish as I gasped for air with short, quick breaths. Maybe so, but I felt like more of a beached whale when I plopped onto the bed in my hotel room, feeling both ashamed and proud.
If the meat at Hickory Park doesn't fill you up, the ice cream certainly will. As much as it's known for its barbeque, Hickory Park is famous for its dessert. I'm a Snicker Bar Sundae kinda guy, but that's not to say that one of the other 51 sundaes, banana splits or parfaits won't suit you just fine. Next time I might try the Candy Cane Delight or the Mocha Nut Parfait.
Wait a minute. Next time? Iowa State is just 13-11 and only 3-6 in the Big 12. Hopefully Greg McDermott can bring in some talented recruits so I can get back to Ames. Here's a tip, coach. Take them to Hickory Park.
A few days ago, as I entered the Quarter bar in Dallas, a bouncer asked to see my ID. His face lit up when he noticed I was from Kansas City.
"Man," he said, "ya'll've got some good barbeque up there."
"Yeah," I said, "but have you tried the wings?"
Biggs, Henry T's, Arizona's, Austin's, Tanner's. There are so many good wing places in Kansas City and Lawrence that I probably should organize a Wing Crawl. I could wear a gun belt with bottles of ranch and blue cheese affixed to each holster.
Hell yes. I love that idea. We're going to do it – and you can bet the first place my friends and I will hit will be The Peanut.
It'd be unfair to compare the The Peanut's wings to the ones served at other bars and restaurants throughout the country. Honestly, I'm not sure there are any quite like them.
Most places give you either the drummie or that "other" part of the bird. At The Peanut, though, you get the whole wing. In other words, one wing at The Peanut is equal to two wings at any other joint.
Wings at The Peanut take 20 to 30 minutes to prepare. That's because they throw those suckers on the grill before lathering them up with sauce. Dipped in a puddle of their homemade, blue cheese dressing, The Peanut's wings have become legendary in Kansas City, where they're served at five locations. Seriously, I'd put these bad boys up against the best in the country.
The Watering Hole in Lincoln comes close, but The Peanut is still my No. 1 destination for wings, and something tells me it always will be.
 Goo-Goo Clusters – Chocolate, peanuts, marshmallow and caramel is the best foursome since Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Easy E and MC Ren formed NWA.
Lemons in Diet Coke – Often forget how good this tastes. Luckily Chipotle is there to remind me.
McDonald's Snack Wraps – I like them grilled with ranch. Acquanetta, the cashier who rang me up at a Mickey D's in Austin, warned me to stay away from the chipotle barbeque sauce. "That stuff is naaaas-ty," she said.
Ice Cream Snickers – Put a box of them in my icebox, and they won't last a day.
Arby's Curly Fries – Shares slogan with Bret "The Hitman" Hart: "The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be."
THIS WEEK'S FOOD POLL
I'm not sure if I'd describe myself as a burger buff. Don't get me wrong. I'll plow through a single-with-cheese from Wendy's with the best of them. But if given the choice, I'd go to Popeye's for a three-piece-spicy meal and a Fanta Strawberry before I'd stop at Burger King or Hardee's. And more and more these days, I'm taking a liking to Quizno's. There are plenty of fast food places out there that aren't all about the beef. I just told you my favorites. What are yours?
LAST WEEK'S FOOD POLL
Best Potato Chips
Cool Ranch Doritos – 24 %
Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles – 22%
BBQ Lays - 17 %
Chili Cheese Fries- 15 %
Flamin' Hot Cheetos – 12 %
French Onion Sun Chips – 9%
A few random thoughts about the people and places I encountered during last week's travels:
1. Covering Pat Knight's first game at Texas Tech gave me the chance to swing through to Dallas to watch my 6-year-old nephew, Zachary, hoop it up in his church league. Other than being annoyed by every fan in the stands yelling "SHOOT IT" each time a kid touched the ball, the main thing I'll remember is the pregame ceremonies, which involved a public address announcer, a smoke machine and a tunnel. Did I mention that these kids are 6?
2. Each year people like to identify under-the-radar teams that could pull an upset or two in the NCAA tournament. It's still early, but if I were a top seed, two teams I'd want to avoid are Clemson and Louisville. They've had their ups and downs. But when things are clicking, both schools have all the pieces to upset any team in the country.
3. Life couldn't be going much better for Rick Barnes. A few weeks before upending No. 3 Kansas, the Texas coach made a cameo appearance on Friday Night Lights. A few more wins over Top-10 teams and he'll have his own Whataburger commercial.
4. Everyone has moments in life when they feel like a complete imbecile, and one of my came during last week's Gonzaga-St. Mary's game. I took my seat a few minutes before the opening tip and didn't pay much attention to the gentleman sitting next to me. Eventually we struck up a conversation and it became apparent that he was an NBA scout. Still, I never really turned to look at his face. "So who do you work for, anyway?" I said late in the second half. The man brushed aside some papers that were covering his nameplate on the table. "John Paxson," it read, "Chicago Bulls." Oops.
5. Speaking of that St. Mary's-Gonzaga game, the 11 NBA scouts in attendance couldn't have been more impressed with Gonzaga freshman Austin Daye, who is a lock to be an NBA lottery pick. The question is: What year? "Everyone says he's coming back for his sophomore season, but I don't know why," one scout not named John Paxson said. "He'd be a top-10 pick right now."
 6. I've yet to play "Guitar Hero," and frankly, I'm scared to try. I don't want to become like a few of my friends, who are downright addicted. One of them (Eric) brings his video game unit up to our favorite Dallas sports bar (Bailey's 1st and 10) and plugs it into the television. It doesn't take long for patrons to join the fun. He also managed to hook it up during the Mardi Gras Parade. I wasn't there, but the Dallas Morning News was. The paper captured a photo of Eric jammin' in the street. Not sure what to think about that.
7. A hearty King of the Road salute goes out to Jeff Jordan, the son of basketball legend Michael Jordan and a freshman walk-on at Illinois. Jeff made a key basket – just the fourth of his career – during the latter portions of the Illini's exciting game against Indiana. Jordan's bucket wasn't good enough to win the game, but it was nice to see his heirness experience some success.
8. Seven-foot-seven UNC-Asheville center Kenny George has missed his team's last two games because of health issues.
Scheider
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9. The death of "Jaws" star Roy Scheider sparked a conversation between some friends and me about the scariest movies of all time. My Top Five List (in order): The Shining, Silence of the Lambs, Candyman, Psycho and Jaws. Admittedly, I'm not a big horror buff. I haven't seen any of the "Saw" movies, but I hear they're terrifying.
10. A reader emailed recently and suggested I try the wings at "Bone Daddy's" in Dallas. The tip was an excellent one. On a scale of one to 10, I'll give the wings a seven. The more impressive thing about the place was the atmosphere and the "talent" – especially our waitress, Danielle. Also dined at Serrano's in Austin, and Mama's Pizza and Scalini's in Dallas.
11. Last week I mentioned that I'd attempt to conduct a Q and A with one of the following: Kamala the Ugandan Giant, Vince Neil, Chevy Chase, Ice Cube or Big Black from Rob & Big. The key was that your votes would determine who I picked. Kamala and Chevy Chase are the leaders thus far, but I'll wait a few more weeks to announce a clear-cut winner.
Goodman
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"You have finally hit the big time. You now reside shotgun to that slimy Michael Silver. You actually could be a clone or at least an identical twin. Your column has gone from great to trash in just a few months. Where in the hell do starlets and restaurants belong on a sports page??? Just because you say so? I think not! Sportswriting is getting worse and worse every day – thanks to the likes of you and your fellow wannabe comedians!!!"
Kerry Lee, Tarpon Springs, Fla. KOTR: To quote John Goodman in The Big Lebowski – "…AND A VERY GOOD DAY TO YOU, SIR!"
"I freaking love you, dude! Hope you get some delicious wings and a 40 (at Gus' Fried Chicken) the next time you are in town. Go Tigers!"
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Sarah Beth Tyler, Memphis
KOTR: Thanks, Sarah Beth. I'll meet you there sometime, but don't worry, I won't bring that first emailer. He'll probably be too busy typing more letters with lots of exclamation points. Unfortunately my plans have changed and I won't be making it to the Tennessee-Memphis game this season. But I'll find a reason to get out there soon.
"Have you ever been to Austin and tried the BBQ at County Line? The ribs are the best around!"
Jeff Dick, Sherman, Texas
KOTR: I went to County Line for the first time back in 2000 with former Texas and Kansas standout Luke Axtell. I've been a fan ever since. I especially like the beef ribs. A few Austin readers have also recommended "The Salt Lick." Hopefully I'll make it back that way soon.
"Can I have your job? Haha. No, but really … how cool is it to be doing what you're doing?"
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Alex, Rye Brook, New York
KOTR: Beats working in a toll booth.
"I read your whole column today and didn't have to look up any words! I felt so good about myself. I will share with you the best campus food spot on Earth. Get thee to the Chimes on Highland Road, at the South Gates of the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. Beers from around the world and real south Louisiana soul food. You can't go wrong on the menu, period. I particularly recommend the stuffed mushrooms, and the cheese fries with jalapenos and gravy. But it's all amazing. And I'm sure Chevy Chase would be a GREAT interview, but something tells me you've got to go with Vince Neil, man. Cheers!"
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Jess Wiseman, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada … it's this whole other country)
KOTR: This place in Baton Rouge must be tremendous if its getting recommendations from people in Canada. Vince Neil would be a fun interview, but I'm guessing most of his answers wouldn't be suitable for print. Luckily my favorite author, Neil Strauss, helped Motley Crue write an autobiography called "The Dirt." Best … book … ever.
"In-N-Out is privately held. Dozens have tried to take them public, but they have what people on Wall Street call "(Expletive) Money." In other words, they don't need it. Their puny menu is the envy of all McDonald's franchise holders."
Rick, Riverside, Calif.
"Just to respond as to why In-N-Out exists mostly in California, it's because In-N-Out is a privately-owned, family company that has a local agreement with a meat provider in order to follow through on its promise to never serve once-frozen meat. So, because of the range limitations of shipping meat that can't be frozen, you won't find In-N-Outs elsewhere in the country."
Jeremy, San Marino, Calif.
KOTR: Thanks, Jeremy and Rick for explaining why the world's greatest fast food hamburger exists only on the West Coast. Doesn't sound as if there's much hope.
Jason King is a college football and basketball writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jason a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast. Updated on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 5:31 am, EST Email to a Friend | View Popular
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