18.7 ppg | 6.3 rpg | 52.0 FG | 41.3 3FG
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Kentucky senior forward Tayshaun Prince doesn't look intimidating at first glance. He's somewhat hunched over. He doesn't fill out his uniform that well. And he's not exceptionally quick.
But don't be lax in trying to defend his slingshot 3-pointers. North Carolina was and got burned after he made seven 3s in the first half of Kentucky's 76-56 drubbing of the Heels two Saturdays ago. And don't be fooled into putting a smaller defender on the 6-foot-9 "power" forward when he starts draining long-range jumpers.
Prince, as Kentucky's power forward, can take a big man outside for a 3-pointer or back a smaller man down into the post. He has the skills to slither into the lane and post up if he finds a smaller player assigned to him on any given trip down the court. He's a tough matchup no matter whom a team decides to put on him.
Kentucky doesn't need him to bring the ball up court, but he does when he has to. Having Prince bring up the ball, at least not against pressure, takes some of the heat off Cliff Hawkins and J.P. Blevins if the Wildcats want to disrupt a defense. Using Prince as a ballhandler means a taller and, perhaps, not as agile forward has to pick him up well above the 3-point line.
"Tayshaun is more like Shane Battier than Mike (Dunleavy is)," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Mike played the point in high school, so he's a guard who grew into being a big guy. Tayshaun is a good ballhandler, but he's not a guy who could run the club. Mike could do that. Tayshaun could play any of the other positions, especially because he can hit the long shots. Tayshaun is better than Mike in the low post, but Mike can go in the low post, too."
Prince had the insight to not jettison for the NBA after his junior season. He had the credentials, with an SEC Player of the Year award and the already-mentioned 3-point shot. But that doesn't translate directly into NBA greatness.
He still has more limitations than Dunleavy, and pro teams are still wondering where he'll play on the floor at their level. Dunleavy's ballhandling probably puts him a shade ahead, but that doesn't mean he's more important to his team. Take Prince off the Wildcats and they're not the same team because the only other reliable scoring option is Keith Bogans. If need be, Jason Williams, Chris Duhon and even Daniel Ewing could help replace Dunleavy's points.
Prince, however, is a leader and a winner -- two intangibles that make him one of the best players in the nation. He's got a legit shot to win SEC Player of the Year again. But more than anything, he can score from anywhere on the court with his shot or size, which is enough to make him one of the hardest players to defend in the nation.
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16.2 ppg | 7.4 rpg | 50.5 FG | 34.5 3FG
By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com
Mike Dunleavy is arguably the most versatile player in the nation, and he is one of the most difficult matchup problems in college basketball. If the floor were a chessboard, Dunleavy would be Mike Krzyzewski's queen, with the flexibility to move all over the floor and play any one of four positions effectively.
Dunleavy was raised as a point guard, and he thinks and handles the ball as a good point guard would. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands, makes good decisions, and sees plays a pass ahead, often serving as the guy who makes the pass leading to the assist.
Dunleavy is hard for anyone to guard, but he presents unique challenges to the types of players charged with guarding him. If he draws a player of comparable size, his defender is usually not comfortable defending out on the floor, and Dunleavy can take advantage with his shooting or driving ability. If he draws a player with comparable quickness, who can guard out on the floor, Dunleavy can back him down and shoot over him.
With his long arms and agility, Dunleavy has the ability to grab rebounds like a power forward. When he does, Dunleavy then can bring the ball up court like a point would, causing someone other than his man to pick him up. Bigger defenders aren't used to stopping the ball in transition, and smaller guys can't keep him off the glass, so Dunleavy puts unique pressure on an opponent's transition defense to find him, communicate with each other in picking him up, and not to leave others open as a result of Dunleavy. The result is often a breakdown that leaves someone else open for an easy shot.
Dunleavy is very skilled with the ball, and has wonderful economy of movement. He gets and keeps his defender off balance. He can run, finish and pass or pull up for a shot. Dunleavy has great range, the ability to hit off the catch or off the dribble, the ability to shot-fake and put it on the floor and go; and he never changes his demeanor. Crowd him and he drives to pull up, pass or take it all the way. Back off him and he drills shots. Muscle him, and he'll take it to the perimeter where muscle moves get called. He is an expert on the break, and he has a unique understanding of the game. Defensively, Dunleavy can guard bigger guys with his size and quickness, and he can stifle a smaller guy with his length and agility. Post him up and he uses his quickness to break contact and get around in front and get a steal.
There has not been a player that has performed any better than has Mike Dunleavy to this point in the season, nor has there been another player that has been a bigger headache to opposing coaches trying to figure out who should guard him.
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