Kentucky Wildcat opponents have decided that it is much easier to try to get star big man DeMarcus Cousins to beat himself, by losing his temper during games, rather than holding him under his season averages of 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. It is well known around the college hardwood that the man know affectionately as “Boogie” has let his emotions get the best of him on a number of occasions during his freshman season.
Earlier in the regular season, Cousins and Kentucky coach, John Calipari could be seen on a game by game basis arguing on the sidelines, after coach was forced to sit player, over a not so smart on-court incident where Cousins would react badly to a seemingly incorrect or missed call by officials. As the season wore on and Cousins game matured, teams struggled to contain his immense ability to attack the rim on both offense and defense. So, teams admittedly devised a strategy to try to key on Cousins’ only weakness: his uneven temperament.
While the plan reaped rewards early in the season, Cousins with the help of Calipari and his teammates, has been able to at least control his emotions to a point where he no longer hurts his team. Of course, he still has a flair for the dramatic, like when he dunked over a Mississippi State player and gave the call me sign to their fans for blowing up his cell-phone’s voice-mail before the game.
Heading into Kentucky’s 2nd round NCAA Tournament match-up with Wake Forest, Cousins was actually looking forward to playing against the notoriously dirty, 7 foot, 250 lb. Wake Forest big man, Chas McFarland. After all, McFarland has joined JJ Redick and Tyler Hansborough as one of the all-time hated ACC players in visiting arenas. Just the site of McFarland during lay-up drills elicits boos and heckles from opposing student sections.
As for the actual game, it was over before halftime as the surging Wildcats cruised to a 30 point victory, moving them on to a Sweet 16 match-up with Cornell on Thursday. But the game wasn’t without some drama as Wake’s McFarland couldn’t resist pulling some of his hard-core antics on Cousins. After being on the receiving end of no less than half of a dozen elbows and knees from McFarland, Cousins was determined to get some pay-back. During the 2nd half with the game out of reach, McFarland and another Demon Deacon player committed an intentional foul by deliberately raking Cousins in the face, sending him to the floor. To his credit, Cousins jumped up, with a giant smile on his face, clapping and motioning to the crowd to cheer, in a vintage Dennis Rodman–esque performance.
Opposing teams are running out of time and ways to get the best of the Wildcats and Cousins. With only 4 games possibly remaining in Cousins (and John Wall’s) freshman campaign, Kentucky is surging at the right time and may be unstoppable if they reach Indianapolis for the Final Four.
Check out Cousins’ grudge match with McFarland:
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
