If you are looking for a legitimate center, then the Big 12 is probably not the place to go. Teams like Baylor and Missouri have been successful this season without a "center." Nevertheless, I am the Big Chief of these parts, so I can bend the rules to include whichever big men I like. Oh, it's good to be the king. So, on this post-Christmas edition of the Early Returns, I'll take at seven players who are big by my own definition: they are bigger than I am. The same could be said of almost every Tier 1 basketball player, I'll keep this to the players that I'd have to look skyward toward.
Thomas Robinson, forward, Kansas Jayhawks
Based on his per minute stats from his sophomore season, Robinson was expected to be a star. He has not disappointed. The 6-foot-9 junior opened the season with six straight double-doubles and has added two more in his last five games. He has not been held under seven rebounds or ten points this season and has managed to stay out of damaging foul trouble for the most part. Oddly, Robinson has had some of his best games in the Jayhawks' three losses. He had 16 points and 15 rebounds against Duke on Nov. 23, and had 21 points and 18 rebounds in the upsetting loss to Davidson last week. The Washington, DC native has also improved his free throw shooting to a respectable 69.1%. There's little reason to think that he won't dominate in conference play as well when it stats on Jan. 4 against Kansas State.
Jeff Withey, center, Kansas Jayhawks
Withey played even less than Robinson in the last two years, so we could not even properly extrapolate his per minute numbers. The seven-footer only played 6.2 minutes per game last year, but he did block 0.7 shots per game. He has carried his shot blocking rate into his junior season, including a career-high nine blocks in the win over Long Beach State. While Withey is not the bull on the boards like Robinson, he has been able to contribute on the defensive glass and the offensive interior. He is averaging 8.0 points and 6.4 rebounds to go along with his blocks. Withyey could get some easy baskets in conference play as the Big 12 teams try to slow down Robinson/
Quincy Acy, forward, Baylor Bears
I watched the Bears' overtime win over West Virginia. Baylor has plenty of skilled forwards. In that game, it was the Baylor guards and the 6-foot-7 Acy who were the best players in Las Vegas. The senior is a powerful dunker and had a couple of beautiful flushes against the Mountaineers. He is strong and athletic enough to power over bigger players. It also helps that Acy has good hands. He is leading the team with 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. His 61.2% field goal percentage is also tops on the Bears. While Perry Jones and Quincy Miller have had some issues coexisting on the court, Acy just keeps plugging along.
Perry Jones, forward/center, Baylor Bears
The aforementioned Jones has the most talent in the conference. Saying a player has a lot of talent is usually a way of saying that he is not playing up to his potential. Since Jones is typically viewed as a top five NBA pick, he should probably be more dominant than he currently is. He was a nonfactor against West Virginia and finished the game with four points on 2-for-9 shooting. The sophomore did collect ten rebounds, but he did not look like a singular talent in that game (that would be his namesake Kevin Jones, who was very powerful). Jones has had some big games, including 28 points in the win over BYU, but he can be very passive. He looks like he is a good but not great college player with an eye firmly planted on the NBA. The game on Wednesday against Mississippi State should be an interesting one since they have good talent on the frontline as well.
Ricardo Ratliffe, forward, Missouri Tigers
Like Baylor, Missouri may get to conference play with their record flawless. They were challenged by Illinois last week, but they featured too much excellent guard play. With all of their perimeter performers, it can be easy for the 6-foot-8 Ratliffe to get lost in the shuffle. He is only leading the nation in field goal percentage at 76.2%. Ratliffe has scored in double figures in all but one game (the Nov. 14 blowout of Mercer in which he only had three points). The Mercer game was the only game this season in which Ratliffe hit less than two thirds of his field goals. His domination of the paint is unlikely to continue in Big 12 play. The Tigers do not have many other frontcourt options, so Ratliffe should continue getting a lot of playing time and make the most of his opportunities.
Jamar Samuels, forward, Kansas State Wildcats
By most accounts, Samuels had a disappointing junior season. He was unable to get out of foul trouble and averaged just 8.5 points. After sitting out the first two games of the season with a suspension, the 6-foot-7 senior has been plugging away with 12.0 points and 7.1 rebounds. Samuels seems to be coexisting peacefully with freshman Thomas Gipson, who is similarly sized and similarly productive (10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds). Samuels has accrued three fouls in his last four games, but has only fouled out once this season. He has been able to play a career-high 25.9 minutes and has scored in double figures in all but one game. Samuels has been the Big 12 wars before, so you can count on him to remain his steady self.
Alexis Wangmene/Clint Chapman, centers, Texas Longhorns
If the Longhorns could somehow meld these two players together, they'd have one legitimate center. The Alint Chapmene would average 11.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. What fantasy team wouldn't take that type of production? Sadly, they are two individuals and neither is really worthy of much fantasy attention. The 6-foot7 Wangmene is the starter, but has not scored in his last three games.. He has missed his last seven shots and has only managed one rebound in of his last two games. The 6-foot-10 Chapman comes off the bench. He had a nice string of three games recently with 7.0 points and 10.0 rebounds against Texas State, Nicholls, and Temple. Chapman only had two points and five boards against North Carolina. Chapman has been playing a little better lately, but you could flip a coin on which one to add.