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Wrong SEC player tabbed as preseason All-American
By Joshua Davidson
Last week the first preseason All-American list was released showcasing several of the returning stars from last season like Kansas' Cole Aldrich and Sharron Collins and Notre Dame's Luke Haragody, and then a couple of "upside" type guys like Duke's Kyle Singler and Kentucky's Patrick Patterson.
No one on that list should come as much of a surprise expect for when you get to Patterson. Of all the guys they could've picked in not only the SEC, but in the nation, Patterson should not have even been close to making that list.
Before we get into who should be on the list, let's look at Patterson's stats from his first two seasons as a Wildcat. Patterson followed a very strong 16 point, seven rebound freshman season up with a 17 point, nine rebound sophomore campaign. Instead of doing the smart thing and leaving Kentucky while he was ahead, he decided to come back for a junior season under new coach John Calipari.
Calipari didn't just come in alone. He came in with a plethora of top recruits including the point guard everyone's drooling about, John Wall, along with big man Demarcus Cousins, both of which are penciled in as starters on the new and improved Kentucky team.
Outside of those two, Calipari brought in guards Eric Bledsoe and Jon Hood and will look to transform holdovers from last years team like Perry Stevenson and Darius Miller into running guys that can handle his patented Dribble-Drive-Motion offense from the interior. Early reports say that despite Patterson's old school low post style of play, he will be asked to play a lot of small forward and work on more guard-like skills.
This will kill Patterson's stats. He won't find the floor in a crowded rotation and Calipari will look to use "his" guys. So what does all this mean?
Tasmin Mitchell from LSU should have been the SEC player named to the preseason All-American list. The fifth-year forward will prove his worth early and often on an undermanned Tigers squad and by season's end will be mentioned in the same breath as Aldrich and Harangody.
With a depleted roster this year, Mitchell will add to his already impressive career at LSU with averages around 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Not only will Mitchell put up nice statistics but his prior experience and leadership will jolt the LSU Tigers to an unexpected NCAA Tournament berth.
All of this is merely speculation, but looking at Mitchell's stats over the last four years, the Denham Springs native has increased his production in nearly every statistical category each year, leading up to an astonishing 52% three-point shooting percentage last season while averaging 16 points and seven rebounds.
If Mitchell can keep the trend up this season with his stats, and keep the Tigers afloat in the race for the SEC West, he will be in mentioned among the elites in college basketball all while Patterson will regret everyday that he didn't opt for the NBA after last season.
Originally Published: Issue 823 - November 11, 2009
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