In the next installment of our “Now & Then” series, we turn our eye to a projected Top 5 lottery pick and the most coveted and temperamental big man in the country: Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins. The spitting image of Michigan State’s Zach Randolph, Cousins has mixed moments of brilliance with immaturity this season in Lexington.
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| Cousins | Randolph | |
| Nickname | “Big Cuz” | “Z-Bo” |
| Career PPG | 16.1 | 10.8 |
| Career RPG | 10.1 | 6.7 |
| Height | 6-11 | 6-9 |
| Weight | 260 | 270 |
| NBA Draft pick | Projection: Top 5 | 19th pick, 2001 (Portland) |
| Hometown | Mobile, AL | Marion, IN |
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Cousins and Randolph almost look like brothers: they’re both 6-9 and over 250 pounds, with baby faces and baby fat to boot.
But the comparisons go much deeper than that. With their size, they’re a colossal mismatch for any post player in the college game and just overpower anyone in their way. And they’ve each got soft and massive hands that point guards dream of. Unfortunately, both see defense as optional and suffer from poor footwork on the other end. Each gets winded easily as well.
But their biggest problem? Character issues. Randolph had several run-ins with the law – including selling a stolen gun – and has been labeled immature his entire NBA career until now. Cousins’ issues are on the floor, where his temper results in cheap elbows and technical fouls, inciting opposing fans and jawing back at John Calipari on the bench.
Until this season, being labeled “the next Zach Randolph” wasn’t necessarily a good thing as he piled up meaningless stats year after year without wins to show for it. And every NBA GM should be prepared for lots of growing pains after taking this Wildcat. Like Randolph, Cousins is a boom-or-bust pick and hopefully it won’t take him eight seasons to get his act figured out.
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Not sure the purpose of this article! I gues it’s an opinion piece and you know what they say about opinions?
I think you would have a hard time convincing anyone associated with DeMarcus of this comparison, especially if you aren’t going to check readily available facts – DeMarcus is 6′ 11″, 270 lbs.
You’re kidding, right? Cousins is FAR more dominant than Randolph was. He has signifigantly better stats on a signifigantly better team. He is taller and bigger and stronger than Randolph was. If you want a collegiate athlete to compare Cousins to, its Shaquille Oneal…not Randolph.
Yeah, looks to me based on you stats like cuz is taller, stronger, scores more points, and gets more rebounds. And comparing possesion of guns to on court antics? Give me a break. I accidently clicked on this page and will intentionally never come back if this is the best reporting you can do. #1 college alumni site…for people who don’t like the facts.
UK fans… chill out
This is the worst written and factless article in years, another slam on UK and our players. WTF
Who is the fact checker on this. It is wrong in facts. It is wrong in idea and just another slam on UK and it’s players. WTF
Not sure if you have watch Demarcus Cousins play, but your assessment of his playing ability it wrong. He nearly 7′ and not a lot of baby fat. He does need to tone up his body, but he is not fat. I am an NBA Fan and would love to have Mr Cousins on my team, however, we will make the playoffs and he will not last beyond the third pick. Yes he has a maturity issue, but what 19 yr old that doesn’t. His defense is above average, but needs to improve. Look this is the NBA, they dont pay the big bucks to play defense.
You are comparing two minor on-court incidents, neither of which warranted more than a normal foul call, with “several run-ins with the law” including a gun incident? Maybe you are stretching this a bit, no?