October 13, 2007

Kansas' Arthur adds to his game
Jayhawks sophomore working hard to be known as more than just a shooter.

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star

LAWRENCE | Before he came to Kansas, Darrell Arthur knew only one way to play basketball. Catch the ball. Shoot it. Watch it go in.

Early in his freshman year, that method worked wonderfully. It seemed too easy. Rarely passing the ball, Arthur averaged 15 points per game in his first eight games, showing people why he was a heralded, five-star recruit out of Dallas. But then it happened. He hit the dreaded freshman wall. What would Arthur do when the shots that were automatic his entire life suddenly weren’t falling?

Arthur became frustrated, and his minutes went down as the season progressed. He constantly battled foul trouble and averaged eight points a game in Big 12 play. It looked at times as if he had earned his nickname, “Shady,” for his ability to disappear.

Arthur realized after the Jayhawks’ season-ending loss to UCLA in the Elite Eight that being a one-dimensional offensive player wasn’t going to cut it.

“Looking back on last year, I was throwing stuff up there,” Arthur said. “Every time I got the ball, it went up. It wasn’t getting me anywhere, especially at the end of the season.”

KU coach Bill Self doesn’t know yet whether this year’s team will be better than last year’s. But there’s one reason why Self thinks the Jayhawks could eclipse a run to the Elite Eight and make that elusive trip to the Final Four. When times get tough on the perimeter for Brandon Rush and company, as they did last year against UCLA, Self has no doubt that Arthur can make opponents pay.

“I think we can play through our post men more than we did last year,” Self said. “The way we scored last year was guards breaking everybody down. Against UCLA, we didn’t throw the ball to Shady and just have him go get us two points.”

That’s because the Jayhawks couldn’t count on Arthur to play consistently and unselfishly. The kid was a black hole. But after an offseason of working with new assistant coach Danny Manning, a Kansas legend and longtime NBA power forward, Arthur feels he’s become a more complete player. The game has slowed down for him, which has helped him improve as a passer and as a defender.

“I think he’s the most improved, most matured player from last year, hands down,” Self said. “He’s a tremendous talent that needs to play to his talent level. We saw glimpses last year. I don’t think we as a group saw consistently the level he can play at.”

When Julian Wright surprised everyone by declaring for the NBA draft last April, it was obvious that Arthur would have to fill the void. Arthur took a big step in his development when he made the U.S. Under-19 national team that was scheduled to play in Serbia. Playing on a team full of talented players, Arthur would have to learn how to be a better team player.

Before Arthur suffered a stress fracture in his left leg, robbing him of a chance to play internationally, Self already began to notice a difference.

“It was the best I’ve ever seen him look, and he wasn’t shooting the ball,” Self said. “He’s always based his performance on getting the ball in the basket. I do think he has become more whole. He’s still going to clip off shots, but last year, per minute, he was right up there with the national leaders.”

Yes, it’s not as if Kansas doesn’t want Arthur to shoot. They just want him to do it within the framework of the offense. KU point guard Sherron Collins sees Arthur kicking the ball out more often and setting more screens. But Arthur still has the reputation of a gunner. Rush laughs when he hears the new rap on Arthur.

“Don’t listen to him,” Rush said. “He still likes to shoot every time he touches it. I don’t have a problem with that at all. Half the time it’s going to go in.”

As if there wasn’t enough pressure for Arthur to perform, he was chosen this week as a preseason All-Big 12 first-team selection. But Arthur is trying to block out all of that stuff. He has set one goal for himself: to average a double-double.

“Yeah, I don’t want to be thinking about (scoring) too much where I’m overexcited,” Arthur said. “If I’m calm and just letting the game come to me, I think everything else will open up.”

J. Brady McCollough - jbrady@coveringsports.com (email) - 816-868-2621 (cell)