Vols’ Chism evaluates Cousins’ play
March 10th, 2010 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
NASHVILLE — Tennessee senior Wayne Chism has gone head to head — or maybe blow for blow — with Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins twice this year.
Statistically, neither player has an advantage. Both teams have won one game while. Cousins was 6-for-16 from the field and averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two games. Chism was 9-for-27 from the field and averaged 10 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
“He played the same in both places. It’s just at his place no calls were made (by the officials). It was ESPN GameDay and a late game and everybody was hyped and the refs let you play,” said Chism.
“In the second game, he played a good game and I played a good game, too. We were both battling. At the same time, he made a lot of free throws in our game (7-for-9) and he didn’t make a lot (1-for-8) at his house, but he did a great job both times I thought.”
The two could match up again here in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals. The Vols would have to win two games — and they will be favored in both — while UK would have to beat either Alabama or South Carolina Friday to make Saturday’s semifinal round.
“It’s always Kentucky-Tennessee that fans want to see,” Chism said here Wednesday before practice for the Vols’ opening game against LSU. “The season is split 1-1 and usually Kentucky will take the season 2-0. But we battled our tails off so it would not be that way and beat them at our place.
“Still, everybody wants to see us play again. We match up with them the best, I think, of anybody in the league. Georgia might match up with them, too. But I know Kentucky and Tennessee fans would both love to see us play again and I hope they get their wish.”
So what is the best way to attack Cousins, who has a league-leading 18 double-doubles this year and has already made several postseason All-American teams?
“He loves to spin. You just can’t let him feel your body. If he feels your body, he knows how to move. He can actually take you off the bounce, too, because he has great hands,” Chism said.
“His good play has not surprised me. You could tell when he came in that he was good and was going to be good in this league. He has proved that with the way he is playing. I think Patrick (Patterson) took him under his wing and taught him everything in the book, and Cousins listened.”
Cousins, though, has averaged only 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in the last two games — well below his season averages of 15.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The league-wide theory seems to be that the best way to stop Cousins is to get inside his head and upset him.
Chism smiled and agreed.
“You can tell when freshmen get upset about the coaches or refs, especially the refs. When Cousins wants a foul and don’t get it, he gets frustrated and upset. It’s easy to see,” Chism said. “Sometimes he’ll get frustrated with the bumping and banging. He don’t like all that.
“He has to learn to deal with it. Now he is not letting it get to him any more and is just playing ball. I get upset, too, but you can’t let it change the way you play. You just have to move on to the next play. That’s what experienced players do.”
The Tennessee senior says Patterson is the perfect role model for Cousins to watch.
“I have enjoyed competing against Patterson so much. He is a great player and taught me so much and I probably taught him something, too,” Chism said.
“The way we play against each other is out of respect. Even though we talk crazy in a game, it was fun and was a matter of respect. I respect his game and he’s a great player. Cousins can keep learning from him.”
Chism also thinks UK coach John Calipari has been good for Cousins and UK’s other freshmen.
“He’s really coached his team great, especially with three or four freshmen out there,” Chism said. “It’s tough to get young guys to all play well at the same time, but the way he has coached those guys has been great. You can see how much he works with Cousins and how patient he is with him. Every coach might not have been that way, but he’s really been good for Cousins.”
Posted in UK Basketball
Larry, Love your website but I could give a rats ass what any UT player has to say about us….I would rather hear from a Janitor in the building.
This was great Larry. UT does a lot of trash talking and that is what gets to Cousins even though he is better at handling it now.
Chism knows just like his coach knows who is king in the SEC.
I was going to write something about how much I hated losing to UT…but then i realized that I really dislike losing to vandy and south carolina just as much.
I can’t wait until we play in the tournament against some teams stupid enough to let wall and bledsoe run.
Good, Bad or indifferent “THE VOICE” strikes again! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK LARRY!! GO BLUE AND LEARN TO BOOGIE!!!!
First: Statistically, Demarcus Cousins DOES have an advantage. He shot 38% to Chism’s 33%. And he averaged over twice as many rebounds. but that’s just statistics, right? Maybe you meant to say Demarcus “practically” or “virtually” has no advantage?
Second: Chism claims [and you did not correct] that “at his place no calls were made (by officials). It was ESPN GameDay and a late game and everybody was hyped and the refs let you play.” Yet the stats that he quote give the lie to his claim. Cousins shot only 1 more free throw in Knoxville than in Rupp.
I think this was refreshing. I like to hear what others are saying – even though they try to temper their tongues in order to stay off the bulletin board. Funny – I have always seen Chism as a thug. Isn’t it funny about their guys looking like thugs to us and our beasts look like teddy bears to us. Great article, Larry. Thanks. PS I don’t have a rat, much less a rat’s behind. Wondering where Booker got his.
Chism is right about one thing: we want Tennessee again. I hope they hold up their end of the deal and make it Friday. He made a good sell for the job Cal did coaching this year with all the freshmen.
What a difference a year makes.
GO BIG BLUE!!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!
nice to hear what some other players have to say about our team instead of all the trash talk you hear from the sports people who only think they know
Just try to share various perspectives here and thought Chism was actually pretty good about it. Will have more perspectives tomorrow
i live in nashville and cant wait for the cats to shut the UT fans up. they have a good team, no one can argue that. but they really think that the 2 teams are in the same class. vandy fans are at least smarter (which isnt saying much i know).
Larry,
I thought providing other players’ perspectives on us was a cool thing to do. It’s always nice to know how our competition views us. As a fan, it makes you realize other players are human too. Sometimes as fans we forget that other schools have good kids too.
I am enjoying reading the perspective from outside the Big Blue Bubble. I’m glad to see our guys are very respected (not that I am surprised–they’ve definitely earned everyone’s respect).
Nice Brian. HOpe to see you at the tourney.
Great point Fred. Lot of cool kids at every school and Karen I thought folks would like those perspectives, too
I think chism is a great ball player but saying that there were no calls in rupp compared to in tennessee is crazy. what about that murder shot on bledsoe in the first half when even tenn’s players stopped because they all knew it was a foul but it didnt get called; and that was just one of many. look, cousins is always getting hacked and players always grab wall as he blows past them and those dont get called near as often as they occur. there are bad calls everywhere, even at rupp, but dont say the tenn. game was called better than the one at rupp.
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Mr. Vaught, I also enjoy hearing the perspective outside the Big Blue Nation. Too, I liked Chism’s showing great respect for Patrick Patterson.
@Sarah, I don’t know why you would think Chism looked like a thug. The funny way he wears his headband should be evidence enough that he’s a fun loving softy.
As a Vol fan, I’ve got a lot of respect for this team and the heart they’ve shown (talking about KY). I do think Cousins flashes an incredulous look every time a call doesn’t go his way, and that calls DO tend to go his way more often than not, but every team has one of those.
I love this rivalry, and I’m glad that it is competitive again, back from the days of UT bball apathy.
Good luck to you guys in the NCAA tourney. Hope to see you on Saturday.
Great post Ben. Hope you have more to read here tonight and tomorrow about the Vols