By LARRY VAUGHT

LSU coach Trent Johnson readily admits he enjoys watching the way physical post players can dominate a game and has had players like that play for him.

He also wonders why no one focuses on the physical punishment that a player like Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins takes on a regular basis.

“Does anybody evaluate how much contact he takes. Look at the beatings he takes some games,” said Johnson. “I think we are all fortunate, especially the guys that play against him, that he is a gentleman. The game is called different down there. Him being emotional shows he cares, but he is still a kid.”

While many have questioned Cousins’ attitude and emotional maturity, Johnson likes the “nasty attitude” he brings to game.

“For me, that attitude is a positive,” Johnson said. “He is very confident, too, and should be. He can catch it. He is mobile. He does not have good hands, but great hands. He has those soft hands. He finishes play. There is so much to like about him, and his basketball IQ is very, very good. The sky is the limit for him whether it is here or at the next level (in the NBA).”

Johnson says it has amused him at times to say Cousins is criticized for being emotional.

“It is an emotional game you play, and he is a kid. There is so much that goes on because he has a man’s body, but he is still an 18- or 19-year-old kid out there playing a man’s game. There is a ton more contact than there is out front that he has to endure every game, and he handles it well,” Johnson said.

“I think John Calipari has done an exceptional job, especially for all of us who saw DeMarcus play back in high school to where he is now to how receptive he is to coaching. He’s so competitive. His IQ, his hands, his tenacity. He is just very impressive. I have been around some good bigs in my career, but he has a lot to work with.”

Some Southeastern Conference competitors think Cousins has an unfair knock on his maturity, too.

“I played Cousins in AAU. He has got better and is a great player, too. He can shoot the ball and has a nice touch,” Alabama’s JaMychal Green said. “He was always emotional, which was probably good and bad. He just wants to win also.

“You have to be on your ‘A’ game against him. He has nice post moves and lift on everybody he plays. He’s really good and the emotion just makes him better.”

South Carolina guard Devan Downey admits Cousins can get a “little emotional at times,” but says he does, too.

“Cuz is a good guy. He is so emotional. He is not a bad guy at all. He just loves the game so much and is such a competitor. He gets a little emotional at times, but I kind of like that. It shows me he cares and I want guys like that on my team,” Downey said.

Calipari said Monday that Cousins continues to improve as a player and understand how to channel his emotions.

“The bar has really been raised on him for what is acceptable and not acceptable. As the accolades started coming his way and when he was being viewed as this person and player in a good way, he liked it,” Calipari said.

“He still gets frustrated when he is double teamed and is not getting baskets and he’s doubled on rebounds so he is not getting the ball and and he is trying to learn to deal with it. He has come so far, it is really good.”

By the numbers
Here is how DeMarcus Cousins ranks nationally in several statistical categories going into NCAA play:
Points: 15.3 per game (201st).
Field goal percentage: 54.1 (29th).
Rebounds: 10.1 per game (19th).
Blocked shots: 1.8 per game (71st).
Double-doubles: 20 (6th).

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