Jayhawk Player Ratings to the Theme of Sports Rivalries

Kansas destroyed Missouri in the latest installment of the Border Showdown.

Well, that was a blowout which, I’m pleased to report, I almost exactly predicted a few days ago. But, putting my Nostradamus-like abilities aside, we’re here to rate the players. Today, since this is a “rivalry” game, we’re rating them to some famous sports rivalries. Here's how it works:

Contents

1. 5 Stars: Real Madrid against Barcelona
2. 4.5 Stars: Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier
3. 4 Stars: Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal
4. 3.5 Stars: USA Hockey against Russia
5. 3 Stars: Red Sox against Yankees
6. 2 Stars: Cowboys against NFC East
7. 1 Star: Kansas against Missouri
8. Chris Teahan Memorial No Star:

5 Stars: Out of this world performance. This is a hard to achieve rating and is only reserved for the most impressive or impressionable performances.

4.5 Stars: Very strong performance, packed the stat sheet, provided undeniable intangibles.

4 Stars: A strong performance that falls just short of the standards above.

3.5 Stars: Above average performance, perhaps stands out in one category or one aspect of the game.

3 Stars: Average performance. Also could be a very strong game in one aspect but a very poor game in another such as 15 points but seven turnovers. Could also be that the player played, did their job, but didn't do much spectacularly.

2 Stars: Below average performance, or we simply have higher expectations for the player on this particular night.

1 Star: Rare, but if a player has a stinker in all aspects.

Memorial No Star: Named after a former KU walk-on or obscure player and is awarded to the player(s) who didn't have enough playing time to contribute or whose performance isn't worthy of a rating for another reason.

5 Stars: Real Madrid against Barcelona

El Clásico. The biggest game in Spanish football is always a spectacle. In a rivalry that goes back to the Spanish Civil War, this game usually has league championship implications, and sometimes European glory is at stake.

No one ascended to five star status in this one, but many were close.

4.5 Stars: Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier took the first fight, while Muhammed Ali won the second. It was all down to the Thrilla in Manilla, widely regarded as the best heavyweight boxing match of all time. Ali won on a 2-1 decision in a fight that was watched by over a billion people worldwide.

Kevin McCullar was everywhere in this one.  He made eight of 12 shots, his only misses being from three point land.  He finished with 21 points, five steals, four rebounds, and three assists.  Not a bad day at the office.

When Jalen Wilson said that he's played in bigger games than this in front of better crowds reassuring everyone that the Missouri faithful wouldn't intimidate him, he was going to be a high star no matter what.  His 21 points and 10 rebounds assured it. Dude's a national champ and he's backing it up every night.

Maybe MU isn't very good, but KJ Adams looked like Patrick Ewing out there for almost the whole game. My man is putting up Dok style field goal percentage numbers, but when they're all dunks and lay-ins, he should make all of them.  Finished with 19 points on nine of eleven shooting.

The Dajuan Harris homecoming didn't disappoint.  The highlight: the over the head backwards assist to KJ for a dunk. Juan had nine assists to go with six points.

4 Stars: Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal

The greatest tennis rivalry of all time is sadly gone now, but these guys seemed to battle it out for every Grand Slam event over the last decade and a half or so. Roger won 20 major titles in his career, and Nadal is still playing and sitting at 22. Legends.

Gradey Dick was amazing in the first half, scoring 15 of his 16 in the opening stanza.  When he's feeling it, he's so fun to watch.

3.5 Stars: USA Hockey against Russia

The 1980 game for the US versus Russia is probably the biggest upset in team sports history. At that time, the rivalry was about more than just hockey as the Cold War consumed many peoples’ everyday lives. Hopefully, we won’t reach that intensity any time soon.

No one lands in this spot.

3 Stars: Red Sox against Yankees

The game that ESPN would show 162 times if it could. This was once a great rivalry. Now, it’s boring.

Joseph Yesufu is a three, not because he was bad, but simply because he didn't play too much.  Finished with four points.

Bobby Pettiford is working his way back from an injury. 

2 Stars: Cowboys against NFC East

I had to put a football rivalry on here, so here they are. Also boring.

No one was a two star.

1 Star: Kansas against Missouri

One team is too scared to play the others’ football team. The basketball games have been lopsided victories for Kansas. This rivalry is being forced, but hey, might as well destroy them when you can, right?

No one was a one star.

Chris Teahan Memorial No Star:

MJ Rice, Ernest Udeh, Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Wilhite, Zach Clemence, Cam Martin, and Michael Jankovich all played less than significant minutes although Jankovich canned a late three to rub it in.

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