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Kinghorn a Psycho-T himself
Now that North Carolina has made the Final Four, and the media frenzy around Tyler Hansbrough has grown to near Hannah Montana concert levels, just about everyone who follows college basketball knows the hard-working Tar Heel goes by the nickname ''Psycho T.''
He's called that because experts say he gives so much effort that he doesn't know how to take a play off. They say he doesn't know how to jog up the court. They say he doesn't even realize when he's been elbowed in the face and blood is racing down to his jersey. Some, namely loud mouth Dick Vitale, have said he's the hardest working player in the history of college basketball. I suppose all this attention is warranted. I did vote him U.S. Basketball Writers Association 2008 national player of the year a few weeks ago.
But all this hoopla got me thinking: What if an average player like Logan Kinghorn were on a team as successful as North Carolina? Would he too get his picture on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated?'' Would folks call him Pit Bull L? Or would he still be an honorable mention all-conference player like he was as a senior forward at Idaho State? Robinett, Page B4
I ask because if we're praising Hansbrough purely because of the extreme effort he displays, Kinghorn would deserve the same treatment. True, Hansbrough is by far the better player - I'm not trying to compare the two in terms of talent here - but someone made a movie out of that never-say-die Rudy character at Notre Dome. And he was just a walk-on. Even though Hansbrough is universally praised as someone who gives 100 percent effort at all times, like Rudy was, it's hard to fathom that he tries any harder than Kinghorn did during his four-year career with the Bengals.
To tell you the truth, from a purely effort-based standpoint, it's hard to fathom anyone playing with more energy on a consistent basis than Kinghorn. People say the double-double Hansbrough averages is incredible because he's only 6-foot-8. Well, Kinghorn rattled off several double-doubles at the end of his senior year - including a 17-point, 12-rebound effort against Montana in the Big Sky tournament - and he's only 6-foot-5.
I understand there is a talent gap between the ACC and Big Sky, but every stat Kinghorn earned was due to his effort. He's essentially the poor-man's ''Pyscho T.'' Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien called him the team's pit bull early in his senior season, because ''he goes 99 mph all the time,'' and said there was no getting him to change because ''that's the only way he knows how to play.'' He deserved those kind words. The guy was a maniac on the court. In games and in practice.
Kinghorn once walked away from a one-point victory over Carroll College disappointed because the game didn't go to overtime. The win wasn't enough for him. He wanted overtime, and the chance to win by a larger margin in those extra 5 minutes. Another time, Kinghorn was knocked unconscious on a hard foul during a win over Montana and the first thing he did upon coming back to reality was try to slug the goon who injured him.
During last offseason, he worked so hard, so often, that he trained his body to feel lazy if he wasn't totally drained by the middle of the afternoon. All are incredible examples of his work ethic and determination. But there is a moment that better defines Kinghorn at Idaho State. It came during a practice early on in his junior year, and coaches were simply in awe of him afterward.
He had just broken his nose and was forced to play with one of those ridiculous plastic masks on his face. And because Idaho State didn't have the proper personnel to use him as a perimeter player, coaches were asking him to be a power forward. They were also asking an anemic Bengals offense to start showing them more baskets in practice. Upon hearing this, Kinghorn screamed at his teammates, telling them ''to step up and score on this possession, or else.'' But he might as well have screamed only at himself.
Going up against the much taller, and much heftier Jon Ofoegbu, he would not be denied. He drove to the basket and missed a layup, but snared his own rebound. He went right at the basket again, but this time Ofoegbu hacked him with both arms and put pressure on Kinghorn's bruised face, as if trying to intentionally commit a foul. Still, Kinghorn would not be stopped. He fought through Ofoegbu's hammering hands and scored a basket. He then screamed victoriously in Ofoegbu's face and coaches applauded. Director of basketball operations Cody VanFleet turned to me at the time and gave a perfect analysis of what we had just witnessed. It sounded a whole lot like what UNC coach Roy Williams says about Hansbrough. ''I know coach (O'Brien) didn't recruit Logan, but I guarantee you if he saw this from him in high school, he would have offered him a scholarship on the spot,'' he said. ''To play this hard is incredible. To play this hard with that mask on is even more incredible. That's what coach wants to see. I mean, that's what every coach wants to see.'' Kellis Robinett's column appears on Sundays. Call him at 239-3136 or e-mail krobinett@journalnet.com with comments or story ideas. Article RatingReader CommentsSubmit a CommentCommenting RulesWe encourage your feedback and dialog. All comments are subject to deletion by our Web staff.
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