Cousins cooling down off court while he heats up on it
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Center DeMarcus Cousins is about to make you laugh. Out loud. Several times. There may be spittle involved. But first, this scene needs to be described.
When speaking to a small number of journalists, Cousins several times mentioned an ailing back. It apparently began to flare during Kentucky's game against Cornell. "It was hard for me to run," he said.
If that's Cousins playing hurt -- he was the best player on the floor against Cornell -- imagine what it's like against Cousins when he's healthy.
"My body hurts," he said. "We've got to keep playing though, right? What? Three more games?"
His ailing back might be nothing. It's probably fine. But after Cousins finished his media session, he stood up, took several steps, and immediately grabbed his lower back. "Oww, damn!" he said. What's wrong, he was asked? "My back is killing me," Cousins said.
What happened, he was asked?
"I think it was the bed I slept in this week," Cousins said.
Then, he limped down a hallway. Yes, limped. He looked like Fred Sanford.
Cousins will be fine, assuredly, since college medical staffs have elixirs, potions and medications that can cure sore backs. If needed, John Calipari will walk on Cousins' back for as long as it takes.
The pain in his face was in direct contrast to the entertaining quotes from his media session.
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Turns out Cousins is an entertaining guy. A short sample.
• On the similarity between John Wall and Calipari: "John [Wall] will cuss you out if you mess up. He's the baby version of Cal."
• On Kentucky fans: "They're crazy. They follow you to class ... You can't walk outside without 30 people asking for your autograph."
• On if there are any big men left in the tournament as good as him: "You tell me."
• On Calipari taking away the team's cell phones for the tournament: "We're more focused, which is good, but it's a little more boring."
• On if the West Virginia game will be the most physical of the year: "I don't know. I haven't played it yet."
• On if he watched Da'Sean Butler's game winner in the Big East tournament: "I saw where he traveled and hit the game winner."
• "Playing for Cal is hard. The yelling you just have to zone out and listen to the words."
There was this beauty before the Cornell game. "I'm not getting into all that," Cousins said. "They're ballplayers and they're here for a reason. They earned their way into the Sweet 16 ... I'm not getting into smart kids, dumb kids. ... They run their stuff, no matter what. They can play ball, bottom line. We're not out there reading books; we're out there playing basketball."
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| DeMarcus Cousins has some interesting things to say to the media. (AP) |
He's also an increasingly mature player who no longer gets easily rattled after cheap shots and elbows from opponents.
Cousins is often portrayed by the media as a hotheaded punk, but that's not him any longer. Off the court he speaks in measured, humorous and intelligent intonations. On it, he's calmer now than earlier in the season.
"I am proud I've matured," he said. "I'm helping my team out."
"DeMarcus really matured a lot during the season and his playing has changed a lot since high school," said Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe.
"Changed" in that he's better. But the explosive temper is gone.
When Cornell center Jeff Foote threw Cousins to the ground (only a personal foul was called) Cousins didn't lose his temper. All he did was glare at Foote.
Cousins suggested that despite his mellowing, a big man double standard is at work with game officials. "If it had been me," he said, "I'd have been ejected."
He's probably right, but that's not Cousins any more. He's all grown up.
If Cousins' back doesn't seize, expect him to do what he has done all postseason, which is dominate the post and then make people laugh.
