Ten for Tuesday: Some triple-double threats

When it comes to the triple-double, college basketball is the awkward middle child.

Iowa State's Curtis Stinson was three assists short of a triple-double this year against Fresno State. (Getty Images)

Triple-doubles happen all the time in high school, the combination of a great player and bad competition. They happen occasionally in the NBA, where assists -- and minutes -- are plentiful. But they almost never happen in college. This season, there has been one. Last season? Two players did it (we think).

Calling all triple-doublers! Ten for Tuesday pleads with the following:

1. Kojo Mensah, Siena: He's the one this season. Mensah, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, had 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists against Albany. The game went to overtime, but Mensah had his triple-double in regulation. That was no fluke, either. For the season, he's averaging 18.5 points, eight rebounds and 5.2 assists.

2. Rajon Rondo, Kentucky: Skinny and 6-1, Rondo is still the best rebounding guard in college basketball. He's averaging 9.9 rpg, with a high of 19 against Iowa. If any of his teammates could shoot, we'd declare the inevitability of a Rondo triple-double. As it is, he's averaging 15.5 ppg and 5.2 apg. Maybe he could get a triple-double off points, rebounds and steals; he holds the school record with eight in a game. Or, dare we dream it aloud: quadruple-double?

3. Shawn James, Northeastern: He had two triple-doubles last season as a freshman (the other Division I player to triple-double was Miami's Anthony King), and James has almost done it twice this season -- against Central Connecticut State (12 points, nine rebounds, nine blocked shots) and Cal State Northridge (14 points, eight, 10). If he stays in school four years, the 6-9 James will become the NCAA's career leader for blocked shots and will add to his triple-double collection.

4. Justin Williams, Wyoming: Another shot-blocking candidate, Williams just missed a triple-double against Charlotte: 13 points, 20 rebounds, nine blocks. He also came close against UNC-Wilmington (16-16-6) and Southern Illinois (eight, seven, eight), and he had eight blocks Saturday against Princeton. Williams, if you're wondering, is a 6-10 senior who spent his first two seasons at Colby (Kan.) Community College.

5. Jose Juan Barea, Northeastern: That's right: Two of the top triple-double candidates play for Northeastern. Deal with it. Barea, a 5-11 senior from Puerto Rico, has already done it internationally -- blistering Brazil for 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 2004 under-21 tournament. This summer he almost did it to the U.S. under-21 team (21, 14 and nine). This season for Northeastern, he just missed one against Brown (22, nine and eight). He averages 23.9 ppg, 9.3 apg and 4.4 rpg.

6. Curtis Stinson, Iowa State: This 6-3 junior has been a triple-double threat since he was a freshman. He averages 20 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 5.8 apg, and came closest this year against Fresno State (22, 12, seven). And don't discount backcourt partner Will Blalock, who averages 13.3 ppg and 7.5 apg and once had nine rebounds in a game.

7. Stephane Lasme, UMass: He's wildly inconsistent, but when he's on, he's on. Lasme just missed a triple-double against Davidson (10 points, 11 rebounds, nine blocks). He also flirted with one against UAB (14, eight, seven). All told, the 6-8 junior averages 8.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 5.2 blocks.

8. Randy Foye, Villanova: Foye's chances are hurt by the Wildcats' lack of a low-post scorer, which makes a double-digit assist total unlikely. He came closest against Stony Brook, with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists and averages 23 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 3.8 apg. Get well, Jason Fraser, and Foye will do the rest.

9. Jeff Horner, Iowa: He's hurt, but when Horner returns from his knee injury, expect his triple-double stalking to continue. He's 27 rebounds short of becoming the only Iowa player with 1,200 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. Come to think of it, no other Hawkeye even has 1,000, 400 and 400. Horner approached a triple-double against Fairfield this season with 12 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. He averages 12 ppg, 6.4 apg and 3.7 rpg but is a dangerous rebounder. He averaged 5.3 as a sophomore.

10. Mardy Collins, Temple: If the versatile Collins doesn't get one, it's because his teammates don't shoot well enough. The 6-6 senior's personal highs are 30 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and nine steals. He toyed with a triple-double against Miami (19 points, six rebounds, seven assists), but his season averages are down from a year ago: 14.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg.