Player Ratings to the Theme of Debut Rock N’ Roll Records

Kansas freshman Ochai Agbaji made his season debut last night to critical praise, so we’re rating the performances of the players based on debut rock n’ roll records.

5 Stars: Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses

This is the mother of all debut records. It’s got all the smash hits (“Welcome to the Jungle”, “Paradise City”, and “Sweet Child O’ Mine”) but the remaining songs are what makes this record so good. “It’s so Easy” and “Mr. Brownstone” are some of the best rock songs of all time, and the closer, “Rocket Queen” is one of the most unappreciated songs in rock n’ roll.

Dedric Lawson. Thirty one points and 14 rebounds. The big man from Memphis had himself a game. He absolutely took over the game in the second half, and is looking more and more like a man that KU will have to depend on to win games.

4.5 Stars: Bleach by Nirvana

Ah, the Nirvana record not many knew about until they did that MTV Unplugged and “About a Girl” became a hit. But this record is about more than that song. The crunching guitars and Kurt Cobain’s screams were closer to what Nirvana sounded like on stage than any of their other records.

Ochai Agbaji. What a debut. The freshman from Oak Park High School in Kansas City shed his redshirt and impressed the Allen Fieldhouse faithful. Seven points and four rebounds doesn’t tell the whole story. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious and if he can keep doing what he did on Wednesday, KU fans will feel much better about the season going forward.

Marcus Garrett. What a great defensive performance from the Dallas sophomore. He tied up his man all night, and although he had some bad luck at the rim offensively, he more than made up for that with good decision making and the best defense on the team.

4 Stars: Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails

I remember listening to this for the first time right when it came out wondering how Trent Reznor was making those kind of sounds with a guitar. Well, it turns out that he wasn’t, and the electronic innovation in PHM set the tone for records to this day. Oh, and when he brought out the whole band to perform these songs on stage, it was just as good if not better.

Devon Dotson is starting to show some of those leadership qualities that we’ve grown to expect from our point guards at Kansas. He didn’t fill up the stat book, and he of course needs to improve his jump shooting, but if he can use his energy and pace like he did last night (and he did it on both ends of the floor), KU will be better.

KJ Lawson. The “lesser” Lawson had a nice game and should see his minutes increase if he can keep playing like that. His seven points were needed, but so was his composure at the free throw line where he went three for three. If Bill Self thinks you had a good game, you had a good game.

3.5 Stars: Licensed to Ill by The Beastie Boys

This record is a groundbreaking effort, but once compared to the maturity and complexity of their following releases, the best this album can get is a 3.5, especially considering the records right above it. A classic, yes. But also the fifth best of their studio recordings.

Lagerald Vick. On one hand Vick had 12 points and made two of the team’s five three pointers. On the other hand, he is becoming a turnover machine, tallying another six last night.

Mitch Lightfoot. Mitch did what Mitch does. He hustles, he smiles, he grabs some rebounds, he gets out of the playmakers’ way.

3 Stars: Too Fast for Love by Motley Crue

I personally love this record, but I can see why it might feel the wrath from the public. But you have to give it this: the opening guitar riff of the record on “Live Wire” is sooooooooo good.

Quentin Grimes. A tale of two halves for Grimes. He seemed dedicated to getting to the rim and creating havoc in the first half and then he disappeared in the second.

2 Stars: Pablo Honey by Radiohead

Listen, Radiohead is arguably the best band in the world and they are certainly my favorite band of all time, but Pablo Honey leaves a lot to be desired. A LOT. And when you compare it to the masterpieces that they have made following it, it makes it all the more unlistenable. Thank goodness they changed directions and became what they became.

Charlie Moore. Where are Moore’s minutes going to come from if Agbaji and KJ play like they did?

1 Star: Candlebox

This is my least favorite band of all time (that somehow got popular) and although I’ve never listened to this record, I know it sucks.

No Jayhawk was as bad as Candlebox.

Not rated: David McCormack