Razorbacks' talented freshman about to equal achievement of greatest player in SEC history
Darius Acuff was named SEC Freshman of the Week a record eight times this season and is a shoo-in to be the conference's Freshman of the Year. He should also win SEC Player of the Year honors., but it's a close race with Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard and Alabama's Labaron Philon.
That honor will be decided this week as the regular season ends Saturday.No player has led the SEC in both scoring and assists in 56 years. Think about that for a moment. Fifty-six seasons. We've got to go back to the 1969-70 season to find a player who did what Acuff is doing.He also leads the SEC in minutes played and assist/turnover ratio. He's the most indispensable player in the SEC. One more thing: Guess who has the highest scoring game in the SEC this year with 49 points? Yep, it's Acuff.If Acuff does lead the conference in both scoring and assists, he'll match the accomplishment of one of the most legendary names in SEC history. That 6-foot-5 guard changed the game of basketball with his stylish play and is the consensus choice as the best-ever player in the SEC. Of course, we're talking about "Pistol" Pete Maravich, the last SEC player to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season. Maravich is still the NCAA's all-time leading scorer with a hard-to-believe 44.2 points per game. Not for one season, for all three. And Maravich, a long-range shooter, played when college hoops didn't have a three-point line or shot clock. We're not comparing Acuff to "Pistol Pete," but he's about to write his name in the record book alongside the LSU legend. As a passer, Maravich was ahead of his time. Hall of Famer point guards like Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas rave about him and admit learning some of their best moves from the Pistol. Check out the video below but skip to 2:07.Acuff is special because he can do so many things well. He's got about every trait coaches would insist upon if they're building the perfect point guard in a lab. Below are several of his strengths, which many players possess. But not many display all these attributes:That last one is important. Lots of great players shrink from the pressure, don't want the ball or the responsibility with the game on the line.Acuff is not just a great shooter. He's a great scorer and can find a way when it matters most, but his shooting numbers are all excellent:Acuff can do better at the free-throw line. It's called the charity stripe for a reason and with better focus he could shoot 90% in the NBA. Question is whether he could maintain those college numbers and join the 50-40-90 Club.Only nine players in NBA history have averaged 50% shooting in a season to go with 40% on three-pointers and 90% at the line. That's nine, not eight, and my man below names all nine. It begs the question as to whether Acuff could ever be in the hunt to join that special group of sensational shooters.Not every NBA lottery pick enjoys a successful pro career, for various reasons. However, Acuff will excel.Acuff has the desire, the temperament, and the skills to succeed. He can help a below average team become good and a good team a contender.Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. drives for a bucket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs is helpless to stop him. | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images What is fact is Acuff has put together a historic season that makes people remember Maravich. The Pistol was so good LSU named its basketball arena after him — the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, or PMAC. Bud Walton Arena will never be renamed in Acuff's honor. But the SEC record book will feature his name, likely more than once. Sounds like the SEC Player of the Year discussion should be over. There's only one real candidate and it's Darius Acuff, Jr.Bob Stephens won more than a dozen awards as a sportswriter and columnist in Northwest Arkansas from 1980 to 2003. He started as a senior for the 1975 Fayetteville Bulldogs’ state championship basketball team, and was drafted that summer in the 19th round by the St. Louis Cardinals but signed instead with Norm DeBriyn's Razorbacks, playing shortstop and third base. Bob has written for the Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, New Jersey Star-Ledger, and many more. He covered the Razorbacks in three Final Fours, three College World Series, six New Year’s Day bowl games, and witnessed many track national championships. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Pati. Follow on X: @BobHogs56GameDay Visit Gives Rise to Hogs' Newest Little Big Man
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