Cousins’ emotions are focus for opposing teams

Tweet

UK head coach John Calipari talks to DeMarcus Cousins on the bench. Cousins' temper and emotions have been the focus for opposing teams as they try to exploit them. Photo by Zach Brake | Staff

Though he played the role of an unstoppable force on Saturday afternoon against Vanderbilt, freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins still has a kryptonite: himself.

With 9:06 remaining in the game and the Cats leading 69-56, Cousins appeared to have tipped a ball as it was on its downward flight. Cousins said he didn’t touch it. When the officials called him for goaltending, the big man said something to them as he was walking off the court and was called for a technical foul.

“I said, ‘Oh my God, what the…’ and stopped. And he got me,” Cousins said. “Yeah, I didn’t complete the word but he got me.”

Cousins has been the focus of numerous teams’ attention for varying reasons.

His 6-foot-11, 260-pound frame can give opposing coaches headaches trying to figure out ways in which to stop him — or contain him. Despite averaging barely more than a half of basketball per game, Cousins is averaging 16.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He’s scored in double figures in all but two of UK’s games and already has registered more double-doubles than any freshman in UK basketball history.

His temper and colorful emotions are another focal point for opposing coaches. His physical play was scrutinized the most following the Cats’ game against archrival Louisville on Jan. 2.

Diving on the ground for a loose ball, Cousins was seen elbowing Louisville forward Jared Swopshire. Louisville senior guard Edgar Sosa was quoted by some media members as calling Cousins a “nutcase.”

Since that game, opposing teams have tried to push the envelope with Cousins using bumps, pushes and nudges during the play of the game and afterward.

Following UK’s lone loss of the season, Cousins was accused of hitting a South Carolina student after Carolina students stormed the court in celebration.

“Nothing happened,” Cousins said. “We were pushing people out of the way. I never threw a punch. I don’t know where that came from. Nothing happened.”

With so many teams keying on Cousins and “trying to get his goat,” Calipari said Cousins has come a long way and is proud of the way he has handled himself. On Saturday against Vanderbilt, Calipari said the officials went up to him and told him they had missed a call against Vanderbilt.

“He got punched in the head today and the official came over and said ‘I should have called it’,” Calipari said. “(Cousins) did not respond to it. DeMarcus is growing up. He is going to do dumb things at times, but out here with all of those young guys, it’s all freshman stuff.”