Newest Missouri class fighting through ‘freshman wall’

The concept of a “freshman wall” isn’t new to college basketball.

The grind of stepping up from the high school ranks into the college game takes a heavy toll on many players.

There are notable exceptions. LSU’s Ben Simmons averages 19.8 points and 12.7 rebounds.

But most freshman struggle to adapt to the college, especially when conference play arrives.

Missouri has learned all about the freshman wall in the last month.

The Tigers’ freshman class — forward Kevin Puryear along with guards Terrence Phillips, K.J. Walton and Cullen VanLeer — averaged 31.1 points with a 1.06 assist-to-turnover ratio during 13 nonconference games.

Those numbers have taken a significant hit during a 1-6 start to the SEC slate, down to 24.3 points with a 0.78 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The quartet shares a dorm suite and hasn’t shied away from airing out their issues.

“Some days we see it, especially in our days off,” Phillips said. “You just see it all over our faces in our bodies as we just laid down to take advantage of that day off.”

The picture isn’t completely grim. Buoyed by Phillips and Walton, in particular, Missouri’s freshman are actually rebounding better in conference play (11.7 in conference vs. 10.9 in non-conference) and collectively they average fewer turnovers by game (5.2 in non-conference vs. 5.1 in the SEC).

“There were definitely a couple games where I feel like I wasn’t really a presence …,” Puryear said. “High school was a lot easier. I could walk into a game knowing I would get 20 points minimum. College is way different. You’re playing against grown men day in and day out, so I feel like it’s more the thinking game in college.”

Players and coaches alike agree that the freshman wall has little to do with the physical aspects of the game. It’s the mental side that is the most taxing.

“Some of my freshman have been my best players, and the reality of it is, as the season goes on, they get better,” said Kentucky coach John Calipari, who has been blessed with some of the top freshman in the country over the years.

Still, even the mighty Wildcats and the one-and-done factory Calipari has built for elite talent, aren’t immune to such concerns.

“If a guy has a freshman wall, it’s probably more mental and he’s not ready for the overwhelmingness of what he’s dealing with,” Calipari said.

That can include the more rigorous coursework at the college level and, in some cases, homesickness in addition to the on-court factors that come with bumping up a level of play.

“I definitely had a freshman wall, but a lot of freshman hit it …” Walton said. “I know physically I’m good and in great shape, but it’s a mental thing I’m getting over. … It’s just a confidence thing and I’ll definitely bounce back from it.”

Walton already has, putting together two of his better games in conference play during the last week.

It’s a similar story for Puryear and Phillips, who are riding the rollercoaster back up at the moment.

“All the players I’ve had, there was a lull in the season where it’s like, ‘OK, am I going to step this up or am I going to surrender to it?” Calipari said. “And most cases, our kids stepped up.”

Perhaps more importantly for Missouri’s freshmen there’s no hint that they’ve caved into the freshman-wall doldrums.

“It’s hard when you’re losing, but I think we’ve shown some promise,” senior Ryan Rosburg said. “We just need to get that win and get them over the hump. … There’s a lot more optimism. At this time last year, we were already so down on ourselves and deep in that hole. This year, we still expect and hope to win a lot of games.”

Either way, Tigers coach Kim Anderson seems committed to letting his freshmen continue to work through the growing pains.

“I’m just going to keep playing them,” he said. “I think the freshman group is a core group of our program, and they’ve all worked hard. They’re still working hard. … I think your guys, they’ll come out of it, but I just hope they do it in a hurry.”

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Newest Missouri class fighting through ‘freshman wall’."