FAYETTEVILLE — No SEC freshmen are carrying bigger scoring loads for their teams than Arkansas’ BJ Young and Georgia’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who will meet for the first time when the Razorbacks (16-7, 4-4 SEC) play the Bulldogs ( 10-12, 1-7) at Stegeman Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Young, a 6-3 guard, is averaging 13.8 points to account for 18.6 percent of the Razorbacks’ 74.1 scoring average.
The only SEC freshman providing a higher ratio of his team’s scoring is Caldwell-Pope, a 6-5 guard whose 14.0 points per game represent 23.1 percent of the Bulldogs’ SEC low 60.6 points.
“He’s a big guard that really plays with a lot of confidence,” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said of Caldwell-Pope. “He’s got that swagger that BJ has.
“He’s very athletic, very gifted.”
Young and Caldwell-Pope are among three SEC freshmen leading their teams in scoring, along with Kentucky center Anthony Davis, who is averaging 13.9 points for the No. 1-ranked Wildcats.
“I like the challenge,” Young said of being counted on as an impact freshman. “Sometimes it’s hard, because guys are starting to key on me a little bit. But I’m just trying to make the best adjustments I can and keep doing what I do and help my team out.”
Young came to Arkansas from St. Louis while Caldwell-Pope was a McDonald’s All-American from Greenville, Ga., who chose to stay home and play for Georgia.
“I think Kentavious has been a young guy who’s come in with a great mentality and approach to our team,” Georgia Coach Mark Fox said. “He came with the attitude that, ‘I’m joining the team, the team’s not joining me.’
“We’ve had to throw him into the fire with a bigger role than most freshmen have to shoulder. He’s had to play really the lion’s share of minutes on the wing for us and hasn’t had much chance to rest. He hasn’t had a lot of chances to come out of games and be coached during games, because he’s always on the floor. But he’s really been very productive for us.”
Caldwell-Pope is averaging 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 assists in 32.1 minutes. He’s led Georgia in scoring 12 times, including 25 points against Ole Miss, 22 against Alabama and 19 against Vanderbilt.
“He’s one of the best freshmen in our league, and our league is full of quality freshmen,” Ole Miss Coach Andy Kennedy said. “He’s a prolific scorer.
“He’s got good size, good length, so he’s not an easy matchup.”
Anderson described Caldwell-Pope as a dynamic player.
“He’s going to be a guy we’ve got to really zero in on,” Anderson said.
The Bulldogs also figure to be zeroing in on Young, who in addition to leading the Razorbacks in scoring is averaging 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.4 minutes primarily off the bench.
“I just want to help the team any way I can, starting or coming off the bench,” Young said. “Coach Anderson knows what he’s doing, so I’m just going to do whatever he says.”
Young is 49.2 percent shooting (119 of 242) from the field, including 39 percent on three point attempts (32 of 82).
“BJ’s been giving us some quality, quality, efficient minutes,” Anderson said. “I’ve been really pleased with his progress, and he’s only going to get better.”
Young’s big scoring games include 28 points against Connecticut, 24 against Oklahoma and Mississippi State and 19 in the Razorbacks’ first game against LSU.
But LSU held Young to three points on 1 of 5 shooting in the team’s rematch, which the Tigers won 71-65 Saturday at the Maravich Assembly Center.
It was the first time in 10 games Young failed to score at least 10 points and his second-lowest game of the season after he had two points in the opener against South Carolina Upstate. He also had four turnovers at LSU, including being called for a charge that negated a basket which would have pulled Arkansas within 61-60 with 2:15 left.
When Young heard the whistle he thought a blocking foul had been called and he’d be going to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.
“It was pretty frustrating on that call, but I try not to dwell on it too much,” Young said.
Anderson said he’s not worried about Young going into the Georgia game.
“He’s a competitor,” Anderson said. “I think he wants to go out and perform better.”
Arkansas sophomore guard Mardracus Wade said he talked to Young after the LSU game about staying positive.
“Like I told him, you’re going to have games like that sometimes,” Wade said. “The best thing about it is you get to play another game, learn from the last one and try and get better.”
Young said he won’t use lack of experience as an excuse for any mistakes he makes.
“I don’t really feel like a freshman anymore,” he said. “I never really did, as much as I’ve been playing.”
Caldwell-Pope no doubt can relate.
Up next ARKANSAS MEN
AT GEORGIA TIME 7 p.m.
Central, Wednesday WHERE Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga.
TV SEC Network
Sports, Pages 17 on 02/07/2012