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Dunks, smiles remain best part of Andre Drummond’s game

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Mike Miller

Dunks are a majority of Andre Drummond’s game. Literally.

The UConn freshman has hit 122 shots this season. Sixty-three have been dunks. When you’re 6-10, 270-pounds, that’s how it goes. But that’s all he’s really been able to do.

And, as Kevin Duffy of the Greenwhich Post notes, that’s tough to take for a team that could use a force in the middle right now. As long as he remains a raw, physically talented “freak,” the Huskies (17-10) might continue to stay on that NCAA tournament bubble.

Entering this season, fans probably expected more of Drummond than his 10.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. At times, such as during his 15-point, 13-rebound performance Saturday against Syracuse, you see flashes of why he’s earned comparisons to the likes of Greg Oden

In flashes, we’ve seen why Andre Drummond was ranked No. 2 overall in his class. We’ve seen why he’s drawn comparisons to Greg Oden (physically and on defense) when he’s taken over games. But he’s mostly just young and trying to learn. From Duffy’s story:

We’ve also had to take a step back from all the YouTube videos and hype and expectation to realize that Andre Drummond is 18-years old. He’s a good-natured kid who has spent the better part of these six months with a smile on his face.

Right now, UConn needs a killer. It needs a Kemba Walker who refuses to lose. But Drummond isn’t that guy. Someday, maybe. For now, he’s got the dunks.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.