By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Even though he was coming off an outstanding high school basketball career for Blue Valley North that ended with a Class 6A state championship, Andrew Orr thought he might have to bide his time to get much playing time early in his first college season after joining a veteran, nationally-ranked Washburn University team that was coming off a 20-7 season and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
But nobody could have predicted the circumstances that put three of WU's best players on the sidelines during the early portion of the season, a situation that has thrust the 6-foot-8 Orr into a major role from Day 1.
And although he didn't necessarily see that coming, Orr has continued to grow into his role with the Ichabods and has turned in a solid performance, averaging 6 points and 3.9 rebounds while earning two starts and seeing action in all seven games.
"Coming in I didn't really think I was going to be playing as much as I am right now, but I feel like the coaching staff and even the team has done a really good job of getting me ready for this and helping me prepare and be confident in my abilities and doing what I do,'' Orr said.
Washburn freshman Andrew Orr is coming off a career-high 14-point performance in Wednesday's 68-58 loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Orr, also the 6A state high jump champion as a senior, is coming off the best performance of his young college career in Wednesday's 68-58 home MIAA loss to Fort Hays State, scoring 14 points on 7 of 7 shooting from the field while also grabbing six rebounds and blocking two shots.
"We emphasized it in practice (before Wednesday's game) that we need to get the ball inside and play through our big guys because that's what works for us,'' Orr said. "That's what we've been doing in practice and that's what's been working so we just knew that's what we needed to do and we got it done for at least some of the time.''
Washburn has been stung by several close losses in a 3-4 start to the year, but Orr thinks better days are right around the corner if the Ichabods can continue to make progress, particularly on the defensive backboard.
"It is frustrating because we give up too many offensive rebounds and that's really at the end of the day what loses us the game because we can't give up those extra possessions and those extra shots and that's what really gets to us,'' Orr said. "Once we start getting that down then we'll be straight.''
Washburn, which will host Nebraska-Kearney in a 3 p.m. Saturday contest at Lee Arena, has been without All-America guard Tyler Geiman, 6-9 junior Jonny Clausing and sophomore guard Tyler Nelson and Ichabod coach Brett Ballard said he's pleased with the way Orr has stepped up for WU.
"He's playing good for a freshman,'' Ballard said. "Those are experienced guys he's going against and I thought he did well.
"He's giving us good minutes and he's been really solid for us for a true freshman. He's going to be good.''
Washburn will face a Lopers team Saturday that is 3-3 after an 81-70 loss at Emporia State on Thursday.
The men's game will follow a 1 p.m. women's game between Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney.
The 1-5 Ichabods will take on an UNK team that is 6-1 on the season with five straight wins after a 59-58 win at Emporia State on Thursday.
