MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Barden doesn't get caught up with milestone

Class was almost over so Odessa College assistant men’s basketball coach Zack Janus waited outside to perform a routine inspection. It was less than 24 hours after the Wranglers suffered an overtime loss at New Mexico Junior College and Janus wanted to know if any of his players had decided to skip history.

When students filed out upon dismissal Friday, Janus couldn’t help but notice sophomore Derrick Barden had been in attendance.

“He (came) out and he had the biggest grin on his face I’ve ever seen and he said, ‘Guess what I got on my history test?’ ” Janus said.

Barden told Janus the week before that he thought he would score at least an 80 on the exam, but Barden far exceeded his own expectations. He earned a 96, according to Janus, and wound up with a 101 thanks to bonus points.

“It’s amazing to see a kid that scored over 1,000 points, about to get 700 rebounds, whatever it is, and the biggest smile you see on his face was something that came out of the classroom,” Janus said.

Barden reached, and eclipsed, 1,000 career points in the loss to the Thunderbirds. He’s believed to be just the third Wranglers player to achieve the feat, according to Odessa College athletic director Wayne Baker, and the first since Larry Johnson played for the team from 1987-89.

“It mean a lot, but I ain’t going to let it get to me, like get a big head about it,” Barden said. “I just got to keep playing the way I’m playing and not think about it.”

His next game will be at 7:45 tonight when the Wranglers (21-5 overall, 6-4 Western Junior College Athletic Conference) play host to Howard College (19-5, 8-2) at the OC Sports Center.

Barden is averaging 19.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Going into the game at New Mexico Junior College he led the Western Junior College Athletic Conference in both categories. He’s done it all while being atop opposing teams’ scouting reports and playing out of position.

Barden is listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds. Janus said he’s probably closer to 6-4. And, because of the composition of the Wranglers’ roster, he’s being asked to play the four.

“He’s in there battling with 6-10, 6-8, 6-9 (guys) every night above the rim and he’s out-producing ’em,” Janus said. “There’s times when Coach (Dennis) Helms and I will get in discussion about this and that: ‘Derrick could do more here, more there.’ But at the end of the day he’s getting 20 and 14 rebounds against guys that have six inches and sometimes 30, 40, 50 pounds on him.

“He’s taking shots under there from guys for 39 minutes a game where 6-8, 6-9, 6-10 kids are playing 24, 25 minutes.”

Barden downplayed his size disadvantage.

“I can handle it because I’m used to it,” he said, adding, “You just got to be physical with them every time.”

Barden’s vertical jump and long arms help make up for stature. Barden said he doesn’t know how high he can jump, but teammate Brandon Williams guessed 40 or 42 inches.

“His head hit the rim on some of that stuff,” Janus said.

A basketball rim is 43 inches above the 6-5 Barden.

He’s also made adjustments to his game to compensate for playing against bigger players.

“He’s changed his game a lot this year,” said Williams, a sophomore who also played with Barden at Detroit Denby High School. “He knows he had to step it up more. He knows by him being so small and them putting a bigger defender on him he’s got to work harder to get shots. … He’s been working more on his shot and moves to get open so he don’t have to shoot over bigger defenders so much.”

That was on display in Hobbs against New Mexico Junior College when Barden hit a 3-pointer late in the second half to give the Wranglers a 3-point lead.

Barden’s productivity and versatility make him an appealing target for four-year schools, where he will likely play the three. Bradley, Seattle, Northern Colorado, Detroit, Southern Alabama and Campbell have all offered scholarships. Barden, however, says he’s not concerned with the recruiting process at this time.

“I just want to focus on this season, just playing out this season and winning a championship,” Barden said.

>> Follow Ryan Nilsson on Twitter at @OARyanNilsson

THE BASICS

>> Who: Howard College men’s basketball (19-5 overall, 8-2 WJCAC) at Odessa College (21-5, 6-4)

>> When: 7:45 p.m. today

>> Where: OC Sports Center

>> Suspensions: Howard College will be without Zech Smith. The 6-foot-11 sophomore has been suspended for two games for his role in a fight that broke out near the end of Thursday’s home game against Midland College. Seven Chaparrals received two-game suspensions for the altercation and Midland College has been forced to forfeit its next two games because it doesn’t have enough eligible players. 

>> Going pink: The OC basketball programs have designated their doubleheader against Howard College as “Play 4 Kay” night to raise breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the games and the Lady Wranglers will be collecting donations to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund during the Wranglers’ game.

>> On the net: play4kay.org