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ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla is already on record saying Ohio State freshman 7-footer Greg Oden should be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA Draft.

But after watching Texas freshman Kevin Durant's body of work, including Durant's magical 37 points and 23 rebounds in a win at Texas Tech on Wednesday night, Fraschilla's not so sure anymore.

"This kid's freshman year is going to make the team with the No. 1 pick think much longer and harder than they thought they would have to," Fraschilla said. "The scary thing is, Durant just turned 18. He's six years away from even starting to hit his prime. The stuff he's doing right now, his skill level and his ability transcends the college game. This is a once every 15-year player we're watching."

Texas coach Rick Barnes finally came out and said publicly Wednesday what he had been telling friends and colleagues, including Fraschilla, for months.

"You saw the best player in college basketball give what I think was the best performance of the year," Barnes said after his team's 76-64 victory over the Red Raiders.

On Thursday, Durant was asked about his performance. About if this makes him the best player in the country and the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft? Durant wanted no part of it.

"It's an honor for people to say nice things about me," he said. "But I just focus on being a team player, getting wins and getting to the NCAA Tournament."

Asked if he thinks about his legacy or how he wants to be remembered in the college game, Durant said simply, "I just want to be a winner. I want to win a national championship."

Durant was even asked about his 3.0 grade-point average in the fall semester. He said he should have made an A instead of a C in a minority leadership class. He vowed to do better in the spring. Like his game, he's never satisfied.

Every team has tried to defend Durant differently.

Nebraska didn't even cover Texas forwards Connor Atchley and Damion James, instead opting to have one man play zone in the lane to take away drives by D.J. Augustin and another defender help on Durant.

The Cornhuskers may have been the most successful. Durant had only 26 points – his lowest point total in seven Big 12 games. Durant is averaging 33.3 points and 14.4 rebounds in league play.

Texas Tech opted to faceguard Texas 3-point specialist A.J. Abrams with Charlie Burgess and put 6-5 Martin Zeno on Durant (6-9, 225), hoping Durant would post up inside, where other defenders could help.

Half the plan worked. Burgess completely shut down Abrams, who is averaging 16.1 points this season, and finished with only three (a season low). But Durant went wild.

Durant nearly had more points in the final 11:15 (21) than Texas Tech had the entire second half (22). He turned a close game into a 12-point cushion by scoring from all over the court – an 18-foot jumper; a post-up, turnaround bank shot; a drive to the basket and three-point play; an NBA 3-pointer – you name it.

ERICH SCHLEGEL / DMN

Texas forward Kevin Durant just turned 18, but he is playing well enough for NBA consideration.

"He's really good." said Tech coach Bob Knight. "The guy is 6-9. He is mobile. He's quick. He's fast. I mean, what more does he have to do?"

Durant is about to get a stiff test. The next two games – Saturday against Kansas State and Monday at Texas A&M – come against two of the nation's best defensive teams. Both are very physical, and if Durant has a knock, it's that his body hasn't filled out yet.

"I'm sure they're going to try to beat him up," Barnes said. "You hope the game is officiated the way it should be. But he'll adjust. He's good at that."

Added Durant, "Everybody tries to rough me up. I try not to worry about the opposing team."

Fraschilla, a former coach at New Mexico and Manhattan, said Durant has moved into the lead for national player of the year honors and is already the best player in the history of the Big 12 – a league only 11 seasons old.

"Now you have to ask where does he rate with the best players in the history of the Big Eight and Southwest Conference," Fraschilla said. "With guys like Danny Manning, Waymon Tisdale, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler. The bottom line is that the kid is Mozart. He's a prodigy."