Points per game has to be one of the more useless stats out there when looked at alone. I think every wing player on a Steve Nash-Mike D'Antoni team proves that. Look at it this way, swarthmore, CB takes over 35% of his team's shots. Cole takes under 22% of his team's shots. (
source) And really, points is the only statistic where CB stands out over Cole. Cole has a far better FG% and FT%. CB's 27% 3-point% isn't really an advantage at all because 27% 3-point% is bad (it translates to 40% 2-point%). Looking at their offensive ratings, CB is actually one of the worst in the Big 12 at each usage rate, while Cole is top 10 in the country for those using at least 20% of their team's possessions. (
source)
Despite playing less minutes, Cole is outrebounding CB on both ends of the court. Assists are even, but Cole's A/T ratio is better than CB's. Cole also blocks more than 5% of every shot his opponenet takes, tops in the Big 12. CB is below 2% in the same category, #16 in the Big 12. (
source)
Additionally, CA plays a premium position, which also increases his value.
I don't buy your argument that if they switched teams, it would change anything. CB would get far less shots if he was on KU, and probably wouldn't play more than 20 minutes a game until he learned how to play tough. I don't see how KU would be a better team in any way if they replaced CA with CB. I'm not sure how CB would magically be All Big 12 if he played for KU. CA would be an immediate defensive upgrade over CB at ISU. His presence would allow ISU's perimeter defense to play tighter. A good shot-blocking center can erase defensive mistakes by his teammates.
I bet GMac would trade Brackins for Cole if he could. There's no way in hell Self trades away Cole for Brackins.
Again, both are fine players, and I'm excited by the progress Brackins has made, but at this point there's no reason to think that he's better than Aldrich.