College Hoops Player of the Year

[Marmel]

So who do you think the college basketball player of the year is? I am only including the top 2 options, because I think it is pretty obvious it will come down to these two players, so don't bother with your off the wall picks. ;)

And why did I start this poll? Because some crazy-shit UConn fan actually said this today, and I quote:

"a good, talented PG versus the most dominant post player in college basketball in the last 25 years."

[BishopMVP]

Okafor is very good, and almost certainly will be drafted #1 among college players, but as Duncan, Shaq, etc. have shown, a big man can't have close to the impact a great PG/SG does at the college level.

[stevew]

I thought both Ewing and Akeem were pretty dominant too.

[SackAttack]

Don't I remember Okafor once being part of the Missouri program but failing to gain eligibility, or am I thinking of a different Okafor?

[stevew]

THis Okafor is like a genius

[stevew]

3.9 + Finance major IIRC

[stevew]

Oh, yeah, and to triple Dola, he would have probably turned pro last year but wanted to finish college.

[Neuqua]

How'd that Duncan guy fare in college? he's pretty good at the pro level.

[The_herd]

"a good, talented PG versus the most dominant post player in college basketball in the last 25 years."

Wow, this guy obviously wasn't old enough to remember THE most dominant post player in college basketball in the last 25 years, Ralph Sampson.

But anyway, Nelson has taken an A-10 school, made them a #1 seed in the tourney, and has them higher ranked than Okafor's UConn team that has much more talent surrounding him.

Pretty cut and dry here.

[stevew]

I remember how big of a deal it was when Virginia lost to Centanary, or Hawaii or something. Too bad Sampson had those knee problems.....He should have been great in the pros. But to call Okafor the most dominant, when guys like Ewing, Alonzo, Akeem, and even Danny Manning played, is pretty short sighted.

[The_herd]

It was Chaminade, a small school from Honolulu. They were playing in a tourney in Japan.


Edit: interestingly enough, Sampson's Virginia team was coming off a win against Akeem's Houston team 2 game's prior, and a Georgetown team with a Sophomore named Ewing right before that.

[stevew]

It was Chaminade, a small school from Honolulu.

Thats right....And they were like #1 at the time too.

[lynchjm24]

But anyway, Nelson has taken an A-10 school, made them a #1 seed in the tourney, and has them higher ranked than Okafor's UConn team that has much more talent surrounding him.

Pretty cut and dry here.

And if they played tommorrow who would you put your money on? I can't even imagine the destruction that Okafor would create in the Atlantic-10. The level of competition in the Big East this year is so far and above the Atlantic-10 it can't be compared.

[Radii]

You guys are leaving off Len Bias on that most dominant of the last 25 years list. Ask me for the 3 most dominant players of the last 25 years, and I say Sampson, Ewing, and Bias.

That being said, I can see the argument for Okafor > Nelson. But I'd vote for Nelson myself, and I'm sure he'll win the award just b/c they went undefeated.


I have some huge problems with ESPN's all america teams they released yesterrday. Julius Hodge 1st team all american? Duhon and Felton are better just in the ACC than Hodge, I'd say McCants is too if he wasn't such a borderline head case. Sean May was 3rd team all american, and I *love* Sean May but again, Felton and McCants are better.

[Radii]

And if they played tommorrow who would you put your money on? I can't even imagine the destruction that Okafor would create in the Atlantic-10. The level of competition in the Big East this year is so far and above the Atlantic-10 it can't be compared.

UConn is my pick to win the National Title right now. St Joes has a much better chance than Stanford IMO, and I'd love to see them make a run for it b/c it's a pretty good story, but UConn is my pick to go all the way right now. Stanford may lose before the Sweet 16 and I won't be suprised. I will be suprised if St Joes does, but for them it probably comes down to matchup issues more than anything else.

[kcchief19]

Don't I remember Okafor once being part of the Missouri program but failing to gain eligibility, or am I thinking of a different Okafor?That wash Uche Okafor, who was ruled inelgible for playing for a pro team in Russia. We sent him to juco in Idaho to clear up his eligibility, but then he decided to declare for the NBA draft and I think now is washing cars with Albert White somewhere.

Got to vote for Jameer on this one. The undefeated season speaks volumes. I'm much more impressed with St. Joe's undefeated season than Stanford's, and the RPI backs up that the A-10 was better than the Pac-10 this year. Unless someone other than Stanford or Arizona wins the Pac-10 tourney, that conference is only getting two bids. That's pathetic for a "major" conference. The A-10 will probably only get two as well, but the conference is still deeper.

Okafor had a solid year, but I don't think his performance was as impressive as Nelson's. Sadly, I think the best college basketball player is probably Luke Jackson, but since his team blows, who cares?

[timmae]

UConn is my pick to win the National Title right now. St Joes has a much better chance than Stanford IMO, and I'd love to see them make a run for it b/c it's a pretty good story, but UConn is my pick to go all the way right now. Stanford may lose before the Sweet 16 and I won't be suprised. I will be suprised if St Joes does, but for them it probably comes down to matchup issues more than anything else.

Mark my words... none of the 3 will win it. Success during the season doesn't necessarily translate into success for the tourney. Get a team that plays great for a few weeks and wola... Also, to narrow it down to 2 players for player of the year is a farce... there are a dozen other players that deserve to be mentioned along with those 2. St Joe's is a joke... my thoughts are they'll be out of the tourney by the end of the first weekend.

[SteelerFan448]

Okafor played great in one of the...if not the best conference in college basketball. I don't think Nelson would have been able to make two blocks to send the game to OT and then save the win as Okafor did against Villanova just last week. Look at the Western Conference in the NBA, they all have the great big men. That is why they're dominant.

[Radii]

Mark my words... none of the 3 will win it. Success during the season doesn't necessarily translate into success for the tourney. Get a team that plays great for a few weeks and wola... Also, to narrow it down to 2 players for player of the year is a farce... there are a dozen other players that deserve to be mentioned along with those 2. St Joe's is a joke... my thoughts are they'll be out of the tourney by the end of the first weekend.


That's why I'm not picking Duke/St Joes/Stanford. I know, any team could win it. I'm praying for North Carolina to get hot for 6 games myself.

Stanford could be out in the first weekend... so could St Joes but I'd say Stanford is much more likely.

[tucker342]

Jameer Nelson deserves to win it hands down. Without Nelson, St. Joes wouldn't even be close to undefeated. And both Stanford and St. Joes will easily make the sweet sixteen.

[Marmel]

Jameer Nelson deserves to win it hands down. Without Nelson, St. Joes wouldn't even be close to undefeated. And both Stanford and St. Joes will easily make the sweet sixteen.

Tis first part of your message makes me think about the difference between MVP and POTY. Is the MVP the most valuable player to their team? POTY askes who is the best player. End of story.

While I think this is a toss up, I wouldn't give the nod to Nelson based on what he helped his team do, but based on his talent alone.


Also, I think both Stanford and St. Joe's will make the sweet 16 as well, however, I can see St. Joe's get knocked off by an 8/9 seed with a dominant center.

[albionmoonlight]

Why can't people ever say that X is pretty good. Or Y is a bit overrated. Why does it have to be "St. Joe's is a joke." Or "the most dominant post player in college basketball in the last 25 years."

Is there not any room in the middle?

[Bosco]

How can Nelson be the Player of the Year when he may not even be the best PG in the country? A shoot first PG in the A-10, especially the A-10 this year, is not the Player of Year.

[SackAttack]

As good as those two are, I think I'm just a smidge more impressed with the chick who was playin' for a D1 school this season...while she was 8 months pregnant. Now *that's* dedication.

[k0ruptr]

ronnie turiaf

[LloydLungs]

Why can't people ever say that X is pretty good. Or Y is a bit overrated. Why does it have to be "St. Joe's is a joke." Or "the most dominant post player in college basketball in the last 25 years."

Is there not any room in the middle?

LOL, thank you!! Geez, some of you people are crazy. The parity in college basketball is ridiculous -- I mean, of course the Big East is superior to the A-10, but at the same time St. Joe's would be doing just fine in the Big East. Not undefeated, but fine (as would other superior mid-majors like Southern Illinois, Gonzaga, etc.). I always have to laugh when people seem convinced that exceptional smaller schools would go winless in their major conference of choice. Moderation, people!

That said, UConn is overwhelmingly talented and in a hypothetical game St. Joe's does not match up very well with them (as opposed to certain other major schools like a Kentucky whom they'd probably beat). On the other hand, the Huskies can't shoot free throws at all and that will probably bite them before they can grab a national title.

Anyway, college basketball is about guard play. Nelson gets my vote.

[MrBug708]

Luke Jackson!

[JeeberD]

Fili Rivera

[Samdari]

Neither. Only two options is silly. Josh Childress.

[Butter]

Problem with the A-10 right now is that it's top-heavy. There are only about 6 good teams in the conference. The bottom half is particularly bad right now. The Big East's bottom half is not good this year either, but they are a few steps up from the likes of Fordham and St. Bonaventure.

Having seen Jameer Nelson several times this year, and Okafor as well, Nelson is clearly the best college basketball player in the country. However, SJU wouldn't have gone unbeaten if Nelson didn't have Delonte West in the backcourt with him. West is very, very good as well, and has NBA ability to create his own shot. I can't tell you how many times West stopped an opposing team's run by blowing past a guy to take an easy 10 footer.