As always, we enjoy the emails of dissent and a solid, intelligent case for your guy...
Third Team:
G- Jimmer Fredette (BYU) -
The Numbers: 19.9 ppg, 5.1 asst, 48.4% FG
The Reason: The Cougars are 18-1 and poised to make some real noise in the tourney this year. Fredette has been sensational scoring the basketball, but still an adept floor general and distributor all season. Add in he is shooting nearly 50% from the floor, despite being a 6'2'' point guard, and it is hard to understate how solid his play has been. The 49-point outburst earlier in December got people's attention, but it has been his steady play since that merits All-American consideration.
G- Aubrey Coleman (Houston) -
The Numbers: 25.0 ppg, 7.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists
The Reason: The numbers speak for themselves, simply gaudy totals. Houston has some work to do to make the tourney... ok, they are likely not an NCAA tournament team. That shouldn't discount the sensational play of Coleman, who is scoring against quality competition night in and night out. It is also worth noting that the 7.3 rebounds a night are coming from a 6'4'' guard. Folks, that's gettin' it done.
G- Jerome Dyson (UConn) -
The Numbers: 18.6 ppg, 4.8 asst, 5.1 rebounds
The Reason: There aren't many players doing more for their team than Dyson so far this season. Add in the fact he is one of the five best defensive small guards in the country and you have an All-American. UConn has hit a bit of a slide as they continue to look for another scorer to compliment he and Stanley Robinson, but that doesn't discount the outstanding all around play of Dyson.
F/C- Quincy Pondexter (Washington) -
The Numbers: 20.1 ppg, 7.9 asst, 56.5% FG
The Reason: Yet another stud performer on a team that has disappointed. Had Washington lived up to pre-season hype, Pondexter would likely be second, or even first team consideration. That said, part of an All-American's resume is leading a team to victory, and he will still have his chance in what is becoming a must-win Pac-10 if the Huskies hope to dance.
F/C- Luke Babbitt (Nevada) -
The Numbers: 19.9 ppg, 9.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists
The Reason: I would have listened to arguments for Pat Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis and a few others for the last two spots on this team. In the end, give me Babbitt's versatility and huge production numbers. Plus, his throwback-game is just so fun to watch.
Second Team:
G- John Scheyer (Duke) -
The Numbers: 18.9 ppg, 6.1 asst, 3.6 rebounds
The Reason: Perhaps no player has been more instrumental to making sure a team wins than Scheyer. His leading the nation in assist to turnover ratio is well documented, as is his "non-natural" point guard status. Lost in that stat is the fact this guy is the second leading scorer in the ACC and an absolute assassin shooting the basketball. One can very easily make the argument he deserves the first team spot over my first selection (intentionally omitted for dramatic effect) - and I could probably be swayed either way. Add in the fact that Scheyer is a more than capable defender, and you are looking at a true POY candidate, whether first team or not.
G- Jacob Pullen (Kansas State) - The Numbers: 19.3 ppg, 3.6 asst, 3.1 rebounds
The Reason: Pullen has become the leader and the bearded face of the nation's most pleasant surprise (along with Pitt). Kansas State is a legit threat to win the Big 12 and capture a top two seed in the tourney. Pullen is a huge reason why. His numbers aren't as huge as other in conference (like James Anderson) but his significance to the Wildcats is unsurpassed by any player in the league.
G- Greivis Vasquez (Maryland) -
The Numbers: 18 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists
The Reason: If you look at Vasquez's numbers, you will find them eerily similar to Scheyer, only with more of an impact on the boards. Granted his turnovers are higher, but he is also asked to do significantly more than Scheyer. Maryland is as good as Vasquez. End of discussion. The Terps go as he goes, and last season, it was good enough to upset UNC en route to earning an at-large tourney bid. If the Terps are dancing again in 2010, it will take more of the same. I wouldn't bet against the senior from Caracas, Venezuela having one more put-'em-on-his-back run in him.
F- James Anderson (Oklahoma State) -
The Numbers: 21.6 ppg, 5.8 reb, 1.6 steals
The Reason: Anderson is the main reason why the Cowboys will contend for an NCAA-bid this season. He is the leading scorer in the nation's #1 RPI conference, a good rebounder and defender, a willing passer and the leader of his team. He doesn't have the big name that others in the conference came into the season with, but by the end of the year, he will be a first team All-Big 12 guy, and quite possibly an All-American.
C- Omar Samhan (St. Mary's) -
The Numbers: 21.7 ppg, 10.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks
The Reason: The pudgy big guy lurking under the basket while the Patty Mills Show took place has evolved into one of the most reliable back to the basket scoring threats in the country. St. Mary's is poised to get to the tourney, something they failed to do last year with Mills, and Samhan's scoring, rebounding, defense and leadership is the major reason why.
First Team
G- Scottie Reynolds (Villanova) -
The Numbers: 19.5 ppg, 3.6 asst, 1.6 steals
The Reason: Reynolds seems to have slid out of mainstream consciousness in his senior year, though it is hard to figure out why. He burst onto the scene as a freshman scoring sensation in what seems like a dozen years ago. In today's one-and-done college superstar fiefdom, sometimes the slightly undersized to go pro early guy gets a little undervalued. Suffice it to say Jay Wright knows precisely the value of the little floor general and assassin who shot the 'Cats into last years Final Four. Very few teams have a guy who is their best ballhandler, a reliable distributor and an absolute stone-cold Kobe-like killer with the clock winding down. Don't be surprised if Reynolds loads the Cats on his back for a repeat Final Four trip this April.
G- John Wall (Kentucky) -
The Numbers: 17.1 ppg, 7.1 asst
The Reason: Perhaps the no-brainer of the year, John Wall is really good. His preternatural poise in the big moment and transcendent quickness have left more than a few scouts calling him the best college point guard in twenty years. I say slowwww down just a bit with all that, but for now, simply enjoy the play of this gifted scorer and floor general.
F- Wesley Johnson (Syracuse) -
The Numbers: 17.7 ppg, 8.7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 55% FG
The Reason: The 'Cuse are a national title contender because of the dimension Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson brings. He scores inside and out, rebounds, passes and gives Boeheim another long, quick defender to employ on the back of that vaunted zone. He might be the most surprising on the First Team from a preseason expectation standpoint, but he is certainly well deserving. Look at that stat line (and shooting percentage) and you see clearly he is one of the best, most versatile players in the game.
F/C- Luke Harangody (Notre Dame) -
The Numbers: 24.7 ppg, 9.8 rebounds
The Reason: It's a shame Notre Dame isn't very good at the guard spot, because Harangody is once again putting up National POY type numbers. He is on pace to become the leading scorer in the HISTORY of the Big East conference and is the only reason the Irish aren't muddling down with Rutgers and South Florida in the BEast basement. His game may not be anything resembling conventional, but his production is simply out of this world.
F- Damion James (Texas) -
The Numbers: 17.3 ppg, 11.1 rebounds
The Reason: Avery Bradley gets a lot of the ink, but Damion James is the leader of what might be the best team in the country. Texas is deep and talented with no player averaging more then 28 minutes a game, which makes the production of James even more impressive.
Player of the Year:
The Numbers: 16.6 ppg, 9.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 58.3% FG
The Reason: John Wall gets all the hype. But Evan Turner simply does more on the floor than any player in the country, and does it shockingly efficiently. With his healthy return, Ohio State went from also-ran to title contender (yes, I said title contender, though they lack a back-to-the basket scoring presence).
His numbers are simply incredible, but his steadiness and floor leadership are even more impressive. If John Wall is the engine that drives the Cats from the point guard position, than Turner is the engine that drives the Bucks from the "point forward" spot. Also take into consideration the low-scoring, lesser-possession nature of the Big Ten play and figure his numbers spike at least 20% playing in any other major conference.
Even Turner is the best all around player in the country, and despite missing a few weeks, the March Maniacs Mid-Season Player of the Year.
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