Martin was clearly the best player, but the NCAA is talking about him as if he's completely out of the running. He didn't even miss one game. I think it's a shame. Who do you think will win it? I think Martin should....but will he? ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Although Kenyon deserves it I wouldn't be surprised to see Mo Peterson win it. He carried MSU when Mateen was out. ------------------
Player of the year doesn't go to the best player on the best team or the player with most pro potential, but simply goes ot the best collegiat player. I could be wrong but I don't think Mo Pete is even first team all-american, I don't see him getting serious consideration. The top 2 guys are easy, Martin & Fizer, after that it gets tough, I'd probably go to Troy Murphy as third. ------------------
SS: I think MVP of the best conference in the country may be good enough. I'm not sure if he made 1st team All-American or not but he was named conference MVP in one of the polls (coaches or media) and Guyton got the other. ------------------
For a while it was debatable whether Mo Pete was the most valuable player on his team . While I don't think this is much of debate now on this point you have to consider who he played with. Likewise, if someone thought he wasn't even the best player in his conference (Guyton got one award, who nobody outsude of Indiana is very exicted about), no, I don't think he should get serious consideration for player of the year. You just look at who he played for (a compeletly loaded team) plus his very modest stats and his team's mediocre performance (at most they should have lost a couple of regular season games like Duke or UConn last year). Mo Pete is an outstanding player, but no way should he get college player of the year consideration. He may very well get turny MVP though, which I am sure is more than a little more important to him. For those who think the Big 10 was the best conference this year, who wants to bet me that the conference teams will go undefeated on saturday? [This message has been edited by sir scarvajal (edited March 29, 2000).]
Kenyon, Battier, Barkley, Fizer, and Murphy will be in the running. Maybe AJ Guyton. Hell, I don't know. I think Kenyon Martin deserves the award, but more than likely, the injury will knock him out of the running. A damn shame if you ask me. ------------------ HOOP-T Hey Shaq, Acme called, and they want their bricks back!
Sir S: I don't think there is any debate that the Big 10 was stacked this year. MSU will probably will the championship, Wisconsin won the Final Four, Ohio State was in the Top 10 before the tournament started, Illinois had a very good team and they will be a pre-season top 10 team next year. Throw in Purdue, & Indiana and I don't think there is any questions they were the best conference top to bottom, well OK northwestern did suck, but they bring up the conference GPA! Think about the potential NBA picks: Mo Peterson, Mateen Cleaves, Scoonie Penn, Michael Redd, Ken Johnson, Guyton & Brian Cardinal. Lot of talent as well, ok Cardinal isn't that talented! This year I don't think there was any question the MSU is Peterson's team. That happened as soon as Cleaves was hurt. IMO, Kenyon deserves the Player of the Year & Fizer had beter stats, but MSU had the best team, with the most national media attention. I think if Kenyon does get screwed out of the award that it will go to Mo Pete. ------------------
As I said before I'll make a bet with anyone that a Big 10 school loses on Saturday. (If you did get it the first time I was just having some fun). There is no doubt Martin then Fizer were the best players in the regular season, they also happened to mean the most to their teams having terrific years. I think Murphy probably should be a distant third in the running. Further, you can't make an argument that Mo Pete was much more valuable to his team than Battier or Carrawell, and Duke ended up #1 in the regular season--which is what player of the year is for. So if you use the best player on the team with the best season argument, in would be Martin than Battier. I might put Mo Pete as high as fifth on the balloting, ahead of Carrawell from those I have tlaked about, but that is as far as he should go. Again, I am sure what is most important to him is being Turny MVP, which he is takign dead aim on, so don't sweat it. ------------------
