Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Since 1969, the Atlanta Tipoff Club has awarded college basketball players a prestigious award named after Dr. James Naismith. The Naismith College Player of the Year honors one male player and one female player for their efforts in college basketball.
This year, many student athletes continue to impress, but will their effort be enough? Here are the categories that they must fall into.
Winning
Sounds simple, but some candidates are missing their opportunity. The players have to win big games.
Kentucky center Anthony Davis played Kansas, North Carolina and Louisville. That’s a stacked schedule, but Davis held his composure and played well. Kansas forward Thomas Robinson knows how to play a tough schedule as well, only struggling against Kentucky in the second game of the season. Yes, losses to Iowa State and Davidson hurt, but the wins against Baylor and Ohio State give Robinson a clean slate.
Other candidates, though, might have lost their chance. Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger has yet to increase his production against top 15 teams. Sullinger is 1-3 against those teams.
Creighton forward Doug McDermott may be third in the nation, averaging 23.2 points, but losing three straight games and being second in the conference messes up his chance at holding the trophy.
No seniority
When the Naismith award honored a player, it usually honored a senior. From 1985 to 1994, seniors dominated this award. Since then, only six seniors, including 2011 winner Jimmer Fredette, have won the award.
That’s excellent news for Robinson. The Washington, D.C., native is only a junior. Anthony Davis is somewhat in the clear, being a freshman. Kevin Durant in 2007 was the first and only freshman to win the award. Being a freshman could hurt Davis, but his stats move him to the next category.
Now, here is the bad news. Although Marcus Denmon is having a great year averaging 17.9 points, he is a senior. Players who stay all four years deserve a special award, but the voters love younger talent.
Star power
Jimmer Fredette, Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant all displayed the ability to take over for their teams. This year, Robinson and Davis showed the same, but one’s performance is a tad different.
Thomas Robinson is the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double and leads the league in rebounding. His average of 11.8 rebounds is second in the nation. Plus, he averages 17.7 points.
Anthony Davis averages 13.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and shoots 65.5 percent. Davis also averages 4.9 blocks, the best in the nation while leading his Wildcats to first place in the SEC.
But here’s the real question: What happens when those players aren’t on those teams?
If Robinson wasn’t a Jayhawk, the team still would be good, but the down-low presence would be completely wiped out. If Davis wasn’t with the Wildcats, the team would be altered, but the Wildcats would still have a loaded roster with Doron Lamb, Michael Kidd-Cilchrist, Terrence Jones and Marquis Teague.
These three categories are crucial and the players should fall into them. All of these players are deserving, but only Thomas Robinson is truly fit for this honor and will give Kansas its second player in history to hoist the trophy.
— Edited be Katie James
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