It's now time to say goodbye to 2011. The New Year is just around the corner, and 2012 will provide another year's-worth of college basketball excitment. But before we do that, we must take a look back at what made 2011 so special.
After all, 2011 was a tremendous year. We saw Jimmer Fredette conquer North America. We saw Kemba Walker win 14 straight tournament games and earn three tournament MVPs (Maui Invitational, Big East Tournament, NCAA Tournament). We saw Virginia Commonwealth become a giant-killer and saw Butler reach a second-consecutive National Championship game. 2011 even ushered the return of Hoosier Hysteria, thanks to a 3-point buzzer-beater to defeat Kentucky. 2011 had amazing games, epic finishes, exciting dunks, and a heavy dose of classic Gus Johnson calls.
But 2011 wasn't just about the on-court performances. The basketball media had a good year too. We read insightful articles, tear-jerking stories, and thought-provoking commentary. Topics were constantly debated and discussed, and the media kept us up-to-date on all the breaking news and notes from the world of college hoops.
So before we start 2012 (Which, by the way, will begin with our B.I.A.H Road Trippin' is a Habit), we want to look back and remember what made 2011 such a special year. But in order to do that, we need your help. We want you, the fans, to decide the best of the best of 2011.
So we're taking a vote. We're providing you with 14 categories to vote on. Everything from "Best Game" to "Best Beat Reporter". So help us out in determining the best of 2011.
In Part-I, you get to vote on the on-the-court performances, as well as two college basketball media-related categories. The polls will be open for a week, and the winners will be announced shortly after New Years.
2011 B.I.A.H End-of-the-Year Awards, Part-I
Best Player in 2011
Marcus Denmon, Missouri Resume: First Team All-Big 12. Team MVP. Averaged roughly 17ppg, 4rpg, 2apg and 2spg. Member of Team USA at the World University Games. Third Team Preseason All-America. Member of Naismith Trophy Watch List.
Jimmer Fredette, BYU Resume: AP Player of the Year, Naismith Award Winner. First-Team All-American. MWC Player of the Year. Cousy Award Finalist. Led the nation in scoring (28.9ppg), became leading scorer in MWC history. Became leading scorer in BYU history. Scored 52-points against New Mexico in the MWC Tournament. 10th Pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.
Tu Holloway, Xavier Resume: Third-Team All-American. Atlantic-10 Player of the Year. First Team Atlantic-10 All-Defense. Averaged roughly 20ppg, 5rpg and 6apg. Had two triple-doubles. Atlantic-10 Preseason Player of the Year. First Team Preseason All-America. Member of Naismith Award, Wooden Award and Cousy Award watch lists.
Doug McDermott, Creighton Resume: Led the MVC with 14 double-doubles. First-Team All-MVC. MVC Newcomer of the Year and MWC Freshman of the Year. USBWA Freshman All-American. Member of Team USA at FIBA U-19 World Championships. First Team Preseason All-MWC. Member of Naismith and Wooden Award watch lists.
Thomas Robinson, Kansas Resume: Finalist for the V-Foundation Comeback of the Year Award. First-Team Preseason All-America. First-Team Preseason All-Big XII. Member of the Naismith and Wooden Award watch lists. Oscar Robinson National Player of the Week (12/13). Currently averages 17ppg and 12rpg.
Nolan Smith, Duke Resume: ACC Tournament MVP. ACC Player of the Year. First Team All-America. First Team ACC All-Defense. Finalist for the Naismith, Wooden, Oscar Robertson, and Cousy Awards. Averaged roughly 21ppg, 5rpg and 5apg. Scored 20 or more points in ACC-best 21 games. 21st pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Resume: Led the Big-Ten in total rebounds and offensive rebounds. Big-Ten Tournament MVP. Big-Ten Freshman of the Year. National Freshman of the Year. Four-time Big-Ten Player of the Week. First Team All-America. Finalist for the Naismith and Wooden Awards. USBWA Preseason Player of the Year. First Team Preseason All-America. Preseason Big-Ten Player of the Year. Member of Naismith and Wooden Award watch lists.
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin Resume: Led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.83). Set a school record for minutes played in a single season (1,241). First Team All-Big-Ten. First Team Big-Ten All-Defense. Third Team All-America. Wooden and Cousy Award finalist. First Team Preseason All-Big-10. First Team Preseason All-American. Member of Naismith Award, Wooden Award and Cousy Award watch lists.
Kemba Walker, UConn Resume: Fourth leading scorer in the country (23.5ppg). Hit five game-winning or game-tying shots. Went undefeated (11-0)in tournament play. MVP of Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Set Big East Tournament record for points with 130 in five games. Leading scorer (16) in the National Championship game. Big East Player of the Year. First-Team All-America. Cousy Award Winner. Wooden and Naismith Award Finalist. 9th Pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Derrick Williams, Arizona Resume: Averaged roughly 20ppg and 8rpg. Led Arizona to Pac-10 Regular Season Championship. Pac-10 Player of the Year. Finalist for Naismith and Wooden Awards. USBWA Second Team All-America. 2nd Pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Best Team in 2011
Butler Bulldogs Resume: 28-10. Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament Champions. National Runners-Up. won 14 consecutive games. Currently 6-7 with wins over Purdue and Stanford.
Duke Blue Devils Resume: 32-5. Won the CBE Championship. Ranked No.1 in the polls for 11 weeks. Won 15 consecutive games. ACC Tournament Champions. No.1 Seed in NCAA Tournament. Made Sweet-16. Won the Maui Invitational. Currently 10-1 and ranked No.5 in the country.
Florida Gators Resume: 29-8. Went 3-1 in overtime games. Best record in the SEC. Runners-Up in the SEC Tournament. Made Elite Eight. Currently 10-2 and ranked No.10 in the country.
Kansas Jayhawks Resume: 35-3. Won 18 consecutive games. Big-XII Regular Season and Tournament Champions. Made Elite-Eight. Currently 8-3 and ranked No.18 in the country.
Kentucky Wildcats Resume: 29-9, SEC Tournament Champions, Made Final-Four. Three players taken in 2011 NBA Draft. Currently 11-1 and ranked No.3 in the country.
North Carolina Tar Heels Resume: 29-8. ACC Regular Season Champions. ACC Tournament Runners-Up. Made Elite-Eight. Returned all five starters from Elite Eight squad. Preseason No.1 team in the country. Currently 11-2 and ranked No.6 in the country.
Ohio State Buckeyes Resume: 34-3. Big-Ten Regular Season and Tournament Champions. Won 24 consecutive games. Made Elite Eight. Currently 12-1 and ranked No.2 in the country.
Syracuse Orange Resume: 27-8. Won 18 consecutive games. Made it to Round of 32. Currently 13-0 and ranked No.1 in the country.
UConn Huskies Resume: 32-9. Went 14-0 in tournament play. Maui Invitational Champions. Won five games in five days to win Big East Tournament. Won the 2011 National Championship. Currently 10-1 and ranked No.9 in the country.
Virginia Commonwealth Rams: Resume: 28-12. Ended George Mason's 16-game win streak in the CAA tournament. One of the four last at-large selections to the NCAA Tournament. Defeated five BCS-conference teams en route to school's first Final Four appearance. Currently 9-3.
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Jim Calhoun, UConn Jon Calipari, Kentucky Steve Fisher, San Diego State Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Thad Matta, Ohio State Shaka Smart, Virginia Commonwealth Bill Self, Kansas Brad Stevens, Butler Buzz Williams, Marquette
Best TV Personality of 2011
Greg Anthony - CBS Jay Bilas - ESPN Seth Davis - CBS Jimmy Dykes - ESPN Fran Frascilla - ESPN Doug Gottleib - ESPN Gus Johnson - BTN Bob Knight - ESPN Digger Phelps - ESPN Bill Raftery - ESPN Jon Rothstein - CBS Jay Williams - ESPN Dick Vitale - ESPN
Best College Basketball-related Twitter feed of 2011
Got a article we need to read? Want to advertise with us? Have a youtube video we need to see? Think we're morons? Let us know! Send an email to ContactBIAH@gmail.com or hit us up on twitter @RobDauster, @TroyMachir or @BallinisaHabit
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3 comments:
My "Other" pick for "Best Game":
Feb 9, Duke 79 - North Carolina 73
Has to be VCU/Kansas in the Regional Finals
Kansas is listed in the "Best Team" category, but it is omitted from the drop-down so no way to vote for them.
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