Who is really leading the Big XII Player of the Year race?

At the end of the Longhorn's win over Arkansas on Tuesday, right after Damion James scored a couple big buckets down the stretch to ice the game, ESPN.com writer (and BIAH favorite) Dana O'Neil tweeted this:

Damion James has to be the Big XII player of the year right now in a runaway

This was quite a statement, considering that Damion James wasn't really thought to be a contender for the award when the season started.

So I got to thinking: does he? Is James really the Big XII Player of the Year right now? Is it really a "runaway"?

Let's take a quick peek into the Big XII's POY race:

The Preseason Favorites: For my money, there were really only four guys that I thought had a chance to win the Big XII POY before the season started.

• Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Both Collins and Aldrich were preseason all-americans picks. That's what happens when you were arguably the best center and the best point guard in the country the year before. But neither Collins nor Aldrich has been spectacular this season. Collins is averaging just 15.1 ppg and 4.1 apg while Aldrich is post 11.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg, and 3.7 bpg, a far cry from what they averaged last season, and even farther from what most expected them to do this season.
  
  The problem with just looking at numbers is that they don't take into consideration the rest of the talent on the team. As you know, the Jayhawks are loaded this season. All the youth on last year's roster are now the "experienced" sophomores schooling another group of talented freshman. Collins and Aldrich simply have not needed to carry the load offensively. Collins has orchestrated the offense and Aldrich has own the paint defensively while the two have allowed others, like Xavier Henry and the Morris twins, to get their buckets. But if last night's dogfight with Cornell is any indication, don't write these two off yet. Collins had a career-high 33 points, and Aldrich hit a number of big baskets and made some key defensive plays down the stretch.


• Willie Warren, Oklahoma: Warren is another guy whose numbers will deceive you. After coming back to Oklahoma (despite being considered a lottery pick), Warren has posted much better numbers this season, averaging 18.5 ppg and 4.5 apg. But Oklahoma has struggled as a team, sitting at just 9-5, while Warren struggles with the burden of being a leader. It got to the point that he was suspended for a game during the Great Alaska Shootout by head coach Jeff Capel. Unless Warren can turn around his, and the Sooners', season, he likely won't even be first team all-conference.


• Craig Brackins, Iowa State: It was a bit of a shock that Brackins headed back to Ames this season. He was a first round lock, and the Cyclones were terrible last season. And while ISU is still a long way away from making the tournament, they are a much improved team as the play of Marquis Gilstrap and Diante Garrett makes this team appear, at least on paper, capable of competing in the league. But unless Brackins becomes more aggressive and makes ISU relevant in the conference, I have a tough time seeing him win the award, especially when his numbers are down to 17.0 ppg and 7.9 rpg.

The Freshman

• Xavier Henry, Kansas: All the talk this season about freshman (well, about anyone really) has centered around a young man down in Lexington. But the one that got away from Coach Cal (if you remember, Henry was going to Memphis before Cal left, and almost ended up at Kentucky when Cal arrived) is putting up pretty impressive numbers this year as well. At 16.1 ppg, Henry is the Jayhawk's leading scorer while also posting 4.7 rpg and hitting 47% of his threes. While he has posted some impressive numbers, Henry has feasted on some of KU's lesser competition, struggling in games against Michigan, Memphis, and Cornell. The biggest reason he won't win the award? He may not even be the Jayhawk's best candidate when its all said and done.

The Sleeper

• Ekpe Udoh, Baylor: There's no other way to put it: Udoh has been a monster for the Bears. Ask Morgan State, they learned the hard way. Udoh tore them up to the tune of 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 blocks. In actuality, you can ask pretty much ask anyone that has played Baylor, as Udoh has been more than just a flash in the pan. The Michigan transfer has flourished under Scott Drew, averaging 14.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 4.5 bpg. Baylor is currently sitting at 12-1 this season, and Udoh's play in the paint has been one of the biggest reasons why. If Baylor continues to play this well in conference, Udoh has an actual shot to win.

The Favorites

• Jacob Pullen, Kansas State, and Damion James, Texas: For my money, I can't pick between these two right now. Let's talk Pullen first. He has been nothing short of sensational this season. He's averaging 20.1 ppg (in just 28.2 mpg) while dishing out 3.6 apg and shooting 46% from three. More importantly, however, he has stepped up in Kansas State's biggest wins. In victories over Xavier, Dayton, at UNLV, and at Alabama, Pullen is averaging 25.0 ppg. In their loss to Ole Miss, he had his worst performance of the season, going just 5-15 from the floor and 2-8 from three, finishing with just 17 points. When Pullen is playing well, Kansas State is very, very good. If he continues to play like this, and Kansas State makes a run at the regular season title, he has to be considered a favorite to win.
  
  That said, Damion James has been absolutely fantastic as well. He's posted the best numbers of his career, averaging 16.7 ppg and 10.8 rpg. And, like Pullen, he's stepped up in the biggest games. In the Longhorn's two wins over UNC and Michigan State, James averaged 24.0 ppg and 14.0 rpg. On Tuesday night against Arkansas, he went for 20 points and 9 boards in just 17 foul plagued minutes, which included a number of huge baskets down the stretch, and also went for 20 and 9 against Pitt. With seven double-doubles already this season, James has been the best and most consistent player for one of the best teams in the country.
  

Dana's right. James has been the player of the year in the Big XII. But calling it a runaway is not fair to Jacob Pullen and Ekpe Udoh, because they have best just as good. This award, as is usually the case, is going to be won in conference play.

Just another storyline to follow in what is guaranteed to be an exciting season of hoops.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
There are the power forwards.

Best Freshman:

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
• DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
• Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova
• Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State
  

Best of the Rest:

• Samardo Samuels, Louisville
• Luke Babbitt, Nevada
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
• Stanley Robinson, UConn
• Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech
• Deon Thompson, UNC
  

Top 10:

• 10. Matt Howard, Butler: Howard is a guy that doesn't get a lot of press playing for Butler. But make no mistake, Howard is as good as any four in the country. Howard is what you might refer to as a land warrior - he isn't going to outquick or outjump anyone in the country, but he is so strong. An excellent rebounder with a solid back to the basket game, Howard's strength offensively is his ability to seal and hold position in the post. He is the rock for a talented Butler team.
  


• 9. Damion James, Texas: A lot was expected out of James last season, but he didn't quite live up to the hype he received in the preseason. A big reason for that is James was asked to play more minutes on the perimeter with the emergence of a big front line for Texas. The biggest strength of James' game is his ability to rebound the ball on the offensive end and how well he cuts to the basket and finishes at the rim. His back to the basket game is decent, but playing more minutes on the perimeter will limit his touches inside. James is dangerous offensively because he is not only able to shoot the ball, but he has some ability to put the ball on the floor and go around a bigger defender. James is forever a tweener - not really big enough to be a four, but lacking the true perimeter skills to be a three.
  


• 8. Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Last year, all anyone talked about when it came to Marquette was their guard play. While those three were definitely talented, Hayward might have been the most valuable player on the roster as the only real big man. Hayward, who is a converted small forward, in dangerous because of his perimeter skills. Without much in the way of a post game, Hayward does his damage shooting the ball and taking advantage of the mismatches when a big forward guards him on the perimeter. Also an excellent rebounder, expect big numbers out of Hayward this year as Marquette's go-to player offensively.
  

Lazar Hayward is counting to be counted on heavily by Marquette.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• 7. Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Ebanks is as raw as a prospect comes. In terms of tools, there are few forwards that match him. He has the wingspan of an albatross, can run the floor, has above average athleticism, and plays hard. All of that made him an excellent defender and rebounder, especially on the offensive end. But the rest of his game still needs to be developed. His ball handling ability is not much more than the one or two dribbles it takes to for to get to the rim. His jumper was so inconsistent last year that he himself actually decided that he would not longer shoot outside jumpers. But with Alex Ruoff gone, and an offseason of developing his skills, Ebanks should be ready to turn into one of the best forwards in the Big East.
  


• 6. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Aminu is another guy I'm not completely sold on. Right now, he relies almost exclusively on his tools. He is long, athletic, plays with energy, and has excellent body control. Last year he was at his best when he was able to get out in the open court and outrun the defense. His skills were quite raw, however. While his handle and his jump shot no doubt improved with an off-season of working out, Aminu has a long way to go before he can be considered "talented" skillwise and a threat in the half court. All that said, we are talking about a guy that averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg on a team with a big front line, Jeff Teague, and James Johnson. Imagine what he will do as the first offensive option.
  

Al-Farouq Aminu will need to rely on more than just athleticism this season.
(photo credit: freewebs)

• 5. Trevor Booker, Clemson: Booker is one of the best athletes in the country. While there are a number of guys at the power forward position that have more talent than Booker, there are few that play with his aggressiveness and determination. Every second he is on the court, he is going hard - whether it is defensively, posting up, hitting the glass, cutting to the rim. Booker seems to have an endless supply of energy. He doesn't have the best back to the basket game, relying heavily on his physical tools (strength holding position, jumping over a defender) to score. Where he has become more effective, and where he needs to improve to make it at the next level, is in his perimeter game. If he can continue to get better putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket and keep improving his jump shot, Booker has a shot at winning the ACC player of the year award.
  


• 4. Greg Monroe, Georgetown: Monroe is the perfect fit for the Princeton offense that JTIII likes to run. Standing 6'11", Monroe has the offensive skills of a point forward. He can use the dribble to get to the basket, he can knock down a perimeter jumper, and he has excellent court vision and passing instincts. There are really three aspects of his game that Monroe needs to improve to become a dominant forward in the Big East. He needs to improve his ability with his right hand - he struggles dribbling and finishing in that direction. He needs to improve his strength and toughness in the paint offensively, defensively, and on the glass. Most importantly, he needs to be able to assert dominance on a game. There are few players with the talent that Monroe has, but how many times last season did you find yourself thinking "Greg Monroe has taken this game over"?
  


• 3. Craig Brackins, Iowa State: Brackins, at the college level, is a match-up nightmare. Standing 6'10", Brackins has the ball handling and the quickness to get by bigger defenders that try to come out and guard him on the perimeter. If you don't guard him, or if a smaller, quicker defender is on him, Brackins is a very dangerous shooter out to about 17 feet. Where Brackins has really developed during his first two seasons is with his toughness and his aggresiveness. He came with 17 rebounds of averaging a double-double last season, and has the makings of what could turn into a solid back-to-the-basket game.
  


• 2. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: Patterson proved last season to be one of the most dominant and efficient players in the country. Patterson's just 6'8", but his length, his athleticism, and his strength make him so difficult to handle on the block. He has a solid righty hook and an above average turn around jumper, but his ability in the post centers around how good he is at establishing position. He seals hard, and really understands how to use his body to hold off his defender. He showed some improved ball skills last season, and if he can develop a consistent jumper this season, Patterson will be near unstoppable this year.
  

Harangody's biggest improvement during his career has been his jumper.
(photo credit: basketme)

• 1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: If there is an argument against Luke Harangody as the best power forward in the country, I cannot think of it. The guy can average 25 and 12 this year, and I won't be surprised. By now, you should know Gody's game. An underwhelming athlete, Gody struggles going against bigger opponents with his back to the basket. But over the course of his career, the big fella has developed an excellent face-up game. He has developed range out beyond the three point line (and showed NBA three point range during the draft process). The biggest improvement in his game is his fitness - Gody looked as svelte and in shape as he ever has during the draft process.
  

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Pre-season Player of the Year

ESPN currently has a poll up where you can rank the 15 favorites for national player of the year.

Player of the year is usually a tricky award to pick. Is it the best player in the country? The best player on the best team? The guý who had the best season? The most valuable player? (It is actually really easy when a kid takes home each superlative a la Blake Griffin last year).

Case in point: the Michael Beasley versus Tyler Hansbrough debate. Beasley was clearly the more talented kid and was projected by most to be a better NBA prospect. But Hansbrough won a lot of the player of the year awards because he played for a Final Four team surrounded by fellow future first rounders.

Things will probably change as the season progresses, but as of right now the player of the year voting looks to be wide open. Are there enough shots available on one team for guys like Patrick Patterson or John Wall to win? Will Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich split votes? Can Luke Harangody or Craig Brackins lead their teams to a good enough season to be considered? Will freshman Derrick Favors be good enough to compete for the award?

Follow the jump for my five pre-season favorites.

5. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: 17.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg

PP may very well be the post power forward in the country (which is saying a lot given the depth at that position). But he also plays on a team that is very talented and deep, especially in the front court.

Patrick Patterson
(photo credit: US Presswire)

John Wall, UK's freshman point guard, is talented enough to make a run at some postseason awards (he was the only freshman in Katz's top 15) while the rest of the Wildcat's front line (Daniel Orton, DeMarcus Cousins, and Perry Stevenson) is good enough to start, and possibly make an all-conference team, just about anywhere else in the country.

Patterson will, no doubt, be the centerpiece of the Wildcats offense, but will there be enough shots to go around? Perhaps the bigger question is how will he perform in Coach Cal's dribble-drive motion offense, an offense in which guards tend to thrive?


4. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: 14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg

Aldrich was a beast in his breakout sophomore season. I'd argue he was the third most intimidating defensive presence in college basketball last year (behind Thabeet and Varnado), and was a much more dominant offensive force than either of those two.

Cole Aldrich
(photo credit: You Got Dunked On)

Already a monster on the glass, where Aldrich needs to improve is in his back to the basket game. While he did score almost 15 a game last year, a large majority of that came off of drop-offs, putbacks, free throws, and 15-17 foot jumpers. You rarely saw Aldrich use his outstanding length for a jump hook or turnaround J. If that post game develops this season, he should become college ball's most dominant big man on both ends.


3. Sherron Collins, Kansas: 18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg

Collins really proved his ability to carry a team last year. As basically the only returner (Aldrich played about 8 mpg as a freshman) from a national title team, Collins led the Baby Jayhawks to a Big XII crown and a Sweet 16 berth.

Sherron Collins
(photo credit: NY Post)

You can expect Collins to have another excellent season leading KU, and given the wealth of talent on the Jayhawks, a national title is within reach. But when you have (arguably) the best point guard and best center in the country on the pre-season #1 team in the country, it is feasible that the two players could split votes. Given that Collins put up better numbers and took (and made) so maný big shots last year, I'm giving him the nod over Aldrich.


Craig Brackins, Iowa State: 20.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg

Brackins surprised a lot of people back in April when he decided to return to school. After averaging almost a double-double for an undermanned Iowa State team.

Craig Brackins
(photo credit: Flickr)

Brackins is a match-up nightmare. He can face-up and either knock down a jumper or put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. But as a sophomore last season, Brackins showed an improved ability in the post, scoring with his back to the basket and showing much better toughness going to the glass. He doesn't have much help on his team, which can be a good and bad thing. While he may put up huge numbers, his efficiency stats will take a hit and his team won't get much national exposure.


1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: 23.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Yup, I'm going with Harangody as the pre-season favorite for player of the year. Why? Because the big fella is going to put up huge numbers this year for Notre Dame. Seriously, not only would it not surprise me if he went for 25 and 12 this year, but I expect him too.

Luke Harangody
(photo credit: Double the Post)

And 'Gody can play. He is fantastic on the block, where he uses his incredibly quick feet (the kid would win Dancing with the Stars hands down) and ability to seal and hold position to counteract his relative lack of height and athleticism. But he has also developed a solid face-up game and now is a threat out to the college three-point line. Given the progress he had made getting in shape for the Draft combine, I would expect him to be in Herculean condition come November.

But more than anything, the bottom line is that he has an actual chance at averaging 25 and 12 in the Big East. And while the Big East may be a bit watered down this year, that is still an amazing number.
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