A big part of the struggles surround a weird dynamic: it feels like the better players–or at least the statistically significant players–are on the teams farther down in the standings. How much does playing on a winner factor into your thinking? What’s more, even similar teams have vastly different construction.
What I mean is this: I can argue, without blushing, that Hofstra (Mike Moore, Nat Lester) has as many players in the top 10 in the league as Drexel and Mason combined (Frantz Massenat, Ryan Pearson). Delaware is tied with Georgia State. The Hens have two players nestled on the first team cut line (Jamelle Hagins, Devon Saddler) and the Panthers may not have anyone in the top 15 players.
That’s weird, isn’t it? But it goes deeper.
The third best big man in the conference (behind Hagins and Keith Rendleman) may be Towson’s Robert Nwankwo. Or Juvonte Reddic, who started slowly but is coming on fast. Or Chris Cooper, who is a beast defensively but not offensively gifted. Nwankwo and Cooper average a double-double of the 11/11 variety, and Reddic is a highly-effective and efficient 50% shooter.
What do you do with VCUs Briante Weber, who most assuredly won’t make all freshman team but likely makes all defensive team? That’s, uh, weird.
***
This is where you come in. Help me. There are two games left to play so anything can change this week. There are no parameters on which to base your argument, but why should I pick Your Guy? Or Another Team’s Guy that impresses you?
I’ll get us started with the always pointless “if I had to pick today.” Note: in several places there are extra names. I know that. I need help.
POY: Ryan Pearson. (But the margin is 50.6 to 49.4 between Pearson and Frantz Massenat. In fact, by the time you read this my choice is Massenat. Or not. This will likely come down to Saturday afternoon.)
Rest of First Team: Massenat/Pearson, Jamelle Hagins, Keith Rendleman, Kent Bazemore
Second Team: Mike Moore, Brad Burgess, Devon Saddler, Nat Lester, Chris Cooper
Third Team: Humpty Hitchens, Samme Givens, Jon Lee, Robert Nwankwo, Jihad Ali
Others: Darius Theus, Juvonte Reddic, Eric Buckner, Quinn McDowell, Damion Lee, AJ Davis
Freshman of the Year: Damion Lee
Rest of Freshman Team: Quincy Ford, Marcus Thornton, Adam Smith, Jarvis Threatt
Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Buckner
Rest of All Defense: Jamelle Hagins, Kent Bazemore, Briante Weber, Keith Rendleman, Robert Nwankwo, Darryl McCoy, Quincy Ford, Derrick Thomas, Chris Cooper, Darius Theus
Coach of the Year: Ron Hunter is out in front for obvious reasons. However if Georgia State stumbles this week I can make a real argument for Bruiser Flint, Paul Hewitt, and Shaka Smart.
February 21st, 2012 at 10:23 am
You lost all credibility with me in not choosing Darius Theus on any of the all conference teams. I don’t even feel I have to justify his selection. There is a huge difference between performance and stats. You seem to have used the latter for your selections.
February 21st, 2012 at 10:33 am
I agree 100% with your CAA POY choice. FEAR THE BEARD.
February 21st, 2012 at 10:58 am
Can’t see how Flint gets COY – his team had everyone of importance back, and was picked to win the conference.
February 21st, 2012 at 11:54 am
ODU has lost to all of the top teams so Bazemore should be 2nd team and Cooper 3rd team.
February 21st, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Leaving Bazemore off the first team would be a serious insult. He has single-handedly sent two conference games into overtime that would have otherwise been losses. If recent games against UNC-W and Missouri State are any indication, he is finally near 100%.
February 21st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Bazemore is not a 1st teamer. Crazy talk Litos. Having Lester and Moore from Hofstra rather than Theus or Buckner also crazy. A lot of players would put up those numbers playing for Hofstra. Get past the box scores man. Humpty Hitchens over rated. Reddic derves to be considered for at least the 3rd team.
February 21st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Baze deserves to be first team all CAA. This is not even a serious discussion.
February 21st, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Yep youre right. Im wrong about Bazemore look at his stat line. He really is the only thing that odu has got going for it. Just seems like he was less of an impact player than was predicted as was Brad Burgess. Both players are coming on strong now though.
February 21st, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I guess I would go with Pearson for POY, he’s a senior, but I think Franz had just as good, if not better, year.
February 21st, 2012 at 1:35 pm
As much as it pains me to say, Pearson for POY is a no-brainer. Senior that has paid his dues and has been impact player from the moment he stepped on the court in Fairfax.
February 21st, 2012 at 1:42 pm
How does Buckner get it over Hagins?? Hagins isn’t far behind on blocks but miles ahead in rebounds
February 21st, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Buckner had a great year but Bazemore will get defensive player of the year again.
Hardest pick will be COY. Difficult to give it to Bruiser, Hewitt, or Smart since each pretty much finished where they were expected to. COY will still go to Hunter, even though reality of the CAA set in more than GSU faded.
Massenat will get the edge over Pearson – he is truly most valuable to Drexel.
3rd team will be between Theus and Hitchens.
February 21st, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Underclassmen rarely get the POY over a senior. But, I’m willing to give Massenat the POY if it means Mason gets the automatic bid to the Big Dance as the CAA tourney winner. That’s a lot more important to my team with no names on the back of their jerseys.
Why isn’t Wright of Mason even listed as a 3rd teamer, all-CAA?
February 21st, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Massenat is a future POY, but not this year. Fear the Beard!
February 21st, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Wright’s stat line alone may not quite dictate third team, but he’s been sneaky good the last few weeks and seems to have that undefinable “it” factor – he’s been Mr. Clutch, game after game. Count up how many of his three pointers have given Mason the lead, and then look at his FT shooting, and you’ll see what I mean.
Plus, he often draws a top defensive assignment. Hewitt waits to see who is hot that night, then brings Wright in to lock them down.
February 21st, 2012 at 6:59 pm
To the first poster complaining about Theus..How about explaining your reason instead of just crying that he was not selected? Expand on your performance instead of stats theory. Theus is 1st in assist and 7th in steals (mind you CAA teams are picked off of conf games only)..besides those 2 he is nowhere near the top of any other categories. What other factors should a player be judged? To me it sounds like the stuff you refer to can be subjective.
Litos does a great job on this blog…coming on here and blasting his opinion without anything to back it up is weak.
February 21st, 2012 at 6:59 pm
No Andre Cornelius for Defensive team? That seems like a snuff coming from the guy who complained he should have gotten it last year. Pearson is POY, without him Mason loses atleast 3-4 more games! Drexel is in first place, but their schedule this year was really easy compared to the other top teams. They have only had to play Mason, VCU, and ODU once!! That’s 3 games against the top 4. Just to compare, Mason, VCU, and ODU will have each played 5 games against top 4 teams at end of the year.
February 21st, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Here Glenn, cry your eyes out,
1. Leads the conference in assists.
2. Leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio.
3. Has been clutch down the stretch in many games.
4. Makes his team mates better as soon as he steps on the floor.
5. Could average 14-16 points easily on an also- ran team if he wasn’t trying to distribute the rock to his team mates.
6. One of the best defenders in the league, and as you say is 7th in steals in the league.
Of course if you followed the league you woulld know this.
February 21st, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Anyone who think Shaka Smart and VCU have not seriously exceeded expectations this year is not really paying attention.
February 21st, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Jim – take your VCU goggles off. People don’t vote on these teams based on assumptions and what-if scenarios. Theus may be deserving, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t 15 others who are just as deserving, if not more. Michael Litos knows what he’s talking about. Give it another year and you will probably see Theus on one of these teams.
February 21st, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Massenet has been filling up the stat sheet lately and giving up a handful of turnovers in the process while running point. The freshman learning curve mimics Drexel’s horrible start and ridiculous close. Without him, they’d be .500. Love Pearson though!
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:29 am
Jim,
First of all….if I am not mistaken, Litos is a VCU fan so before you bash him about snubbing a VCU player consider who is writing the blog. What draws me to his blog is that he provides fair and balanced analysis to all teams regardless of his affiliation.
Regarding your reasons why Theus deserves all-conf consideration….steals and ass/to ratio, I agree..he has doen very well there. The other bullet points are your opinion and noting else…and the facts are when it comes down to the CAA coaches and media deciding on all conf teams, they will look at ppg, reb, steals, blocks, fg %, ft%, 3pt% etc. Not “he has been clutch down the stretch, makes him teammates better, one of the best defenders in the league, etc” Numbers talk and bullshit walks. I can find a number of players that fit your description…what about his low fg%, horrendous 3pt shooting and below avg foul shooting?
I think Theus is a good player…but all conf considering what the other players in the league have done…not a chance.
Not crying my eyes out here.
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:18 am
I met Theus’s father at the Mason/VCU game. He was wearing a “No. 10 is my son” t-shirt. I went up to him and said hello. He was very friendly, and I gave him kudos for his son’s good 1st half vs. us last Tues. night. See…VCU and Mason CAN get along…at least for a moment.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:12 am
POY – Pearson. I love Massenat, but take him off Drexel and I don’t think they’re hurting as bad as Mason is without Pearson. 17.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and a solid 36% from long range, not too shabby (and that’s coming from a VCU fan).
COY – Probably Hunter then Smart. GSU picked to finish 11th, but still a shot at a top 4 spot (tonight’s game is huge)..pretty impressive. The job Smart has done is amazing as well, CAA teams can’t be excited about what Smart is doing with such a young team.
DPOY – Not so sure about that Buckner pick. If you’re going to give it to a big I’d probably go Hagins even with .5 less blocks per game, better rebounder. I think Bazemore gets it anyway, but the best defensive guard has got to be Briante Weber. 1 less steal in 313 less minutes is LEGIT. Rams one of the best teams at turning players over in the country, Weber the best player on that team at doing that, but yes..he has three more years to try and win that award so a senior will grab this one.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:42 am
Yeah…GSU faded. We are 5 and 1 in February. And could be 7 and 1.
I’m just glad to see that Buck is finally get some DPOY respect. Thank you Mr. Litos.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
My big picks:
POY: Ryan Pearson
COY: Shaka Smart
FOY: Damion Lee
DPOY: Briante Weber
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:17 pm
POY: Kent Bazemore. If i had to pick one player in the league to start my team, he’d be the guy. Massenat would be my second choice. I agree with most of Mike’s All-CAA teams. I do think Theus deserves to be on one of the teams. Also love Rendleman & Nwankwo as great players on bad teams. I’d move the Hofstra players down a few lines. Not good enough all-around.
ROY: I could see Thornton, Lee or Ford win this. Really wide open.
COY: Bruiser probably gets this unless they fall at ODU and Mason wins the league. If that happened I’d give consideration to whomever finishes stronger, Ga. State or Delaware. Hunter and Ross have done great jobs this year.
DPOY: Bazemore. He’s flat out the best defender in the league. He will probably get serious NBA looks based on his defense alone. Buckner, Hagins & Nwankwo have also been great defensively.