The national college basketball player of the year: Always an interesting, fun and debatable topic. So let the debating begin.
After three phenomenal performances from the weekend, I think it’s clear that this has become a three-horse race. Here are your candidates, starting with the Big 12’s most dominating player:
1. Blake Griffin, sophomore, Oklahoma
Weekend recap: Griffin posted a double-double in each half against Texas Tech on Saturday. He finished with career highs of 40 points and 23 rebounds, marking the 12th game he’s had at least 20 points and 15 boards. That’s a Big 12 record.
Argument: He leads the nation in rebounds with 14.2 per game and leads the Big 12 in scoring with 22.8 points per game.
2. Hasheem Thabeet, junior, Connecticut
Weekend recap: Thabeet, a 7-foot-3 center, nearly posted a triple-double against Seton Hall on Saturday with 25 points, 20 boards and nine blocks. Total domination.Argument: His offensive numbers (13.5 points, 10.8 points per game) aren’t like Griffin’s, but Thabeet is arguably the most dominating defensive player in the nation. His 4.4 blocks per game are second in the nation to only Jarvis Varnado (4.9) of Mississippi State.
3. Jodie Meeks, junior, Kentucky
Weekend recap: In Kentucky’s victory over Arkansas on Saturday, Meeks went off for 45 points. He was 17-of-24 from the field and drilled seven of 12 tries from three-point range.
Argument: Meeks is fourth in the nation in scoring with 25.8 points per game, but first among the six major conferences. He broke a school record with 54 points against Tennessee on Jan. 13, and hit a ridiculous game-winner against Florida on Feb. 10.
There’s also the nation’s leading scorer, Stephen Curry, who injured his ankle on Saturday. The Davidson star did not break it, however, and is listed as day-to-day.
So my question to everyone is the following: At this point, who’s the national player of the year?
If you would, post your opinion in the comments section below. Feel free to elaborate on your selection.
I’m going with Griffin. Did anyone catch the OU-Tech game on Saturday? If you didn’t watch it, let me fill you in a bit. I’m not sure why, but the Red Raiders didn’t double Griffin once on Saturday. They decided to play him straight up the entire game. The idea was to not let Griffin’s surrounding cast beat Tech.
I’m no coach, but this idea — to me — doesn’t make much sense. Why take away Griffin’s surrounding cast when he’s the most dominating player in the country? No one on Texas Tech — perhaps no one in the nation — can guard Griffin one-on-one. There were several times on Saturday when Griffin received the ball deep in the post, made one move against single coverage and dropped in a five-foot jump hook as if he was leisurely jogging on the treadmill with the speed set at 5.0. Effortless.
If I’m facing OU, I make a talented, but inexperienced Willie Warren beat me. I make Austin Johnson beat me. I make Tony Crocker prove he can consistently knock down the three. I do not leave Griffin guarded one-on-one. He might go off for 40 and 23.
The only teams in the league that could possibly fathom guarding Griffin one-on-one is Kansas with Cole Aldrich or Missouri with a combination of Leo Lyons or DeMarre Carroll. Even that’s pushing it.
For the KU fans: What’s going to be the best way to guard Griffin on Feb. 23 in Norman, Okla.? That’s going to be one of the most exciting games of the season.
Next, I have to mention a hilarious quote that had me cracking up on Saturday night.
Quote of the week: Texas Tech coach Pat Knight, talking to reporters after the game about Griffin:
“Ever see the movie Terminator? That’s what that kid (is) like. That kid has no facial expression. He just plays and it’s like every kid I put on him was Sarah Connor. He was just going to take his time and kill him. That kid is good.”
Could be the quote of the college basketball season so far.
I’ll finish this entry with the latest Sorrentino Scale. The number that follows in parenthesis is what place the team was ranked last week.
That’s all for now, friends. As always, discuss.