Katz saying Thabeet deserves to get Big East POY nod and....

[g0ldmember42]

be a first team all american this year in his latest article. (link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3907783)

What else did we learn Saturday?

The first-team All-America slots are filling up. Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is going to be the consensus player of the year. He'll collect every vote. That is a projection to the folks at the Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson awards that I don't see being wrong. Griffin clinched the honor with a few weeks left in the season with as dominating a performance as anyone has had this season, putting up 40 points and grabbing 23 rebounds in the Sooners' 21-point win over Texas Tech.
Hasheem Thabeet should win Big East Player of the Year honors and settle in next to Griffin as a first-team All-American. Thabeet scored 25 points, grabbed 20 boards and blocked nine shots in yet another game-changing performance, this time in a UConn win at Seton Hall.

I know he is an incredible athletic specimen that the college game rarely sees anymore, but I just don't think a guy that is as limited in his skill set offensively has a legitimate chance for those kind of honors. If it were Defensive player of the year, sure, I totally see that. The guy alters more shots in the paint and rebounding is automatic. But when we talk about guys like Blake Griffin and even a McNeal, I just don't see how he's considered to be among those types of players. Not that I'm biased and totally lobbying for McNeal to get the BE POY nod or anything.... 

Maybe it's just me.

[StillWarriors]

Maybe the MU-UConn game can help decide it on the court. The matchup would suggest a big game for Thabeet, but if MU can somehow make him struggle and Jerel can have a big game in a win I would think that could send some votes Jerel's way. Of course, the opposite scenario would apply as well.

[willie warrior]

I tend to agree that his offensive stats should  be greater to be POY. But he is a huge defensive intimidator, and if UCONN continues to kick butt in conference, he definitely should be the top candidate. His game has greatly improved over the last month.

[tower912]

His offensive stats are going to go up with the injury to Dyson.   Look for more 20/20's

[77ncaachamps]

God only knows UConn needed Thabeet to have a big game against SH, as they only won by 8.

[Daniel]

I sitll say when we play UCONN, we get a nice long jersey top, put Maurice up on Hazel's shoulders, put that long jersey over him and block some shots!

[bilsu]

NCAA tournament matchup I hope happens at some point ifsThabeet against Griffin.

[marquette09]

NCAA tournament matchup I hope happens at some point ifsThabeet against Griffin.

How about Thabeet v Blair tomorrow?

[MuMark]

Thabeet deserves every honor he is going to get.

[MR.HAYWARD]

20 rebounds negates how many second chance opportunities.  His 9 blocked shots are from shots typically inside 12 feet that normally fall at about a 50% or better clip, therefore, those 9 blocks saved on avergae 4.5 buckets or 9 points.  You can basically consider those points scored, as scoring two is the equivalent of saving 2.  Therefore he had a 32 and 20 night!  that BE pOY and AA caliber,  also how mnay id he alter.   I remeber Jimmy Mac affected other teams offensively on anything inside 15 feet from up close you could really see the effect he had, the hesitation, the altered shots where guys had to use arcs they did not use normally etc.  The help defense etc.  Incredible effect.

Now i will be the first to say that Thabeet also has games where he has 8 points and 8 boards and 4 blocks...is the BE POY materical...probbaly not but 23, 20 and 9  is huge!!! and playing for the #1 team in the country sure helps.  If MU is in 1st place they would be talking Jerel just the same