Big East Player of the Year

[brewcity77]

While reading around today, I saw a Midseason Big-East All Conference as well as an endorsement from Luke Winn that Notre Dame's Jack Cooley is the Big East Player of the Year.

With those in mind, I decided to compile some numbers on a few different players to see who we think deserves BE POY. I included the five best players from the top four teams (Syracuse, Marquette, Notre Dame, Georgetown), the three players listed on the All-Big East first team in the above article, and two guys from outside NCAA contention.

I then went through and looked at all of their numbers from Big East play only. After all, if this is Big East POY, why should it matter what Herb Pope did against Mercer or Jack Cooley didn't do against Missouri? The table is sorted by points per game.

Finally...a short case for each guy:

• Kevin Jones: The consensus favorite, leads the league in scoring and rebounding.
  
• Darius Johnson-Odom: Second-leading scorer, solid rebound and assist numbers for a SG, best 3P% on the list.
  
• Cleveland Melvin: Reigning BE ROY, third-leading scorer in the league, but honestly not likely to win this award.
  
• Vincent Council: If you give 2 points per assist and add it to ppg, Council's 31.7 combined points off baskets and assists per game is far better than DJO, whose 25.1 is second on the list. Also has great rebounding numbers for a lead guard along with a 1.9/1 A/T ratio. At worst should be first-team All-Big East.
  
• Jeremy Lamb: Does a bit of everything, but maybe not enough of any one thing to truly merit consideration.
  
• Jae Crowder: Top-10 in scoring, rebounding, and steals, top-20 in blocks, FG%, 3P%, and top-5 among forwards for assists. With a 2.4/1 A/T ratio, he leads the list by far. The most well-rounded player in the league.
  
• Jack Cooley: Averages a double-double and hits over 60% of his shots for the team most likely to finish 2nd in the league. All-around the most dominant true big man in the Big East.
  
• Jason Clark: Does a bit of everything and shoots a great percentage for a guard, but a dark horse at best.
  
• Kris Joseph: The best player on the best team, another great all-around player, but the Orange are probably too much of a team to win a POY award.
  
• Herb Pope: Nice numbers, but not a true contender.

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Personally, I think it's a three-horse race between Jones, Crowder, and Cooley. Jones has the most prolific numbers, Crowder is the most well-rounded, while Cooley has been the most impressive player on the most surprising team. And if I were voting for All-Big East first team, I'd pick those three along with DJO and Council.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

How can you shut Syracuse out from BE first team!?!

[brewcity77]

How can you shut Syracuse out from BE first team!?!

First, I like my First Team to look like a team. I want effectively a lead guard, a two-guard, a couple forwards, and a center. I'm going to take the best I can find that roughly approximates that lineup.

As far as shutting out Syracuse, they are too much of a team. They have 7 guys averaging 7+ ppg. Only Joseph averages more than 30 mpg, and barely at 30.7 and the only other guy in double-digit scoring comes off the bench. There is no one worth considering other than Kris Joseph, but...

• PF Kevin Jones is a shoo-in as he leads the league in scoring and rebounds.
  
• SG DJO is the second-leading scorer and without question the best 2-guard in the league.
  
• SF Jae Crowder has better numbers than Joseph in every major statistical category.
  
• C Jack Cooley is the most dominant big man in the league and averages a double-double.
  
• PG Vincent Council is without doubt the best lead guard in the league (sorry Maalik Wayns) and has a ridiculous points/assist combination.

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My question would be this: How can you put any single Syracuse player over any of those five?

[Hoopaloop]

Kevin Jones or Jae Crowder.

[PGsHeroes32]

Everything that happens in this sport is a popularity contest. While MU players get little respect nationally, the one guy who gets it is DJO. If anyone wins a award its him, no chance Crowder wins.....and its sad.

Honestly Id say its 50/50 Crowder even makes 1st team all BE.

[MUBurrow]

voted Jones. you can't lead the conference in scoring and rebounding on a competitive team and not win.

[MU82]

Everyone going for second place behind Jones, obviously.

[bilsu]

I think Crowder out plays Jones at West virginia and that will clearly move him ahead of Jones.

[We R Final Four]

I agree.  If Jae has a strong finish I think that he may get it.  The guy who does everything on a 2nd place team who is statistically in the top 5 in numerous catergories will not be overlookd--especially after yesterday's performance.  What Jones does is impressive, but all the talk was early when WVU was thought to be a contender in the BE.  A 9-9 finish...meh.

[🏀]

Jae would need to have a UConn game every game to the BE Championship to have a chance.

[godzilla]

1. Cooley
2. Jones
3. DJO

[ceh]

Jones is having a great year, but I not so sure that the Big East will give it to a player on a team that is bolting the conference next year.  Might not be fair, but that's my gut feeling.  I think it's wide open and DJO and Jae are primed to take it if they continue their great play.

[mileskishnish72]

Who votes for the awards? Is it coaches or media guys?

I've got to admit, if I'm a coach, I'm not voting jack sh*t for any of the bolters.

[mileskishnish72]

Come to think of it, if I'm a media guy and the BE and its rivalries have made my life easier, I'm not voting for any bolters either.