(02-02-2021 10:59 PM)cleveland Wrote:  Tough for any team to lose a quality player to injury. A third Toledo-Kent matchup in MAC Tournament on a neutral court could have been special.

Both teams had a major loss. Kent loses significant scoring, Toledo got hurt depthwise and defensively, although the surprising approval of Shumate has really helped. If Komagum was starting we’d have 5 or more MAC losses,

Weird. If LCJ has little help and Pippen loses his partner in crime, they get docked for POY points? Personally I love Marreon but his team is flat out better. Even if its because of him... other guys have reasons for faults. So if their stats are better they should win. We get help from dudes for 25 in a night if Marreon plays bad. Those other guys dont/won't. Time will tell. Nothing is out of reach yet. Someone could score 40 a night on out and win the award.
I think the newly eligible Shumate for Toledo should get some consideration. His MAC stats are great. Another game with 20+ tonight. And very good in shooting percentage in MAC play.

Shumate almost went another half without missing. He didn't at all last Tuesday and scored 33. This week had 20 or so before getting blocked and ended with 25 pts. He is shooting 67.7 percent in conference play at 13.some a game. The way he is coming on, he could average 17 a game in MAC play and get a team award. Huge addition for Toledo.

Coming into the season I feel the Jacksons were the heavy favorites. Pippen has played his way into that discussion. As I said in the past this is as much a team award as it is an individual one. If Kent is able to keep winning without Nuga then I think that would only help bolster Pippen's case. If they start sliding back in the conference even with Pippen putting up good stats, it could hinder his chances

Shumate has been impressive inside for Toledo. I didnt realize he was shooting 58% from 3 in conference also.

Speaking of not missing, Ohio's Dwight Wilson did that against CMU last night going 7 for 7. He is 31 of 36 in his last 4 games and is shooting 75.5% (74-98) in conference play as a whole. If it weren't for the rule change / immediate eligibility, Ohio would have had a huge hole in the middle.

I see Pippen's POY case as similar to Javon McRea's when he won POY for the 3rd place Bulls in 2014. Pippen is scoring a little more than McRea did, but rebounding a little less. He had 30 in his first game without Nuga, so we'll see if he can keep shouldering the load.