The way I see it, Seattle's Darrion Trammell & Riley Grigsby, UVU's Fardaws Aimaq & JJ Overton, GCU's Asbjorn Midtgaard, CBU's Ty Rowell, NMSU's Jabari Rice, and UTRGV's Sean Rhea are the front runners for WAC POTY. Just based off the team record, Midtgaard is probably the favorite to be selected.
Pistol Pete’s list is pretty good. My favorites are below,
I really like Fardaws Aimaq. National leader in rebounding. Also conference leader in blocked shots.
Midtgaard is my second favorite. Does it all well. Rebounding, shoots extremely well, great all around player.
Plenty of others have their own strong points though. These are just my favorites.
It's such a strange season to try and project, given how all over the place schedules have been. It feels like this is the most talented group of centers we've had in the conference in a while, so it'd be nice to see a big fella get it. But then again, when was the last time a conference POY was awarded based on rebounds, FG%, and blocks?
Conventional wisdom leads me back to thinking it's more likely to be a top 3 scorer in the conference. Given that SU's Trammell leads the WAC in scoring (almost 9 more ppg in conference play than #2 Overton) and is also #2 in assists and steals, I could see him getting the award. Statistics like those may become especially important in a season where not every coach will get to see and have to game plan against every top player.
If we are talking eye-popping stats, then I circle back to UVU's Fardaws leading the nation (hence, WAC) in rebounding and sitting atop the conference in blocks, while also holding his own in scoring at a respectable 14.4 ppg. Either of these young men, along with probably 2 or 3 others, would be deserving of the award. With no clear-cut favorite, it'd be hard to get all bent about whoever is chosen.
(02-23-2021 04:33 AM)gleadley Wrote: [ -> ]It's such a strange season to try and project, given how all over the place schedules have been. It feels like this is the most talented group of centers we've had in the conference in a while, so it'd be nice to see a big fella get it. But then again, when was the last time a conference POY was awarded based on rebounds, FG%, and blocks?
Conventional wisdom leads me back to thinking it's more likely to be a top 3 scorer in the conference. Given that SU's Trammell leads the WAC in scoring (almost 9 more ppg in conference play than #2 Overton) and is also #2 in assists and steals, I could see him getting the award. Statistics like those may become especially important in a season where not every coach will get to see and have to game plan against every top player.
If we are talking eye-popping stats, then I circle back to UVU's Fardaws leading the nation (hence, WAC) in rebounding and sitting atop the conference in blocks, while also holding his own in scoring at a respectable 14.4 ppg. Either of these young men, along with probably 2 or 3 others, would be deserving of the award. With no clear-cut favorite, it'd be hard to get all bent about whoever is chosen.
The reason I go with Fardaws is this—if he continues the last few games on current rebounding pace, he will have the highest season rebounding average of any player in the last 42 years. He is also number 3 nationally in double doubles. But that, along with leading the league in blocks is secondary to a truly remarkable rebounding achievement. Last time someone averaged more than he is right now was in 78-79. And he’s leading the next best rebounding average since 78-79 by a large margin in fact.
Consider this the above fantasized about blog that even bothers to mention things like this:/. Good thing I like research.
All this boils down to do you give it to the player that played the best in WAC play or give it to the best player on the team that wins the WAC Regular Season Championship.
The WAC has gone both ways.
Two WAC players have eye popping stats on a national level. Fardaws Aimaq leads the nation in rebounding at 15.5 rpg. However, Asbjorn Midtgaard leads the nation in FG% at 74.4%. Both dramatically impact the game with what they do best.
I think we need to focus on WAC stats only
The Great Dane is taking less shots and making more buckets while shooting 75% from the field
Aimaq is shooting 55% from the field with 6 more rebounds per game than Ash.
Blocks are separated by .5 per game.
Trammell has only played 5 games
Grigby has played 3 games
Rhea has only played 2 games
I would put Trammell over Overton and Rice but Trammell hasn't played as many games and that hurts him.
Also this being said it's a two man race between Aimaq and Midtgaard. Hopefully the GCU-UVU games don't get canceled.
I like Aimaq a lot and I'm addicted to rebounding savants. But his showing against NMSU has to have really hurt is standing. He had 6 points on 1-2 shooting in game one and had 2 points on 1-7 shooting in game 2. His scoring numbers are bolstered a lot by his OOC games. Factor in that GCU has a better record and I think Mitgaard is in the driver's seat for POY honors.
Right now, I would rank the players in order of favorite to be awarded WAC POTY...
1. Asbjorn Midtgaard (Senior)
2. Fardaws Aimaq (Sophomore)
3. Darrion Trammell (Sophomore)
4. JJ Overton (Senior)
5. Ty Rowell (Junior)
6. Sean Rhea (Junior)
7. Jabari Rice (Junior)
8. Riley Grigsby (Junior)
As one can see, a lot of the same players will be vying for the WAC POTY next season (if they don't transfer).
Then also add in the top players from Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston State, and Stephen F. Austin next season. I wonder if the post season awards will be split by (east/west) division starting next season and beyond?
I'd like to have the WAC player of the week award factored into the equation too. For every week you win its 5 bonus points towards WAC player of the year.
WAC player of the week winners
GCU Midtgaard 3
UVU Aimaq 3
Seattle Trammell 2
GCU Blacksher 1
CBU Nottage 1
URTGV Rhea 1
Dixie St Nicolds 1
Seattle Grigsby 1
CBU Gak 1
This list should be the only players considered for WAC Player of the Year award to this point.
(02-24-2021 02:34 PM)Lopes87 Wrote: [ -> ]WAC player of the week winners
GCU Midtgaard 3
UVU Aimaq 3
Seattle Trammell 2
GCU Blacksher 1
CBU Nottage 1
URTGV Rhea 1
Dixie St Nicolds 1
Seattle Grigsby 1
CBU Gak 1
This list should be the only players considered for WAC Player of the Year award to this point.
Maybe in a normal season POTW would mean something but there were weeks where teams like NMSU and UTRGV weren't even playing a game.
(02-24-2021 02:53 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2021 02:34 PM)Lopes87 Wrote: [ -> ]WAC player of the week winners
GCU Midtgaard 3
UVU Aimaq 3
Seattle Trammell 2
GCU Blacksher 1
CBU Nottage 1
URTGV Rhea 1
Dixie St Nicolds 1
Seattle Grigsby 1
CBU Gak 1
This list should be the only players considered for WAC Player of the Year award to this point.
Maybe in a normal season POTW would mean something but there were weeks where teams like NMSU and UTRGV weren't even playing a game.
Ok... but every team has missed time b/c of covid either directly or indirectly.
(02-24-2021 03:08 PM)Lopes87 Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2021 02:53 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2021 02:34 PM)Lopes87 Wrote: [ -> ]WAC player of the week winners
GCU Midtgaard 3
UVU Aimaq 3
Seattle Trammell 2
GCU Blacksher 1
CBU Nottage 1
URTGV Rhea 1
Dixie St Nicolds 1
Seattle Grigsby 1
CBU Gak 1
This list should be the only players considered for WAC Player of the Year award to this point.
Maybe in a normal season POTW would mean something but there were weeks where teams like NMSU and UTRGV weren't even playing a game.
Ok... but every team has missed time b/c of covid either directly or indirectly.
So far in 12 weeks of play...
Utah Valley played
10/12 weeks for a total of 17 games
Cal Baptist played 9/12 weeks for a total of
19 games
Dixie State played 9/12 weeks for a total of
19 games
Grand Canyon played 9/12 weeks for a total of 17 games
Seattle U. played 9/12 weeks for a total of 17 games
Tarleton State played 8/12 weeks for a total of 16 games
UT Rio Grande Valley played 8/12 weeks for a total of 13 games
New Mexico State played
7/12 weeks for a total of
12 games
Chicago State played 4/12 weeks for a total of 9 games... but they quit in week 5 of the season.
Some schools were affected by COVID more than others.
Here we go with the excuses. The WAC POTY is based on WAC games. NMSU was severely affected by COVID in the OOC, not as much in the WAC season. Other teams have been much more affected in WAC play and UTRGV actually lost their coach.
The WAC POTY means something and kudos to whoever gets the award (it won't be an Aggie). It will be well deserved and there will not be any asterisks applied to it.
(02-24-2021 04:17 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote: [ -> ]Here we go with the excuses. The WAC POTY is based on WAC games. NMSU was severely affected by COVID in the OOC, not as much in the WAC season. Other teams have been much more affected in WAC play and UTRGV actually lost their coach.
The WAC POTY means something and kudos to whoever gets the award (it won't be an Aggie). It will be well deserved and there will not be any asterisks applied to it.
You are overstating the situation. Stop adding something that isn't there. I am not saying whomever is selected the POTY doesn't deserve it. Lopes87 wants to introduce Play of the Week honors into the equation for selecting a POTY. In this COVID marred season, I am simply stating that if a team doesn't compete in a respective week, then none of its players are eligible for POTW honors. This has nothing to do with who is more deserving of POTY than others. We all know Midtgaard and Aimaq have been dominant; whether they played 10 games, 15 games, or 20 games. In this season, simple stats per game is sufficient for naming WAC POTY; and in this season more than others, this award should be about the whole season rather than just the WAC games; since a player like Sean Rhea has only had the opportunity to play in two WAC games thus far; not that it makes much difference, Midtgaard and Aimaq have been the most dominant players throughout this season.
And, BTW, I bolded the weeks played and games played to show the variation of sizes in each team's schedule as an illustration why POTW honors shouldn't play a factor in selecting POTY.
I'm talking about in general and going forward it also takes some of the guess work out. WAC also list others who received consideration too.
And just as I put the disclaimer "if they don't transfer" when discussing the top players in the WAC who were underclassmen, Sean Rhea has enter the Transfer Portal; per Verbal Commits.
https://verbalcommits.com/players/sean-rhea
At least a lot (including the 2 most discussed) have already transferred once. Makes another transfer slightly less likely. Although Rhea would be on his 4th school if he ends up transferring again.
Midtgaard or Aimaq. I'd go with Midtgaard because he's on a stronger team, individual stats won't be as high when there are five impressive starters.