This seems like such a wide open race this season for the men's basketball Player of the Year, with several different players that you could make a compelling case for. I think these 5 have the best shot, and a player from GSU, GS, or TxSt could win it by going off this weekend. Who gets your vote, and why?

(The homer in me wanted to add Ty Cockfield into the mix, but despite the all-timer of a year he's having in A-State terms, I realize how completely unrealistic that is.)

I seriously don't know. Smith is without a doubt newcomer of the year though. Gant's probably been the most well rounded but UL having such a disappointing season may keep him out of the running. Simonds has been good, but maybe not as dominant as some were expecting. Brown's scoring has dipped some this year if I'm not mistaken. Pearson has a hard time in the Kaspar offense getting the offensive stats to warrant POY.

I can't even vote, I really don't know.

Looking at the individual stats, I think it comes down to 3: Smith, Brown and Gant. Smith is #1 in scoring, #7 in FG %, #5 in assists, #2 in FT % and #1 in steals. Brown is #8 in scoring, #3 in FG %, #2 in assists, #11 in FT % and #6 in steals. Gant is #3 in scoring, #2 in FG %, #2 in rebounds, #6 in FT %.

I didn't include 3 point made and % but Smith is 1 in made and 3 in %.

Gant is a beast in the paint, but I think it really comes down to Smith and Brown and I believe Smith just has better numbers, especially when you do start looking at 3 point made/%. I thought Cockfield would be a little higher but his shooting %, assists and steals were pretty low for such a big scorer at the guard position.

Currently watching Smith in person. If ULM has a better record he’d win it. Almost makes it look too easy.

Ty Cockfield.

I agree it comes down to Smith, Gant and Brown.

I DO have a vote. And, don't assume anything about how I voted. I am not and have never been a homer when it comes to the vote.

I do have a tendency to look more at conference only stats, since that's more of an apples to apples comparison.

If either one of those three guys win it, no one should complain.

Cockfield outplayed Smith tonight. Both of those guys put on a show though, and it was a helluva fun one to watch.

We''ll find out for sure today- men's all-conference honors released at 3p, women's at 2 CT.

I am very homerish, but Smith would have my vote. Any of those three are deserving though. He needs to have a hell of a tourney for us to have a shot

I'd go with Smith. Simonds had other good players around him and I wasn't as impressed with Gant.

Here is my prediction.

Tookie Brown will win the award.

Coaches and media will look and break the "tie" between Brown Smith and Gant by giving Gant the defensive player of the year and Smith the Newcomer of the Year.

That will justify the vote for Brown. It will also be in part, a tribute to a great career.

Tookie Brown did win it

(03-11-2019 10:28 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  Here is my prediction.

Tookie Brown will win the award.

Coaches and media will look and break the "tie" between Brown Smith and Gant by giving Gant the defensive player of the year and Smith the Newcomer of the Year.

That will justify the vote for Brown. It will also be in part, a tribute to a great career.

Nailed it.

(03-11-2019 10:28 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  Here is my prediction.

Tookie Brown will win the award.

Coaches and media will look and break the "tie" between Brown Smith and Gant by giving Gant the defensive player of the year and Smith the Newcomer of the Year.

That will justify the vote for Brown. It will also be in part, a tribute to a great career.

Or he was tipped off on the list this morning before it was released.

Balado sent out a strongly worded statement essentially calling it BS that Ty Cockfield didn’t make first team all league. Despite leading the conference in scoring

Essentially he was penalized for playing for a bad team

our team is pretty pissed heading into the tournament for being snubbed. No postseason honors for Benlevi, Mitchell, Thomas, and Williams. TY for this awesome gift SBC!

(03-11-2019 11:03 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Balado sent out a strongly worded statement essentially calling it BS that Ty Cockfield didn’t make first team all league. Despite leading the conference in scoring

Essentially he was penalized for playing for a bad team

I think either Cockfield or Shabazz from App should have been first team over Pearson from TXST. There’s a lot of good players in the conference though, and all 5 that made first team plus those 2 mentioned have a legitimate argument for first team honors.

(03-11-2019 08:47 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  Or he was tipped off on the list this morning before it was released.

Really? Actually I said it publicly three days ago.