The Power Conferences Report
In ancient times (otherwise known as well over a month ago) I started to hand out conference fantasy awards for the power conferences. Then there was this big basketball tournament (which also seems like ancient times) and everything else got shelved. While I am enjoying the coaching carousel immensely, I think I will wait until it stops spinning to comment. Meanwhile, I like to finish what I start, so I am going to hand out most valuable, most surprising, and most disappointing awards for each of the three remaining conferences: the Big East, the SEC (featuring Ronald Steele and his underwhelming season) and the Pac 10. These awards were based on merit and value, so a player who was drafted toward the end of the round and performed like a first rounder was given preference over a player who was drafted in the first round and played like it (unless said player was so outstanding that he could not be denied).
-- Big East --
MVP: G/F Geoff McDermott, Providence Friars
Although the burly 6-7 point forward tailed off badly toward the end of the season (mainly due to a torn MCL), he was so outstanding and well-rounded through mid-February that he deserves great praise. His combination of being able to haul in rebounds (9.6 rpg) and set up the offense (5.1 apg) was unparalleled in the power conferences. Prior to the final eight games of the season, he was a decent scorer as well, only being held in single-digits five times. In those final eight games, however, McDermott did not score in double-digits and only had two double-digit rebound performances (he had ten double-digit rebounding and three double-digit assist games). McDermott suffered through injury troubles his freshman season, so he will have to prove his durability in his junior season in Rhode Island.
Most Surprising: G Jerel McNeal, Marquette Golden Eagles
As a freshman, McNeal was one of a trio of promising Golden Eagles guards along with Wes Matthews and Dominic James. In his sophomore season, McNeal jumped forward (while Matthews made an incremental improvement and James regressed) and was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. His absence due to a thumb injury killed any hopes the Golden Eagles had at making a run in the NCAA tournament and they bowed out in the first round against Michigan State. In the 29 games in which McNeal played, he was held under ten points just four times and scored 15 or more in 18 games. For the season, he provided 14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.6 spg and 1.0 3pg. McNeal will need to improve his ball handling (4.1 tpg) in his junior season, especially if James decides to go pro.
Most Disappointing: G Paul Harris, Syracuse Orangemen
While Dominic James’ regression was somewhat upsetting, it was the highly touted freshman Harris who was very, very disappointing. After he looked so good at the Nike Pro Hoop Summit last summer, I thought Harris might be among the cream of the freshman crop. However, he never broke into the starting lineup and had to fight for minutes throughout the season. The main problem with his game was a lack of a consistent jumpshot. He hit only one of his 20 attempted three-pointers and shot 43.3% overall for the year. Harris was still a top rebounder from the guard position at 7.1 rpg, but his 8.6 ppg and 1.6 apg left a lot to be desired. Harris showed flashes of potential (including five double-doubles), so he shouldn’t be forgotten about as a sophomore.
-- SEC --
MVP: G Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Some critics believed the 6-4 Gordon was miscast as a point guard as a freshman in 2005-06, but he proved as a sophomore that he should have the ball in his hands by improving in almost every facet of the game. Even with an impressive freshman class coming to Starkville including G Barry Stewart and G Ben Hansbrough, Gordon was clearly the best player on the team, leading the squad in scoring (16.0 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg), and assists (5.3 apg). Along the way he had five double-doubles and a triple-double (15 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists) on Feb. 21 in a win over Vanderbilt. His 3.5 tpg were still an issue, but that was a decrease from 4.7 tpg as a freshman. If Gordon can improve his 41.9% field goal percentage, he should be a prime candidate to repeat as the SEC’s fantasy MVP.
Most Surprising: G/F Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt Commodores
Throughout his college career, which spanned five years and a transfer from Virginia to Vanderbilt, Byars improved steadily. As a senior, Byars became a leader and as such, demanded the ball in crunch time, including his inspirational performance (27 points, five threes) in the double overtime win against Washington State in the Sweet Sixteen. The 6-7 Byars, who was named by the SEC coaches as the conference player of the year, provided a diverse statistical portfolio: 17.0 ppg, 4.9 3pg, 3.4 apg, 1.4 spg, and 2.3 3pg. All of those numbers were increases from his junior season, despite playing the same amount of minutes. Byars was also quick, athletic, and strong enough to defend anyone on the opposing team. It will be interesting to see if G/F Shan Foster can develop along the same lines in his senior season in 2007-08.
Most Disappointing: G Ronald Steele, Alabama Crimson Tide
Prior to the season, many media outlets had Ronald Steele as a first team all-American candidate. Like the Crimson Tide as a team, the 6-3 junior disappointed. He struggled through knee problems (missing six games and playing just in limited minutes in three others) and looked like a mere shadow of the sophomore who impressed the nation with 14.3 ppg and 4.3 apg. While Ronald Steele did not lose his ability to pass (providing a team-leading 4.0 apg), his scoring output was slashed significantly to 8.6 ppg on 38.4% from the floor. Hopefully, Ronald Steele will be able to rehab his knee in the summer and come back at 100% because Alabama (despite losing stud F Jermareo Davidson) should be stocked with talent again, including F Richard Hendrix, F Alonzo Gee, and freshman G Senario Hillman who is rated as the 40th best incoming player by Rivals.com.
-- Pac 10 --
MVP: G Darren Collison, UCLA Bruins
There was no single candidate in the Pac 10 that stood out as a MVP. I considered Collison’s teammate Arron Afflalo for his consistent scoring (16.9 ppg), Arizona G Mustafa Shakur and F Chase Buddinger, and Washington frontcourt players C Spencer Hawes and F Jon Brockman. In the end, I went with Collison because he provided scoring (12.7 ppg on 47.8%), assists (5.7 apg), steals (2.2 spg) and threes (1.5 3pg). There was some worry that the 6-1 sophomore would not be able to replace Jordan Farmar, but the Bruins did not skip a beat in 2007, making their way to the Final Four before running into their poison, the Florida Gators. Should he come back for his junior season (and he seems to be leaning that way), Collison will be helped by the interior presence of freshman F Kevin Love.
Most Surprising: G Aaron Brooks, Oregon Ducks
Brooks finished his up and down Duck career on a high note with career highs across the board, leading the team to an Elite Eight appearance (where they were also dispatched by Florida). Brooks played huge minutes (36.8 mpg – including 11 games of forty or more minutes) and used his court time well, averaging 17.7 ppg on 46% from the floor, 4.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.4 spg, and 2.3 3pg on 40.4% long range shooting. Brooks scored twenty or more points ten times and hit the thirties three times. He was also a candidate for MVP, but his added scoring was offset by Collison’s excellence in assists, steals, and FG%. The 6-0 senior will try to take his game to the NBA, where is he is currently projected as a second rounder by draftexpress.com.
Most Disappointing: G Malik Hairston, Oregon Ducks
Staying with the Ducks, it was Hairston who was supposed to be the centerpiece of the Oregon offense, but the emergence of Brooks and freshman G Tajuan Porter as well as his own inability to stay healthy meant that Hairston was a disappointment. Hairston missed a pair of five-game stints because of a groin injury and he was only able to show pockets of the potential he exhibited in 2005-06 as a sophomore. He scored 20-plus points in three games, including the two just before his injury relapse, but his scoring decreased from 15.0 ppg to 11.3 ppg, and his free throw shooting was a real source of concern as it dipped to 61.0%. If Hairston can regain his health for his senior season, he could combine with Porter, G Bryce Taylor, and F Maarty Leunen for another strong Duck season.
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