KENTUCKY (2/15/12) - March madness is inching closer and closer and the individual player will stand out more and more. The player of the year race is always a highly contested race.
This year, Anthony Davis may run away with it. There’s an argument for Thomas Robinson because he’s carrying the Jayhawks on his back. Nevertheless, how can you deny a guy whose averaging nearly five blocks a game as a freshman who can play offense and defense?
1. Anthony Davis (Kentucky): Davis has a chance to win national player of the year, defensive player of the year, and freshmen of the year. He’s the perfect player. Davis is 6’10 with a 7’4 wingspan. He’s averaging 14.4 points per game and grabbing 8.9 rebounds a game. Davis is shooting 65 percent from the field. Defensively, he’s the best in the country. Don’t try to drive against Davis; he’s swatting 4.9 shots a game this a year. Anthony Davis is the country’s best player. Can Davis’s play lead UK to their first National Championship since 1998?
2. Thomas Robinson (Kansas): Robinson is the only guy that may contend with Davis for player of the year. Robinson has led the Jayhawks to a surprising record. He’s averaging 17.8 point a game and grabbing 12.0 rebounds a game. He’s shooting 54.5 percent from the field. The only thing that’s holding him back from player of the year is that he’s only get 1.7 blocks per game. That’s why Davis is going to be player of the year. Davis adds something to the table that most players can’t.
3. Doug McDermott (Creighton): McDermott can play in the post and on the perimeter. He averages 23.3 point a game and grabs 8.4 rebounds a game. McDermott shoots 60.6 percent from the field and 49.4 percent from three point territory. The kid can play but he’s like the rest of the Creighton team, where’s the defense?
4. Jared Sullinger (Ohio State): Sullinger was supposed to be the consensus player of the year but instead he has taken a step back. He’s still a good player as he’s averaging 17.9 points per game and grabbing 9.4 rebounds per game. Sullinger can play in the post and on the perimeter as he’s shooting 56 percent from the field and shooting 45 percent from outside. He is also a lock-down defender. Sullinger is still a fantastic player but he’s just not putting up the numbers to win player of the year.
5. Draymond Green (Michigan State): Green has carried a surprising Michigan State team to the top of the Big Ten. As a forward he’s showing his skills as a post guy with the ability to pass. He’s averaging 15.2 points a game, grabbing 10.6 rebounds a game, and 3.6 assist a game. Green is shooting 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from three point land. This Michigan State team is young, but with the help of Green, they may be able to make a long March run.
We will always have great players in college basketball. Some will stand out more than others. These guys are the leaders of tomorrow. It takes great courage to lead your team to victory. Robinson and Green are leading teams that were supposed to have rebuilding year. Instead, their fans are talking about a return trip to a Final Four.
Conor Revell
SurfKY Sports
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