Predictions for Big 12 Individual Honors

[HuskerFan86]

What players do you predict to win Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year?

POY: Keasha Cannon (Nebraska). As stated before, the POY has to be on a contending team, and the only thing NU will contend for is a .500 record and a couple wins in the Big 12. Still, Keasha is a great player and the best rebounding guard in the conference. I expect her stats to sky rocket this season, and there is no doubt she will do a lot of damage to opposing defenses. If Keasha stays healthy, cuts down her turnovers, and can find open looks in Yori's system, she will lead the Big 12 in scoring, rank in the top five in rebounding, and manage at least two triple-doubles this season. Cannon is a controversial pick, and I also feel Nicole Ohlde has a very strong chance of winning POY, as she will average a double-double this season.

FOY: Erica Hallman (Kansas). Much has been made of Erin Grant, who will see a ton of playing time at Tech next season and will be a terrific point for the Raiders. But if you want the player who will mean the most wins to her team next season, FOY will likely go to Hallman. She will fill the void at guard left by the graduations of Selena Scott and KC Hilgenkamp. I predict Erica will start from day one, and will be the Jayhwaks biggest offensive threat as a freshman.

NOY: Maria Villaroel (Oklahoma). I don't know much about her other than she dominated the JUCO ranks last season. It sounds like she will start for OU and be a factor for the Sooners. What other newcomers are there this season? I guess you could also place the post player transferring from Oregon St. to Oklahoma as a strong contender for this award.

Post your predictions and I'm sure there will be some disagreement, as the Big 12 is the deepest and most talented conference in the country.

[This message has been edited by HuskerFan86 (edited 07-31-2002).]

[This message has been edited by HuskerFan86 (edited 07-31-2002).]

[mred]

If Keasha stays healthy, cuts down her turnovers, and can find open looks in Yori's system, she will lead the Big 12 in scoring, rank in the top five in rebounding, and manage at least two triple-doubles this season.

Still not good enough if she's not playing for a contender. Angie Welle led the Big XII in both scoring and rebounding last season, and it still wasn't good enough for POY because ISU wasn't in the thick of the Big XII race at the end of the season. I guarantee POY will go to one of the top three teams in the conference. I'm not going to guess what those teams will be. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

FOY: Erica Hallman (Kansas).
Unlike POY, FOY can easily go to a non-contender. I don't know much about the conference incoming freshmen. ISU's Megan McCracken is good, but I don't see her getting much playing time behind Wilson and Junod. Your guess here is as good as any.

NOY: Michelle Villaroel (Oklahoma)...What other newcomers are there this season?

ISU's Anne O'Neil is one. She will start from Day 1 if her ACL injury is healed. She scored 11.1 ppg as a freshman with Illinois, starting all but two games.

[This message has been edited by mred (edited 07-31-2002).]

[ChipperF1]

The Huskers fan here have a difference of opinion

Player of the Year: You must be trying to stir the pot, because if you really believe Keasha Cannon will be Big 12 player of the year, I have beachfront property outside of Gering I can sell you.

Cannon getting open looks. She'll do what she does with most outside shots, she'll miss them. Cannon is a 15 foot and in penetrate scorer.
Plus, a lot of her stats skyrocketting will be at the end of 25 to 30-point laughers where Nebraska's getting beat. That doesn't impress the voters on the awards at all.

Player of the year honors have a strong preseason field, but I see this seasons honors coming inside. I like Heather Schreiber of Texas. The more I watch this kid, the more dominant she looks to me.

Freshman of the Year: Erin Grant, Texas Tech. This kid will be the TTU quarterback of choice by midseason. If she comes ready for business from Day One, she going to be someone we'll be talking about for a long time. Rarely does a high-school kid impress me that much coming in. Erin Grant DOES.

Newcomer of the Year: Maria Villaroel (Oklahoma), but I wouldn't be surprised if Mika Tennal from TTU sticks her nose in the fight there.

For a player on the backfielders to get these major honors, they really have to play out of their heads. I don't see Keasha Cannon averaging 30 a game next year with a ton of rebounds and great plays without averaging 10-15 turnovers a game, too. Her biggest weakness is her ballhandling. For a player with her ability to score, her ballhandling is poor. Cannon is weak dribbler, favors one hand, and isn't a solid passer in my view. Plus she tends to get out of control, and that is where many of her turnover come from. She tries at times to play faster than she is.



[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 07-31-2002).]

[HuskerFan86]

"Player of the Year: You must be trying to stir the pot, because if you really believe Keasha Cannon will be Big 12 player of the year, I have beachfront property outside of Gering I can sell you."

Cannon becoming POY may be just a fantasy, but she is a very good player. Just thought I'd open discussion with a controversial pick. Maybe her turnover problem could be alleviated by a move to the 2 or 3 position. We'll see what Yori does with her, but it is interesting that at Creighton Yori coached Mo-Valley POY Christy Neneman who is very similar to Keasha. Both are guards with mid-range games, rebound well, and sometimes struggle with turnovers. Cannon is better than Neneman, but the Big 12 isn't exactly the Missouri Valley.

If I were actually placing a bet on who would be POY, I'd place my money on Nicole Ohlde. She is the best offensive post player in the conference, and aside from Vandy's Chantelle Andersen, the best in the country. Ohlde is dynamic and has the ability to take over a game. K-State will likely be a Big 12 contender, and she will tough to stop.

As good as Schreiber is, she is still only an underclassman, and the Longhorns still need to find a point guard to get her the ball. I could see her being POY a little further down the road though.

[ChipperF1]

"but it is interesting that at Creighton Yori coached Mo-Valley POY Christy Neneman who is very similar to Keasha. Both are guards with mid-range games, rebound well, and sometimes struggle with turnovers. Cannon is better than Neneman, but the Big 12 isn't exactly the Missouri Valley.

But there is large difference between Christy last year and Keasha last year. Last season Neneman had a ball club around her that could take some heat of her. Laura Spanheimer and Traci Jones could hit those outside shots. Dayna Finch would make play, so would Laura Ferguson. Jenny Burns would clean up some rebounds.

Keasha didn't have that nearly as much, and will have even less this year. Much of what Connie did last year was based on the concept that Creighton could extend a defense out and hit those outside shots and the opens the door to a lot of inside penetration. Nebraska didn't have that last year and don't see a single solid outside shooter you can go to. Even the best shooter Nebraska had was crap and now she's at SW Missouri State.
Name one Husker who can hit a three and make it believable on this year's team. I don't think you can.


As for Screiber? I would take her underclassman or not. She's a bull inside and Texas will find a way to fire that big gun, point guard or not. I don't disagree with you on Nicole Ohlde. She's sound offensively and defensively although the comparison to Chantelle Andersen is a stretch on the offensive end.

Another name to seriously consider is Lindsey Wilson, especially if ISU contends. Also look at Jia Perkins. Its going to be in interesting race

[HuskerFan86]

"Name one Husker who can hit a three and make it believable on this year's team. I don't think you can."

You're right, I can't. The closest thing to a shooter we have is Shah Roberts, but she is streaky at best. And who knows if she has recovered from her epidemic of injuries.

If I remember correctly, Plenette Pierson was also a great player a couple years ago. Will she be a threat to win any post season honors?

[Moooooo]

No offense Husker fans, but I doubt there will even be a Nebraska player on the All Bix XII First Team; this is no knock on your players, but this is a deep conference with lots of talented players, and with only 5 slots only the best OF the best will gain this award:

Potential 1st Team members:
Nichole Ohlde (KSU)
Jia Perkins (TTech)
Stacy Stephens (Texas)
Heather Schreiber (Texas)
Dionnah Jackson (OU)
Plenette Pierson (TTech)
Stephanie Blackmon (Baylor)
Kendra Wecker (KSU)
Laurie Koehn (KSU)
A couple of CU players whose names escape me

Also, since Texas and Tech have more depth than most of the other teams in the conference, their "star" players might not have the ppg that the KSU players get. I don't think KSU had much depth last year, so their starters were forced to play almost the entire game; things could be the same this year.

Based on the above, look for either Ohlde or Wecker to win POY.

As for NOY, don't overlook Jamie Carey of Texas. Granted, her health concerns us all, and there's no way to predict if she can regain her form of 2 years ago that garnered her Pac 10 FOY while at Stanford. But, she was a first team Parade All-American, as well 1st Team USAToday member (five top players in that year) as a high school senior. For all I know, she could be our starting shooting guard, our weakest spot IMO.

As for FOY, I don't know all the incoming freshmen, but I will predict this award goes to one of Chelsi Welch of OU, Erin Grant of Tech, Nina Norman or Tamra Cobbins of Texas (whichever one solidifies the PG spot), or one of KU's freshmen (they have like 7, don't they?). Bank on Welch since her role at OU will be to score (moreso than the PG's at Tech and Texas).

[DblT81]

Originally posted by Moooooo:
As for FOY, I don't know all the incoming freshmen, but I will predict this award goes to one of Chelsi Welch of OU, Erin Grant of Tech, Nina Norman or Tamra Cobbins of Texas (whichever one solidifies the PG spot), or one of KU's freshmen (they have like 7, don't they?). Bank on Welch since her role at OU will be to score (moreso than the PG's at Tech and Texas).

Moooo, I was thinking of Chelsi Welch myself for FOY. Grant will play well, but the year end awards tend to go to the scorers, so I would say Welch. I don't know much about the Kansas freshmen.

[ChipperF1]

"No offense Husker fans, but I doubt there will even be a Nebraska player on the All Bix XII First Team

If Keasha has a year that is statistically off the charts and and at least gets NU above .500, who knows.

Before you say that Cannon isn't one of the best of the best...

I'd like to give you 27 reasons why she is.

Even point she scored when Nebraska beat Kansas State last season.

Also I'd like to remind you of 16 more. Every rebound she got in Nebraska's win over Kansas State last season.

I think that plus, her play most of the season at her Big 12 newcomer of the year honors at least places her in the ballpark. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[TXSNOS]

FOY - Grant or Welch
NOY - Carey or Villaroel
POY - Ohlde or Pierson

Just my thoughts on this topic.

TXSNOS

[HuskerFan86]

Keasha may not be the best player in the Big XII, but she is definately one of the best. I didn't get to see her go against all of the premiere players in the league last year, but teams like K-State, Iowa State, and Colorado had major problems stopping Cannon last year when they came to Lincoln. When she was on top of her game, she torched opponents. When she had off nights, she was simply an ordinary player. Will just have to see which Keasha appears more often this year.

Also, do Tech fans expect Cisti Greenwalt to crack the starting lineup this season and have more of an impact for the Lady Raiders?

[RaiderPower1]

Well, Husker, as you saw at the end of the season, Cisti was Texas Tech's g GO-TO player at many times. She pulled through and she will definately be the starting center for the Lady Raiders.

As for my picks:

POY: I say for Texas Tech you have to look at Jia Perkins and Plenette Pierson as being the tope two candidates from their team. I think others to definately consider in the Big XII are Ohlde, Stephens, Lindsey Wilson, Caton Hill, and Schreiber.

FOY: Candidates would be Erin Grant and Erica Hallman

NOY: Two candidates only come to mind and that is Maria and Miklannet.

GO TECH!!

[Cloneman]

No offense, Huskerfan, but ISU blew out NU in Lincoln last year, so saying they had a difficult time stopping her is irrelevent.

[cycofan]

Obviously I am biased, here, but I don't think you can overlook Lindsey Wilson for possible player of the year honors. I expect that Iowa State will sneak up on some people and be better than expected this year. This will be Lindsey's team, and her opportunity to shine. With the small lineup this year, I look for records for three pointers attempted and made to be shattered.

Don't I recall a team several years back with a good guard court and an unproven freshman center that went to the Elite Eight?? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif With a nucleus of Wilson, Junod and O'Neil, anything is possible!

[swok34]

Do any TT fans have any information on how Plenette is doing over the summer?

[elfdenmom]

I think Moooo has pretty well said it all. I think Erin Grant will deserve FOY, but may be too unselfish to get it and will probably split time with Miklannet which will impact both her chances at FOY and Mik's chances at NOY. I an hardly wait to see my Lady Raiders in action!

[RaiderPower1]

Swok, Plenette had been working out with redshirt freshman Jametra Clark throughout the season. Assistant coach Lance White would also be working with them as Marsha Sharp was doing her weekly television show so at times we saw the two girls practicing.

From what I've seen and heard, Plenette has been working on her 15 footer and foot speed. I expect her to be playing in the 3 spot many times this year which will give Tech a big lineup. In practice I have seen her hitting threes so I wouldn't be surprised if she has been working even more on those. I'm excited for her return. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[swok34]

thanks, rp.....I thought Pierson was really effective playing the high post and passing it down low....now she actually has a better target in Greenwalt.