Big 12 player of the year.

[DBLTFarmer]

While posting on another thread, I got to thinking about who might be next years Big 12 player of the year. When you look at the three teams picked at the top, its hard to pick out one player who might stand out enough to get the honor. Each of these teams seemed to be very balanced and unselfish. One player that I think potentially become the Big 12 player of the year is Ohlde from K-State.

My gut feeling is that a player from one of the lower picked teams might get the honor. Example, Dionnah Jackson of OU. She has the quickness and ability to lead OU back to the top 2 or three in the big 12.

What are your thoughts??

[35TangoTango]

Interesting thoughts. To get to be player of the year, you have to be a scorer, you have to be a dominant player that other teams pay special attention to, and you have to be solid in all other aspects. If your team doesn't wind up on top, all the above has to be doubled.

At this point, I would have to agree that the person with the best chance of filling that role is Ohlde. If Tech wins, and Pierson has had a Sheryl Swoopes type of year, it could be her. Same for Perkins.

If Texas wins the conference, who on that team would stand out from all the others? Schreiber, maybe.

For OU, I don't think Dionnah will be enough of a dominant scorer to get the award. If the Sooners are successful, I think the scoring will be very balanced. Dionnah should be a shoo-in for defensive player of the year, though.

That leaves lesser teams with one really dominant offensive player. And those would be...

[schooner2]

Ohlde does stick out as being the probable frontrunner for POY honors. I think Ohlde, Koehn, Wecker, and Stephens (UT) all have good shots for POY. Good grief, 3 from KSU!

Pierson maybe - but who knows how she will play this year. The only other players I think have a chance to challenge for POY honors are Perkins (TTU) and Wilson(ISU). Perkins still probably needs to become more consistent to challenge the above 4, but she has the tools. Wilson I think gets overlooked a bit too much. But you probably want to see more from Wilson such as a better shooting pct. and more rebounding to consider her as the BEST player in conference.

Bjorklund and Scott for CU still have to raise their level of play a few levels to be considered. Same goes for Hill (OU). She shows spurts of brilliant play. Just not consistent enough. If we just consider her games against Colorado she would make the All-World Team http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Bowers and Schreiber also show spurts of brilliance. Again issue is consistency.

[swok34]

I like Ohlde, Pierson, & Stephens......I agree with soonerman about Jackson, unless she's gotten into "scoring mode" this summer...it won't be her.

I would suspect quite a bit of the play will go through Caton Hill and she has Schuchnect as some solid help down low.

Has the award EVER gone to a sophomore? That's why I didn't include Wecker or Koehn.

[Buffsfan22]

I like Schreiber better than the K-State trio.

Sabrina Scott has never been put in the position of go-to player, or senior leader before. She's also atm 100% healthy* for the first time since her freshman year.
My guess is she'll take full advantage of these new conditions.

And Yes i am indeed a homer, but this pick is as valid as any.

Oldhe does kinda deserve the nod as preseason favorite for such.

So I'll say it will be either Oldhe, Scott, Schreiber or Wecker.

* recent word is that Lappe is also feeling good. Great news for Buff fans!

[kate dawg]

A sophomore isn't going to win player of the year.

[Bob_Ballew]

This might just be the year for the under classmen. If a sophomore dominates the league then she should be awarded accordingly! It could happen. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[swok34]

I agree, Zo........the Big XII has a tremendous sophomore class this year.

Newcomer of the year: I do think OU's Maria Villaroel picks up that award if she's anything as promised.

[Bob_Ballew]

Swok34,

I am pulling for All-American JUCO transfer Daphney Andre to be the newcomer of the year, following in Lambert's footsteps for BU. I really don't know much about her however and don't look for her to out do Lambert. I am also excited about Chameka Scott, a 6' guard out of Clear Brook near Houston. There is something about those tall guards, don't you agree.

[carolann]

I like Soonerman's analysis about the requirements for POY. I also agree with KateDawg - POY is highly unlikely to be an underclassmen. I also think expectations count. It is hard to come from nowhere to POY.

I see Ohlde as the clear frontrunner. Her play with USA basketball was scary. Plenette Pierson is a darkhorse candidate.

Hey, the competition just to make an all conference team is going to be intense.

[swok34]

Now, ZO......I have to be a "homer" about something http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif
refusing to predict how OU will do overall without at least seeing a scrimmage or exhibition game.

[BigUtFan]

My picks for POY would be Ohlde, Stephens, Koehn, Schreiber and Wecker. Don't think Jackson from OU would pull an upset. Pierson could depending upon her one year hiatus and her attitude. Perkins could be a darkhorse, but like Schreiber and Bowers, must be consistent. I think a lot too, will depend upon where the teams play. For example, UT has to travel to ISU and K-State this year, where another Big XII South team may get them at home. Ohlde is at this point, the odds on favorite to win. I am looking forward to the rematch between her and Stephens and that double OT loss at the Erwin Ctr. last year.

What are thoughts on Duke actually winning the NC??

[DBLTFarmer]

I did not necessarily suggest Jackson as player of the year. What I meant was an underclassmen who leads their team and scoring and possibly leads the conference in scoring. With the teams like K-State, UT, and Tech being being pretty balanced, it could lead to some underclassmen stepping into the mix.

As an example, lets say Jackson leads OU in scoring and averages 20 to 25 points per game and OU finishes second or third in the conference, then may have just as good an opportunity as say and Ohlde, Pierson, or Schreiber. (I know, Jackson may not be that good a scorer, just an example.)

[Jennifer]

I think Ohlde has to be the front runner, but Stephens and Wilson could make a push for it (as could many others, those are just the most likely ones IMO).

Whoever it will be, it looks slim that an OU player will have it 4 years in a row. I wonder if Theresa Schuknecht is the type of player to make a run at it? I haven't seen her play, so I really don't know.

[This message has been edited by Jennifer (edited 09-18-2002).]

[Texan]

I would go with Ohlde or Stephens.

[Bob_Ballew]

My POY ranking at this point would have to be Ohlde, Wecker, and then Stephens.

[Moooooo]

I'm gonna go out an a limb and predict Stanford transfer, Jamie Carey as POY.

With all the defensive attention Stephens and Schreiber are gonna warrant, Carey is gonna have lots of open shots, and she can hit from 3-point range as well. Not sure if she'll play PG or SG, but she will get her shots; she's too good a shooter not to.

[dem]

Last year I said Ohlde was likely POY for 2002-2003, and that still seems like a good pick to me. Lots of people close behind; I'm hoping for Lindsey Wilson to make a run.

[carolann]

Bold prediction, Moooooo. Jamie Carey is quickly going from an afterthought in the minds of many Texas fans to the expected savior. I wonder if she can be 'all that'. I love Carey's shooting ability but what I'm counting on most are Stanford fans' estimations of Carey's character and leadership ability.

[swok34]

I thought I read a quote from Carey that says she hopes to be able to "contribute" to the Texas team......meaning that she didn't expect to start and play a full 40 minutes per game....

please correct me, Texas fans, but I thought I read an article on her over the summer where she made comments to that effect.

BigUTfan.........I think Duke has a good shot at winning the NC.....actually, in my preseason #1 and #2; I'm tossed up between Duke and Tennessee.

[kate dawg]

I vote Pierson. She's going to be ready to play ball and will have a lot to prove to her teammates, her coaches and herself. If she doesn't do as I expect...then I gotta go with Ohlde.

[ISU3PointLand]

I hate to throw a bucket of water on this whole discussion, but I must ask the question, "Why do we talk about POY, FOY, NOY, etc, before the season even begins?" This is something that has been bugging me for quite a while.

It's one thing to try and predict how the conference will stack up standings wise, but why do we annoint certain players with such things as Pre-Season Player of the Year? Isn't this saying "you are the best player who didn't graduate last year"?

Instead of the Pre-season Player, First-team, Freshman and Newcomer of the Year predictions, why not just vote on Players to Watch in 02-03, Freshman to Watch and Newcomers to Watch? This would let the league and it's fans know who we should keep an eye on without the undue pressure the current labels place on the players before a single game has even been played. Leave the individual awards for the end of the season. It would also relieve the problem of coaches or sids (no, they never do the voting) relying on the preseason picks for the end of the year awards. It actually makes them think!

In addition, I'd for one like to see a set of player determined awards. Give each team in the conference a set of votes (8 per team perhaps) and let them vote on the first, second, third teams. They have to vote for people other than on their team. They are the ones playing the games, let them have a say in who they think are the best in the conference!

Just a few ideas folks, looking forward to a great season and getting back into posting on the board. Let me know what you think!


[This message has been edited by ISU3PointLand (edited 09-19-2002).]

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by ISU3PointLand:
I hate to throw a bucket of water on this whole discussion, but I must ask the question, "Why do we talk about POY, FOY, NOY, etc, before the season even begins?" This is something that has been bugging me for quite a while.


Because we're bored and need something to talk about.

It's one thing to try and predict how the conference will stack up standings wise, but why do we annoint certain players with such things as Pre-Season Player of the Year? Isn't this saying "you are the best player who didn't graduate last year"?

Instead of the Pre-season Player, First-team, Freshman and Newcomer of the Year predictions, why not just vote on Players to Watch in 02-03, Freshman to Watch and Newcomers to Watch? This would let the league and it's fans know who we should keep an eye on without the undue pressure the current labels place on the players before a single game has even been played. Leave the individual awards for the end of the season. It would also relieve the problem of coaches or sids (no, they never do the voting) relying on the preseason picks for the end of the year awards. It actually makes them think!


Seems like that would just be the same thing with a different name.
And it's not nessacarily the 'best player who didn't graduate last year'. You have other factors--such as Ohlde's play overseas this summer, that elevate their status. I think the top players in this conference can handle the pressure of being labeled as 'the best' or 'one of the best'. If not, they wouldn't have made it to where they are now.

[ISU3PointLand]

Seems like that would just be the same thing with a different name.

It would be in the same vein as the preseason awards, but the media and coaches aren't pigeonholed into picking one person. We could have a list of 10-15 players to watch for. To me, the preseason Awards are pretty meaningless. Prove to me what you can do on the court before you get an award. A Players to Watch list would say, "we think you're a good player and coaches, players, and fans should keep an eye on you."



[This message has been edited by ISU3PointLand (edited 09-19-2002).]

[elfdenmom]

I think that without the buden of playing out of position and trying to carry the team throughout the controversies, this will be Jia's time to shine.

[BigUtFan]

Ditto....We do it because we are bored, we are ready for fall(especially in Dallas), and we can't wait for the season to start!! Let's start a new one....who's going to be Coach of the Year in the Big XII???? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[DBLTFarmer]

ISU,

I started this thread to ask the question of what type of player more likely will get the honor than who. With the top three teams(teams that are picked to finish highest) being well balanced, will a player from the other teams be able to sneak in and grab the award??

Personally, I think the top picked teams are more balanced than ever before. The teams like ISU, OU, Colorado and Baylor have the talent to sneak up and steal one of the top three spots. If they do, they may have to have a player step up and score a lot of points and potentially be next years POY.

[GrantFanTT]

Well then My Freshman TO WATCH is Erin Grant from Tech, My Newcomer TO WATCH is Daphney Andre and the player of the year TO WATCH would probably be Oldhe, Koehn, and Peirson/Perkins!

[GrantFanTT]

It just depends on Who steps up this year and Plays there game!

[vickie1ok]

I think it's a wide open POY, just as it is a conference race, although Olde should be considered at the front of the starting line.

SW and Soonerman, didn't Dionnah average pretty high scoring in high school? I realize that doesn't always project to college, but her focus as a freshman was to crack the lineup and the quickest way for a frosh to do that for Sherri is play stout defense. This year, most of our points are gone; don't you guys think she will step up and take more of the point load this year? I'm not suggesting she will be 'Neisha or anything, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her offensive performance stepped up.

[35TangoTango]

Originally posted by vickie1ok:
...didn't Dionnah average pretty high scoring in high school?

According to her OU Bio, she "averaged 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.4 steals per game as a senior", but by her own admission the points were "all steals and layups".

She was literally developing her shot as her freshman season progressed. At the post-season banquet, Coach Coale said that we really had barely scratched the surface of her capabilities.

The only question is, with (presumably) two excellent shooters on the wings, what direction will her development take?

[swok34]

good points, vickie.....you could tell by mid-season that they were trying to get Dionnah more into a shooting mode.....
I think Dionnah is a "pure" point guard, and don't understand comments to the effect that OU doesn't have one. I think she is probably going to be the best PG to come out of OU. It was incredible to watch her vision this year and the things she would see on the court in passing the ball. Inevitably, as the season progressed, Dionnah would find herself wide open for a shot.....she's also got the speed to drive an opponent to the basket. I've heard a lot of talk about Wadsworth's vertical leap, but Jackson gets up there, too.

That said, with Villoroel and Welch and Hill and Schuchnecht, I really think we will see a balanced scoring effort amongst all five players.....that depending on how Villorel and Welch handle the physicality of the Big XII.