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ISU3PointLand
02-27-2003, 10:11 AM
I need to blow off some steam; so angry and insulted for Lindsey Wilson I can hardly stand it.

Every year an award is given for the top point guard in the country, the Nancy Lieberman award. The twelve finalists were recently announced and Lindsey is not even on the list. I can hardly believe it: "Top point guard finalists!" - Lindsey Wilson left off ! - Of course there are some fine player's on it and no disrespect to them but come on...

I have racked my brain for an answer as to why she'd be left on the list ENTIRELY! I can only assume that Ms. Lieberman (if she has anything to do with it) and/or some press people sat down, looked at some stats and made their choice based on that, and maybe name familiarity, without any investigation of the players real ability or contribution to the team.

Of course a team's ranking and success play a role in press interest and name recognition but since the award says "best point guard" I simply don't see how Lindsey can be left completely out of the nominations.

Do they even try to look at things like heart, team contribution, character, leadership as well as numbers? I submit that a true point guard is measured by their value to their team and their ability to do what HAS TO be done for the team. Whoever picked the finalists for the award can't have taken into account the fact that:

Lindsey HAS TO play about 39 minutes a game (and she's been doing it all season, including playing sick)

Lindsey HAS TO attack and score in every game, all game, it's simply not an option. And, because of the other's team defense, she seldom gets "easy" points.

Lindsey HAS TO live with fewer assists because of the scoring load she's carrying and playing with a younger, inexperienced team. In previous years she had tons of assists - does anyone think she can't get assists?.

Lindsey HAS TO live with a number of turnovers because she is forced to do so much - handle the ball a large percentage of the time, be guarded by opposing team's best defense player.

Lindsey often HAS TO guard the other team's best perimeter player one-on-one; usually holding them well below their season average.

Lindsey HAS TO try'n carry her team the last few minutes of the almost every game, when she is not just tired but exhausted.

Lindsey HAS TO supply the heart, determination and character for an young, inexperienced team, a team that even now, struggling with some heart-breaking losses, doesn't quarrel but battles and clearly hangs together as teammates and friends.

I could go on and on but will simply end by saying that while picking the "best" is relative, a "point guard award" list that leaves Lindsey Wilson off entirely HAS TO have it's head examined

Go Cyclones


[This message has been edited by ISU3PointLand (edited 02-27-2003).]

[This message has been edited by ISU3PointLand (edited 02-27-2003).]

35TangoTango
02-27-2003, 10:36 AM
Having seen her play in person, I'll add an amen to that!

These awards are done in such ignorance - just reputation, no real knowledge of what the players are doing. I had to chuckle last year when Stacey Dales was one of the candidates; she'd been playing forward for the last two years!

CyRox98
02-27-2003, 11:50 AM
When i saw the list this year, I thought about two thirds of the names were right, one had to have been selected by default, and had the reaction of "who?" to the rest of them.

You have to wonder if the committee (or whoever) ignored Lindsey because of a losing team record or if it could be a snub of the Big 12 in general since the perception is that we're down as a league this year. Either way, it's crap.

Anyone who has seen Lindsey play over the last four seasons knows how hard she works every game. She does what it takes and then some to get the win. I can only hope that she is selected to the 1st team all-Big 12 this year, because she absolutely belongs there. No one else running the point in our league this season can offer such a complete game every time on the court.

Lindsey deserved to be recognized this season, probably above all others, for all she has accomplished. Hopefully, the conference will not allow her year to be ignored when end-of-the-season honors are announced.

Go Buffs
02-27-2003, 12:02 PM
I totally agree with both ISU3 and CyRox. Wilson is a true point guard, and has the heart and fight of a champion.

Even though ISU has had a down year, think of what it would have been without Wilson!

Jennifer
02-27-2003, 12:19 PM
Can someone post the complete list, not a link to the list? I can't view ESPN with this browser, and our Security Dept. would probably fire me if I downloaded the right one.

I'm also surprised she's not included. It has to be because ISU isn't winning as many games this year. That's definitely not a reflection of her talent and what she brings to the game though.

Bball Girl
02-27-2003, 12:26 PM
1. Coretta Brown North Carolina
2. Erin Grant Texas Tech
3. Michelle Greco UCLA
4. Temeka Johnson LSU
5. Kara Lawson Tennessee
6. Ashley McElhiney Vanderbilt
7. Sara Nord Louisville
8. Yolanda Paige West Virginia
9. Cappie Pondexter Rutgers
10. Diana Taurasi Connecticut
11. Amy Waugh Xavier
12. Lindsay Whalen Minnesota

Jennifer
02-27-2003, 12:37 PM
Hmmm...though probably not as strong an argument as for Wilson, I would think Dionnah Jackson should get mentioned as well.
She leads the conference (conf games only) in A/TO ratio, is 10th in boards with 7.2-not bad for a 5'9 PG, and is 2nd in defensive boards with 6. Not to mention the defensive matchup she usually gets--she does usually get assigned to the opposing teams' best scorer, such as containing Unrau after the beginning of the game, and didn't I read that she guarded Bjorkland some in CO?

Anyhow...she's just a sophomore. I'm sure she'll get her due in time.