bballnut90
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I posted this on the UCONN board...curious to see what Tennessee fans are thinking in regards to POY favorites. I only listed players that I think have a realistic shot of winning the award, so if your choice isn't listed, please choose "other" and post who you'd pick and why.
Here are the candidates:
Katie Lou Samuelson, Connecticut
17.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.7 A/TO ratio, 52% FG, 46% 3pt
Why she's a top candidate: She's been the best player for the #1 team who is also undefeated. She's had great games in every big matchup and is unquestionably one of the best scorers in the country.
What's working against her: She's missed 5 games due to injury and has played limited minutes in several others. Her numbers are not as strong as several other candidates.
A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
22.7 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.6 bpg, 55.5% FG
Why she's a top candidate: She has the whole package-great stats, name recognition, good performances against top teams (sans the UCONN game), the eye test says she's the top player
What's working against her: Her team just isn't very good this year. They're a 5 loss team and it's rare that we see a player take home POY who isn't on a top 5 team. The only exceptions in the last 20 years was Plum winning, and Kelsey had a far stronger season than A'ja is having this year.
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
19.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 50.3% FG, 40.2% 3pt, 82.4% FT
Why she's a top candidate: Eye test says she might be the best scorer in women's basketball this year. She can score in a variety of ways and is capable of taking over and carrying her team. She has massive performances in the biggest of games, she's very efficient and she's led her team to an undefeated season so far.
What's working against her: One could make an argument that she isn't the best player on her team. McCowan's numbers are more eye popping and she's by far the most improved player on the team, so this can hurt Vivians chances. She also doesn't have the name recognition that A'ja Wilson or others on this list do.
Kalani Brown, Baylor
20.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 67.1 FG%
Why she's a top candidate: Very similar to McCowan, her numbers are phenomenal. Extremely efficient player and eye test says she's the top offensive center in the country. Baylor has been outstanding this season and Brown is the centerpiece of that.
What's working against her: She's really only played a handful of good teams and I think an argument can be made that Cox or Wallace have been the best player on Baylor this season. Defensively she doesn't stand out and her shot blocking numbers are quite poor for someone her size.
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
19.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.4 A/TO ratio, 46.3% FG, 46% 3pt
Why she's a top candidate: Her numbers are ridiculous. We've never seen a player in women's basketball fill up a stat sheet like Ionescu does night in and night out. She's turned into a dead eye shooter and might be the best playmaker in the country. Outstanding passer and scorer.
What's working against her: Her team has struggled a bit as of late and she doesn't have the name recognition that others on this list do. People aren't sure what to make of Oregon either....their best wins are against an overrated UCLA team and 2 wins against streaky Texas A&M. Doesn't stand out defensively.
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
24.6 ppg, 4.2 apg, 1.8 A/TO, 46% FG, 40% 3pt, 86% FT
Why she's a top candidate: Name recognition and statistics. She's a fantastic scorer and despite her reputation as being a chucker, she's pretty efficient and does a good job of getting her teammates involved.
What's working against her: Ohio State is a pretty bad team. They aren't getting a seed if the tournament started today, yet they have the talent to be a top 5 team. She also hasn't been as dominant as she has in prior seasons and doesn't do a ton defensively.
Asia Durr, Louisville
19.8 ppg, 47.6% FG, 46.4% 3pt,
Why she's a top candidate: She has dominated in big games. Her performances against Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame were nothing short of spectacular. She's been the centerpiece on an overachieving team that is position to get a #1 seed, and has emerged as possibly the most dangerous player in the country.
What's working against her: She doesn't really impact the game outside of her ability to score. Her stats are quite weak and she doesn't have the all around game or 2 end impact that most POYs do.
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State
19.0 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 61.8% FG
Why she's a top candidate: Her numbers are simply astounding and match up well with anyone. She's turned in massive rebounding games against quality bigs and put up 35/19 against a good Oregon team. Her team is also undefeated.
What's working against her: Eye test doesn't spell POY. Her offensive game is raw despite the phenomenal numbers, and the go to player on her team is clearly Vivians. Defensively she could be much more impactful with her 6-7 height and big frame. She struggled offensively against Wilson and Russell and doesn't have name recognition either.
Out of these players, my pick would be Wilson at 1 and Vivians at 1a. Either can dominate a game in different ways and both have stepped up to the plate in a big way their final season. I think Wilson is the best player, but I'd argue Vivians is having a better season. Wilson will likely take home the hardware, but if I'm voting, it's a toss up between these two for me.
Here are the candidates:
Katie Lou Samuelson, Connecticut
17.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.7 A/TO ratio, 52% FG, 46% 3pt
Why she's a top candidate: She's been the best player for the #1 team who is also undefeated. She's had great games in every big matchup and is unquestionably one of the best scorers in the country.
What's working against her: She's missed 5 games due to injury and has played limited minutes in several others. Her numbers are not as strong as several other candidates.
A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
22.7 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.6 bpg, 55.5% FG
Why she's a top candidate: She has the whole package-great stats, name recognition, good performances against top teams (sans the UCONN game), the eye test says she's the top player
What's working against her: Her team just isn't very good this year. They're a 5 loss team and it's rare that we see a player take home POY who isn't on a top 5 team. The only exceptions in the last 20 years was Plum winning, and Kelsey had a far stronger season than A'ja is having this year.
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
19.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 50.3% FG, 40.2% 3pt, 82.4% FT
Why she's a top candidate: Eye test says she might be the best scorer in women's basketball this year. She can score in a variety of ways and is capable of taking over and carrying her team. She has massive performances in the biggest of games, she's very efficient and she's led her team to an undefeated season so far.
What's working against her: One could make an argument that she isn't the best player on her team. McCowan's numbers are more eye popping and she's by far the most improved player on the team, so this can hurt Vivians chances. She also doesn't have the name recognition that A'ja Wilson or others on this list do.
Kalani Brown, Baylor
20.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 67.1 FG%
Why she's a top candidate: Very similar to McCowan, her numbers are phenomenal. Extremely efficient player and eye test says she's the top offensive center in the country. Baylor has been outstanding this season and Brown is the centerpiece of that.
What's working against her: She's really only played a handful of good teams and I think an argument can be made that Cox or Wallace have been the best player on Baylor this season. Defensively she doesn't stand out and her shot blocking numbers are quite poor for someone her size.
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
19.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.4 A/TO ratio, 46.3% FG, 46% 3pt
Why she's a top candidate: Her numbers are ridiculous. We've never seen a player in women's basketball fill up a stat sheet like Ionescu does night in and night out. She's turned into a dead eye shooter and might be the best playmaker in the country. Outstanding passer and scorer.
What's working against her: Her team has struggled a bit as of late and she doesn't have the name recognition that others on this list do. People aren't sure what to make of Oregon either....their best wins are against an overrated UCLA team and 2 wins against streaky Texas A&M. Doesn't stand out defensively.
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
24.6 ppg, 4.2 apg, 1.8 A/TO, 46% FG, 40% 3pt, 86% FT
Why she's a top candidate: Name recognition and statistics. She's a fantastic scorer and despite her reputation as being a chucker, she's pretty efficient and does a good job of getting her teammates involved.
What's working against her: Ohio State is a pretty bad team. They aren't getting a seed if the tournament started today, yet they have the talent to be a top 5 team. She also hasn't been as dominant as she has in prior seasons and doesn't do a ton defensively.
Asia Durr, Louisville
19.8 ppg, 47.6% FG, 46.4% 3pt,
Why she's a top candidate: She has dominated in big games. Her performances against Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame were nothing short of spectacular. She's been the centerpiece on an overachieving team that is position to get a #1 seed, and has emerged as possibly the most dangerous player in the country.
What's working against her: She doesn't really impact the game outside of her ability to score. Her stats are quite weak and she doesn't have the all around game or 2 end impact that most POYs do.
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State
19.0 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 61.8% FG
Why she's a top candidate: Her numbers are simply astounding and match up well with anyone. She's turned in massive rebounding games against quality bigs and put up 35/19 against a good Oregon team. Her team is also undefeated.
What's working against her: Eye test doesn't spell POY. Her offensive game is raw despite the phenomenal numbers, and the go to player on her team is clearly Vivians. Defensively she could be much more impactful with her 6-7 height and big frame. She struggled offensively against Wilson and Russell and doesn't have name recognition either.
Out of these players, my pick would be Wilson at 1 and Vivians at 1a. Either can dominate a game in different ways and both have stepped up to the plate in a big way their final season. I think Wilson is the best player, but I'd argue Vivians is having a better season. Wilson will likely take home the hardware, but if I'm voting, it's a toss up between these two for me.
