With March Madness coming up in four weeks, it's time to give out the best starting five so far.
Of course, every starting five has to have a great Center. In this case, it would be a sin if 6-10 240lb North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough was not on this list. Hansbrough, bar none, is the finest Center NCAA Basketball has seen in quite sometime that has actually stuck around for 4 years. This season, Tyler has averaged 22.4 pts a game with 7.6 boards a game, and has been dominating the paint for the Tar Heels this season. He will be a finalist to win his second National Player of the Year award. But one thing is for sure. "Physco T" will have his #50 jersey up in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center when he graduates.
With Hansbrough in, who will be the Power Forward? This one is a no brainer. Look no further than 6-10, 250lb Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin. Griffin, in most cases, is the best player the Sooners have had since Wayman Tisdale back in the 1980's. This hoss of a man is unreal on the hardwood, averaging 22.4 pts a game and an astonishing 14.1 boards. He is on most watch lists for every major individual player award this season. Griffin will probrably go to the NBA after this season and likely be drafted #1 overall, but most NCAA Basketball fans want him to stay unless, that is, unless you're a Texas fan.
So far we've got the Center and Power Forward spots locked up with "Physco T" and Mr. Sooner. Now it's time for the wingman. Look no further than Junior Earl Clark out of Louisville. The 6-9 225lb Small Forward is a lethal weapon for the Cardinals this year, averaging 14 points a game, 9 boards, and 3.1 assists for the Rick Pitino led Cardinals. Clark is sure to be on everybody's All-American team after the season.
With Hansbrough, Griffin, and Clark, that's a great group of talent. But who will be the guard that can light up the net 24/7? There's only one guy that can claim that post. The 6-4 208lb Shooting Guard out of Kentucky who goes by the name of Jodie Meeks. Jodie is a SHOOTER and quite possibly, outside of Hansbrough and Griffin, the best player in college basketball right now. Jodie is averaging a whopping 25.5 points a game for the 'Cats this year and already has a few school records to his name. He is Mr. Everything for the 'Cats. Number 23 is what we call a sharp shooter from the land of 3, averaging 44.4% from outside. Jodie is the heart and soul of the Wildcats this year and is one heck of a guard.
We've got 4 of the 5 guys on the court so far. But who will lead the troops down the court all night long? We'll have to travel to North Carolina for that one in 5-11, 195lb floor general Ty Lawson. This kid is one of the best to ever play the position in quite sometime. His passing ability and great ball handling skills make him a must have for this team. This floor general is one of a kind, averaging 15.2 points a game and 6.5 assists a game, making him the best in the nation at this position. Look for Ty to be on every All-American team and take home some hardware as well this year.
But in the end, only one player can claim the best in the nation. My pick goes to Jodie Meeks, with Tyler Hansbrough coming in at a close second.
Coming soon is who will bring down the nets this year.
Monday, February 2, 2009
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You make a good point about Jodie Meeks, but I'd have to give the Player of the Year Honors to Blake Griffin.
ReplyDeleteDid somebody forget about a little guy I like to call Steph Curry? He won't win POY but there is no doubt that he is better than both Meeks and Lawson, he is a guaranteed All-American and should have a spot on this roster as well.
ReplyDeleteYea I would have Curry on my team. To me, he's the best PG in the country. Davidson is NOTHING without Stephen Curry. NOTHING.
ReplyDeleteI like my point guards to be assists guys, and great ball handlers and score 10 a game. Steph Curry is a great player but not my point guard. Also, Jodie Meeks is my man and I'm a UK fan as well avg 25 a game isn't to bad is it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Curry is playing the 2 right now he's not a floor general right now. But, I would still take Jodie over everyone in college right now except for Hansborough
ReplyDeleteBy Ty Lawson being the best point guard to play in quite some time....did you mean since last year. Derek Rose and DJ Augustin might have not played for four years, but they still out-shined every point guard in the nation last year. Jeff Teague anyone?
ReplyDeleteYou would take Jodie over Blake Griffin? Wow.
ReplyDeleteWith the last few comments yes Ty Lawson is the guy I like because he's been there for 4 years unlike D.J. Augustine who stayed 2 years and Jeff Teague who is a Shooting Guard. Yes, I would take my man Jodie over anybody in the country. Of course, I'm biased toward my beloved Kentucky Wildcats he's the best 'Cat we've had in a LONG time.He's the best shooter I've seen since the J.J. Redick years at Duke. But I do respect you guys' opinion on whose the best in the nation right now. Griffin would be my third choice as best in the nation behind Hansbrough. I base these things off of experience. You guys like those point guards who can light it up with 25 a game and go pro after 1 or 2 years. Me I like my guys to stay 3 to 4 years to watch them grow up in college then follow them in the NBA. That being said, I like my point guards to be floor generals with good ball handling skills, speed, get assists, and average 10 to 15 a game. Thats what a point guard is to me
ReplyDeleteSo now you are trying to say Meeks is the best shooter since JJ? Again forgetting Steph Curry? Curry is the undisputed best shooter in the nation, whether you're a crazy biased UK fan or not. He also does play point guard this season, and I would be willing to bet, having not looked it up, that Curry has more 10 assist games than Lawson.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree that Curry is the best pure shooter in college right now. I think Meeks would be lucky to even make Second Team All-America. If he didn't have that 50+ game against Tennessee, the argument for Meeks as an All-American is rather weak.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there's been no mention of Gerald Henderson from Duke. In my opinion, he's the best complete player in the ACC.
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous why don't you just take a chill pill for once. I don't classify Curry as a POINT GUARD, I classify him as a Shooting Guard. Yes, he made a heck of a NCAA Tournament worth watching as a point guard. But he's raw and needs polish on his point guard skills. After Lawson graduates and if Curry stays next year he will be on the list of best in the nation for me. Also, my man Jodie is one heck of a player that goes without saying. Gerald Henderson is a heck of a player. But right now Jodie is the guy I go yeah, this is the one that is tops in the nation.
ReplyDelete