Just to get away from talking about a "Stubborn, Pig Headed, Poor Judge of Talent" Coach we've been stuck with these last 12 years, Here are my suggestions at mid season for the All Big 12 First Team:
Niang
Mason
Hield
Nash
Staten
Staten was the Pre-Season choice for POY but it looks like a race between Niang and Hield.
Just My Opinion.!collage.jpg ↗
Just to be clear, some of us still think Self is brilliant and has KU in first place for the 11th time in 11 years. :-)
Mason ought to be All B12, but won't be. His slump will hurt is bid down the stretch. I suspect Forte will make it instead, or one of ISU's, or OU's guards.
Two KU players will come on strong on the back nine: Perry and Oubre. One will make the all B12 team and push one of your picks off. Not sure which one.
Just to be clear, I am in that crowd which is why I threw this into the mix to get away from the people who know that things would be so much better if only Coach would do what they suggest. It is OK to suggest, but some of the rancor has me off put.
Although Nash is a good scorer I don't see him on 1st team. I see maybe Rico Gathers Sr. (Baylor) if he can keep up his 10.7pts and 13.3rbs per game. Or even Devin Williams (West Virginia) 14.1pts and 9.8rebs. Got to have a post player on the 1st team. Only one guy you have posted is in the Big12's Top20 in rebounds per game. And it isn't Georges.
I see it as this:
Forte, OSU
Hield, OU
Staten, WVU
Niang, ISU
Gathers, BU
My guys that just miss the cut are Williams (WVU), Ellis (KU), Mason (KU), Chery (BU), and Taylor (UT). That's a pretty good second team though.
@wrwlumpy said:
Just to be clear, I am in the same crowd as you,which is why I threw this into the mix to get away from the people who know that things would be so much better if only Coach would do what they suggest. It is OK to suggest, but some of the rancor has me off put. Also, I thought for sure everyone saw that as my sarcastic defect that I carry with me.
Having trouble editing today.
I believe the Big 12 criteria for All big 12 is 3 guards and 2 posts. With that in mind we have more dominate guards this year then post players which is unlike the league. If I was picking the 5 best players based on team importance and performance it would be different from how I think the voting will go down.
I think there are 4 guards fighting for 3 spots. I left Cousins out because he gets outshined by his own teammate but he's just as important to OU as is Hield. With really no dominate SF I think 3 backcourt players will be picked. Staten is probably ahead of Mason on reputation alone but you definitely can argue Mason has been more valuable. He will probably need WVU to tank down the stretch to go ahead of him.
In order
Hield
Forte
Mason
Staten
Posts I believe 2 have seperated themselves with consistent play. Nash gets less votes because of Forte and Ellis hasn't been dominate enough even though he's the quiet leading scorer of the team. Realistically 3 guys fighting for 2 spots.
Niang
Gathers
Nash
Ellis
Spangler
@BeddieKU23 : No love for Devin Williams??
Talent wise Foster from KSU and Taylor from Texas are the best guards but they are both inconsistent. If you want the most valuable guard then I would pick Mason.
I was basing my selections off of how they've performed in Big12 play. Not counting non-con games.
Foster has blown his chance for reasons that don't involve talent. Even when he's playing well he doesn't make KSU a much better team. He shoots 3's and nothing else.
I forgot Williams, I think he's a 2nd teamer at this point. If Huggins hadn't switched to a full on press I think his team wouldn't have nearly as many wins or be a top 25 team. Williams is a good player but If I'm putting him up against Gathers who's a rebounding machine & Niang who's versatility is hard to guard its a no brainer. Williams is a good candidate for all big 12 next year.
"Just to get away from talking about a "Stubborn, Pig Headed, Poor Judge of Talent" Coach we've been stuck with these last 12 years..."
Oh.... come on, man.... Weber isn't that bad!
I'm not good at this... but will go:
Niang
Forte
Hield
Nash
Staten
I think POY is between Hield and Niang.
Isn't it crazy that we can win the Big 12 without a first team player in the conference? Is that something to be proud of? Seems like Oubre is talented enough that he should be on this list. But he clearly hasn't produced well enough to be considered. Mason is obviously our man, but even his numbers don't jump out at you. Selden should be better than Forte but his numbers certainly aren't. Ellis has not been as consistent as Niang or Nash. Sorry to reference another thread but maybe if Cliff played...
Does the conference put players on for showing great energy? Because then we could get Traylor in there! (that was for you HEM!)
@benshawks08 the success we have is due to having 8 quality players, maybe more. We are a team, not relying solely on individuals. Jmo
@Crimsonorblue22 I agree. I think we should be proud of it. I know others feel we sometimes waste some star power though. I like the open guy takes the shot philosophy we have.
It is crazy but we've experienced this plenty of times in the past. Self's system knows how to win and doesn't really cater to just one guy on any given year. Mason has played well enough to be 1st team, the issue is that there's so many good guards that have more reputation than he does that he's likely to be odd man out. If he was to have a few breakout 20pt games or a game winner that could really sway him some favor. I think if he just continues to do his thing and lead this team that he's likely to get overshadowed.
At this point I think its a shoe in that Hield, Niang, and Forte make 1st team. I think Gathers has earned the other spot but will have to fight off Nash, Spangler & Ellis for it. The other spot right now has to be Staten's. But if WV continues to slide down the standings I find it hard to believe Mason couldn't jump him.