[LU'sbestmanager]

i think the FOY is between Mack, and Johnson. i also think that Ace makes an argument for 1st team, and will def. make the secound team

[TIMSCAR20]

How is Chaivis or Travis Holmes not in the discussion? I think Travis is averaging 20 ppg still but I will have to check on that.

[LU'sbestmanager]

and they are both top two in steals...... in the country!!

[horrez]

Remember when Marshall got it over Dunton in year #1? What a freaking joke that was.

Why was that a joke? Didn't Winthrop win the regular season by a 3 game margin that year?

As far as these awards go, are they based on regular season conference play only?

My humble picks would be:

POY: AZ Reid - HP
FOY: Harris - HP
COY: Marshall - WU

I can't really see how Reid won't win POY, but I've been wrong before. Mack from Coastal will probably beat out Harris for FOY (because he goes to Coastal). I think if Winthrop goes 14-0 in Big South play then there is no way Marshall shouldn't be COY. If Winthrop goes 13-1, I still think Marshall should get it but I could see a strong case being made for Lundy.

As for 1st and 2nd team All-Big South I would agree with what Realist has (I won't bother posting it here, just read his post). I would also like to say that while I know Chris Gaynor does not have the numbers to really be considered for 1st or 2nd team All-Big South, I wouldn't want any other PG leading our team. I think he is one of the more underrated players in the Big South.

[horrez]

How is Chaivis or Travis Holmes not in the discussion? I think Travis is averaging 20 ppg still but I will have to check on that.

I think the "VMI System" is going to hurt them. I'm not saying that it's right for that to happen, I'm just saying I think that's what is and will happen.

[LUconn]

Remember when Marshall got it over Dunton in year #1? What a freaking joke that was.

Why was that a joke? Didn't Winthrop win the regular season by a 3 game margin that year?

This is what you WUbots always say. But there's an award for that. They call it the "Regular Season Champion". We're talking about Coach of the Year. Maybe a guy who was given the keys to the absolute worst team in the country the previous year and put a squad on the floor that finished 2nd in the conference should be classified as such. I believe that was the 2nd biggest RPI turn around in the country that year.

[horrez]

Remember when Marshall got it over Dunton in year #1? What a freaking joke that was.

Why was that a joke? Didn't Winthrop win the regular season by a 3 game margin that year?

This is what you WUbots always say. But there's an award for that. They call it the "Regular Season Champion". We're talking about Coach of the Year. Maybe a guy who was given the keys to the absolute worst team in the country the previous year and put a squad on the floor that finished 2nd in the conference should be classified as such. I believe that was the 2nd biggest RPI turn around in the country that year.

I'm not saying you couldn't make a case for Dunton, but to say it was a joke makes it sound like Winthrop didn't do anything that year. Does this mean Marshall should only have won Coach of the Year his first year since that was the only year Winthrop was coming off of a bad season? Should Dunton get it this year since Liberty is having about the same turnaround as they did his first year (at least record wise)?

[jcmanson]

How is Chaivis or Travis Holmes not in the discussion? I think Travis is averaging 20 ppg still but I will have to check on that.

I think the "VMI System" is going to hurt them. I'm not saying that it's right for that to happen, I'm just saying I think that's what is and will happen.

I agree with you, and was thinking the same thing. When people go to vote, and look at the numbers, they will probably say, "Oh wow, Chaivis and Travis Holmes (as well as Matt Murrer) have great numbers, but they do play that up-tempo system."

[horrez]

I agree with you, and was thinking the same thing. When people go to vote, and look at the numbers, they will probably say, "Oh wow, Chaivis and Travis Holmes (as well as Matt Murrer) have great numbers, but they do play that up-tempo system."

I think this would hurt Reggie too except for the fact that a lot of people in the league had respect for him coming into the season (that and leading the nation in scoring, or being close to it, regardless of the system is pretty good).

[Realist]

I don't base the picks on numbers. If that was the case then VMI should probably have 3 or 4 first stringers. You can't tell me Chavis or Travis Holmes are even worthy of consideration talent wise. It would also mean that WU would almost never have any first stringers even finishing first every year. Too much ball sharing. I look at who are the impact players on the better teams. Obviously you can't leave out talents like Williams from the first team as well though. But these "numbers" guys on the lower level teams in my opinion should be on the second team if on there at all.

[WinthropEagleFan]

Here are mine:

POY - AZ Reid - I don't see how anyone else gets it.
FOY - Joshua Mack - Though Johnson and Harris are coming on strong.
COY - Gregg Marshall - Especially if WU wins tomorrow

1st Team:
AZ Reid
Larry Blair
Reggie Williams
Michael Jenkins
Craig Bradshaw

2nd Team:
Chris Oliver
Moses Sonko
Jack Leasure
Mike Jefferson
Torrell Martin

Freshman-Team:
Joshua Mack
Eugene Harris
Amir Johnson
Shelton Carter
BJ Jenkins

[Chris Lang]

McLean has to be at least second team. I'll buy Brewington not being there. McLean is No. 10 in the league in scoring and is second in rebounding, has two 15-plus board games this year and has a 40-point game to his credit. I'd put him over Jefferson and maybe even Torrell Martin. I know it'll be blasphemy to Winthrop's fans, but Martin did miss half the conference season. It's hard to ignore that. I know he's one of the best players in the conference, but it's tough to just give him a free spot.

I'll post my votes after the teams are released.

[WinthropEagleFan]

McLean has to be at least second team. I'll buy Brewington not being there. McLean is No. 10 in the league in scoring and is second in rebounding, has two 15-plus board games this year and has a 40-point game to his credit. I'd put him over Jefferson and maybe even Torrell Martin. I know it'll be blasphemy to Winthrop's fans, but Martin did miss half the conference season. It's hard to ignore that. I know he's one of the best players in the conference, but it's tough to just give him a free spot.

I'll post my votes after the teams are released.

That's true..I did overlook McLean...yeah..put him in over Jefferson...and yes, I'm being a Winthrop homer and keeping Torrell in.

[Chris Lang]

I haven't made up my mind on Torrell. I'm pretty sure he'll make it on my team, though. Clearly, we know what he would have done had he not been injured.

[Sly Fox]

Its sort of like Megan for us last season.

[Chris Lang]

Yeah, but Megan only played in one and a half games. Torrell will play in half the games by the time all is said and done, and he made a major impact in the non-conference to boot.

[horrez]

Yeah, but Megan only played in one and a half games. Torrell will play in half the games by the time all is said and done, and he made a major impact in the non-conference to boot.

How much does that play into the voting? How much should it? Does the conference have any kind of guidelines for picking these all conference teams?

[TIMSCAR20]

AZ Reid with a 32 point 25 rebound effort tonight to seal the MOP voting or at least solidify it IMO since I think at least some of the coaches have already voted. I guess we will have the announcements 1st thing Monday morning....I hope I get 1st team (sorry, I thought I was still playing).

[LUveteran]

Did Tony Dunkin ever win POY for Big South?

Does anyone else find it odd that Blair has all these accolades for this conference and yet honestly no awards to show for it. The only award he has was given to him by Gathings in 04' Not by the Big South Conference. I am a bias LU fan, watched him and others over the years, but Blair is my POY.

[SuperJon]

No way is LB player of the year. He is great, but AZ's taken HPU to 2nd almost by himself. He deserves it. I still say LB>AZ but in terms of POY, AZ gets it.

[horrez]

Did Tony Dunkin ever win POY for Big South?

4 times. They should probably rename it the Tony Dunkin Player of the Year Award.

As far as POY this year, I think AZ should get it. That doesn't mean I think Blair is a bad player, it just means I think AZ has done more to earn POY this year. I know this isn't the same as getting the POY award, but I'm pretty sure every non-Liberty Big South fan is very happy to know that Larry Blair will not be playing college basketball next year. That should mean something to him.

[LU'sbestmanager]

im think i can bet money that travis holmes will get defensive player of the year. if i am correct there will be alot of talk about that because of VMI's style of play

[LUveteran]

I guess i should have prefaced with - in no way am i taking anything away from AZ Reid, or even Michael Jenkins who i think should get consideration for the award. Even tonight reading that Alex, who won the player of the week award, is now tied with how many Blair has won. Just One. He will take home a lot of records when is career is ends, whether it be this week or the NCAA Tournament, I am just saying you hear a lot of good/bad things coming from our basketball players, they committed this, or suspended for that, or they said this about the program, and for the last 10 years it has been a knack for Liberty...Larry has not been one of those guys. He took the spotlight early and has done a great job representing Liberty, the Big South, and us as LU Fans. And to never really garnish an award just stunned me a little bit, but I am sure he would be happier with a ring. Go Flames!

[SuperJon]

Larry is consistent. He rarely ever has weeks like what Ace just put up (although that 40 point game vs CCU was sick) so he gets overlooked. People just say that's Larry being Larry and don't give the award. Is it fair? Maybe not. Everyone knows how good LB is without a couple awards.

[jcmanson]

Jon is right on. LB is ver consistent, night in, night out, year in, year out. He hasn't had an outstanding year, where it was like, man LB should be POY. Last year was the only year his stats were at a place where he could be POY, but the team was just too bad.