Marquette Game Thread II

[Realhoops]

Ash has played his way into a legitimate BE POY candidate. For what he means to this team and how he’s become so clutch you have to put him in the conversation now.

He's definitely played his way into the first-team All-Big East discussion, but he''s going to have a tough time passing up his own teammate in the POY race.

I think if Kalkbrenner continues to play like he has recently, it should not even be a question but that he is the BE POY. He should be considered for national POY, although national media have not touted him or the BE highly this year. Consider this comparison of stats as well as Kalkbrenner being the unquestioned much better defensive player:

Kalkbrenner: 19.2 ppg, 67.3 fg %, 42.3 3pt %, 71.8 ft%, 8.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.8 bpg, 1.2 topg.

Cooper Flagg: 19.5 ppg, 47.9 fg%, 36.4 3pt %, 80.3 ft%, 7.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.3 bpg, 2.6 topg.

Johni Broome: 18.1 ppg, 51.4 fg%, 30.2 3pt%, 63.5 ft%, 10.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 bpg, 1.3 topg.

To me, the real question is whether the Big East voters would actually give Kalk both the POY and the DPOY awards. They seem to like to "spread the wealth" some, and it wouldn't shock me if they gave DPOY to someone else IF they gave him POY. I guess POY is the better award if you have to pick one, but that fourth DPOY is a historic thing, too. Deserves both right now, and it doesn't honestly feel even close to me.

[SeattleJay]

The announcers on the pregame show before the Nova/X game said Kalk should win it if he keeps playing like this. Kam Jones was their number 2. They said Dixon, Luis and Richmond should be in the running also.

[Django]

Kalk will get it BECAUSE of the way Ash has come on. SA holds the reins to the Kalk horse. He has the Kalk video game controller in his hands. As we have seen the past five years Kalk has been the backbone of the team but in crunch time he always passes the rock. He always has deferred and he is only as good as Z or R2 or Ash has been. I know Steve won’t win it but he should be given more credit. I was a doubter for a time but he has that killer instinct like Sears and Walker. I was skeptical with his physical limitations but IMHO greatness & being the best is about what you do when all the pressure is on in crunch time. (And we’re also seeing that Ash has another teammate with that ice water in his veins with Jamiya).

[#RollJays]

Kalk will get it BECAUSE of the way Ash has come on. SA holds the reins to the Kalk horse. He has the Kalk video game controller in his hands. As we have seen the past five years Kalk has been the backbone of the team but in crunch time he always passes the rock. He always has deferred and he is only as good as Z or R2 or Ash has been. I know Steve won’t win it but he should be given more credit. I was a doubter for a time but he has that killer instinct like Sears and Walker. I was skeptical with his physical limitations but IMHO greatness & being the best is about what you do when all the pressure is on in crunch time. (And we’re also seeing that Ash has another teammate with that ice water in his veins with Jamiya).

I think we all saw a crunch time 3 from Kalk yesterday. But do agree that Kalk needs a pg to unlock him.

[KenoshaJay]

Kalk will get it BECAUSE of the way Ash has come on. SA holds the reins to the Kalk horse. He has the Kalk video game controller in his hands. As we have seen the past five years Kalk has been the backbone of the team but in crunch time he always passes the rock. He always has deferred and he is only as good as Z or R2 or Ash has been. I know Steve won’t win it but he should be given more credit. I was a doubter for a time but he has that killer instinct like Sears and Walker. I was skeptical with his physical limitations but IMHO greatness & being the best is about what you do when all the pressure is on in crunch time. (And we’re also seeing that Ash has another teammate with that ice water in his veins with Jamiya).

Excellent post.

Go Jays!

[AttyAlum]

POY has a tendency to go to a player on the team that wins the league.

[Django]

POY has a tendency to go to a player on the team that wins the league.

And the Jays and Johnnies as of now are in the drivers seat.

As far as POY it’s Kalk.

DPOY has gotta be a Stj, take your pick between Smith or Richmond.

Big East leaders in Bart Torvik (@totally_t_bomb) adjusted defensive rating, among qualified players:

1. Smith (SJU)
2. Richmond (SJU)
3. Luis Jr. (SJU)
4. Ejiofor (SJU)
5. Sorber (GT)
6. Scott (SJU)
7. Kalkbrenner (CU)
8. Mitchell (MU)
9. Reed (UC)
10. Wilcher (SJU)

Then for BE 1st team:
Ash
Jones
Luis
Dixon

That was easy.

The 5th is more difficult. The older Fremantle or Karaban, who have underachieved this year? The younger Ball or Sorber who could be 1-and-dones? Tell me who I’m missing (I kinda did this off the cuff).

[Realhoops]

DPOY has gotta be a StJ?

Interesting.

[Django]

Yes. The Johnnie’s defense is sick. Number 2 in Kenpom and did you see that Torvik list?

It’s still Kalk but I think he’s going to be POY so it would make sense it would go to a St. John’s player. As you noted above they will “spread the wealth” and I don’t think they would give the POY and DPOY to the same player.

[RyanHolmgren]

Yes. The Johnnie’s defense is sick. Number 2 in Kenpom and did you see that Torvik list?

It’s still Kalk but I think he’s going to be POY so it would make sense it would go to a St. John’s player. As you noted above they will “spread the wealth” and I don’t think they would give the POY and DPOY to the same player.

Torvik doesn’t take into account the intangible defensive impact players make, right? The altered shots by Kalk and the players who just give up on penetrating altogether when he is looming is what makes him extra special. That, in concert with his three consecutive DPOY awards, makes it awfully tough for voters to give it to someone else. Unless they are just sick of Kalk and don’t want anyone matching Ewing’s for straight awards.

Win the conference and keep doing what he’s been doing and he will deserve the sweep of awards.