Beasley`s Underappreciated Season Deserves Grand Spotlight | FIOMattyH's Blog

It has been a strange year in regards to who is winning major awards in college sports. Over the past year, we have seen two very young underclassmen take home the Heismen Trophy and Wooden Award. Quarterback Tim Tebow became the first Division-I player to both throw and score 20 touchdowns as he led the Florida Gators to a 9-4 record. He was also the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Forward Kevin Durant carried the Texas Longhorns in college hoops last season, with averages of 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest. For his efforts, he became the first freshman to take home the Wooden Award, the award given out to college basketball's top player.

While this streak of college's young guns getting their respective sport's highest recognition appears to be ending in college hoops this year, freshman forward Michael Beasley should be the man taking home the top player award because, in simple terms, he is the best in the land.

Beasley has been a monster this season for Kansas State, as the team tries to make the tournament. He is giving the Wildcats 26.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per night, and is also shooting an astounding 54% from the field and 40% from the three-point line. Beasley has also set the Big XII record for points in a game, with 44 against Baylor on Feb. 23, as well as setting the NCAA freshman record with 25 double-doubles in his team's first 28 games.

In addition, Beasley has the personality to back up the numbers. Before taking on the Kansas Jayhawks, he predicted that the Wildcats were going to end Kansas' 24-year winning streak at KSU - Beasley had 25 points and 6 rebounds in the 84-75 win on Jan. 30. While it was not like the Giants beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl, the loss was Kansas' first of the year.

Looking at all of this makes it clear that Beasley is the best out there and likely the top pick in next year's NBA Draft (and probably a late-round sleeper in all of your fantasy drafts). But there are a lot of factors in play now that will probably cut into Beasley's chances of receiving the hardware which he deserves.

First, there is another very strong candidate on a high profile team. Forward Tyler Hansbrough of the North Carolina Tar Heels has been considered the Wooden favorite since before the season started and he has done nothing to dispel that belief. Hansbrough has done well this season in giving the Tar Heels 23.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. His efforts are getting special attention now that the Heels are down to their third-string point guard with PG Ty Lawson missing the past few games before coming back to play at BC Saturday. More of the burden on offense has gone on Hansbrough and he has done well with the opportunity. The Heels were 5-1 in the six games without Lawson running point.

The Tar Heels were ranked #1 before the season started and have not dropped out of the Top 5 in the polls this season. Kansas State was ranked earlier this season, but since their win against Kansas, the team has dropped off of the radar. The Wildcats have lost six of their last nine games and their last four overall since the impressive win. This has come even though Beasley has scored over 30 points five times in those nine games... (Read the full article here: Beasley`s Underappreciated Season Deserves Grand Spotlight)

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March 3, 2008 02:00 PM ET

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Beasley is stands out because his team completely sucks even though hansbrough doesn't stand out as much he is still a better player he has better percentages then him so he is more accurate he scores a lot of points even with his other teammates having career highs

1144

State College , PA

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March 4, 2008 09:21 PM ET

cannot stand Beasley...Hansbrough for POY

GoHeels32

Bunn , NC

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March 9, 2008 05:03 PM ET

You cite the first Clemson game as an example of the Heels winning without Hansbrough taking over. The problem is, Hansbrough took a charge on Clemson's last possession of regulation that set up the overtime. His rebounding in every game he scored under 20 points this year (excluding the BC blowout in Chapel Hill) made up for the lack of scoring, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game to 14.1 ppg. I exclude the BC game, because Hansbrough sat out the last 6 minutes when the lead was around 30. But in every close one, Hansbrough has been there. Whether it's a key charge, a key steal, a key go-ahead basket, or a crucial defensive rebound, or offensive rebounds Hansbrough is the guy. He delivers game after game, and he's done it with more than 2 years of film on him for opposing teams to devise a defense to stop him, and nothing seems to work. Somehow Randolph Morris got the better of Hansbrough twice, but the Heels won those games. But this is about this year, and so far, that Clemson game was Hansbrough's low for the season, but it wasn't his worst game, it may have been Clemson's best defensive effort of the season, and they couldn't repeat it with Hansbrough scoring 39 and grabbing 13 in the rematch, including that crucial steal in overtime, plus of course 13 pts in 2OTs. That's a good exemplar of just why Hansbrough is deserving of NPOY, you may control his output, but you'll never control his determination. He never gives up. I couldn't imagine Hansbrough being shut out the last 4:46 against Nebraska as Beasley and K-State were. Look at last night's game, Hansbrough was the guy who grabbed a late offensive rebound and scored the go-ahead basket with 2 minutes to go. Hansbrough was also the 6'9" center guarding 6'3" point guard Greg Paulus. He had a rough game offensively, but he didn't let it bother his play on the glass or the defensive end. That is why he's the NPOY.