Jake Odum

[getreal4]

Odum should be the preseason pick for Valley MVP next season, as a Soph!

I was very glad to see the Trees battle back, showed some heart. Congrats to the Trees for the effort!

[MSUDuo]

Odum should be the preseason pick for Valley MVP next season, as a Soph!

I was very glad to see the Trees battle back, showed some heart. Congrats to the Trees for the effort!

He won't actually win it again next year but my bet for preseason POY would be the current POY

[Hunter]

I'm as big of a Creighton homer as anyone, but I have no problem stating that Odum is the best returning PG in the league. I don't think he is preseason POY and I don't think he was the best freshman, but I do think he's the best returning PG.

I can accept this viewpoint but let me frame the question in another way. We've been arguing in a hypothetical/abstract sense about "who is the better point guard?" Who would YOU rather have starting at PG for your team next season? Odum is certainly a great point guard in the true sense of the position, continually puts his team in position to win and has substantial upside considering he still has three more years of eligibility. That said, AY has moved into the top 20 in the NCAA in the assist-to-turnover stat with the CBI run. Statistically, that is nothing to sneeze at for a point guard. That, along with the fact that AY is a much better athlete, much quicker, and a far better scorer, you can't honestly tell me you'd rather have Odum starting Creighton over Young.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Still feel that way Hunter?

To me , the best PG is the one that makes everyone else better. I'm not sure AY is that guy.

[Hunter]

Still feel that way Hunter?

To me , the best PG is the one that makes everyone else better. I'm not sure AY is that guy.

I still feel that way. One game doesn't impact my evaluation of a player, especially one who received 2nd Team All MVC consideration.

[dgreenwell3]

Still feel that way Hunter?

To me , the best PG is the one that makes everyone else better. I'm not sure AY is that guy.

I still feel that way. One game doesn't impact my evaluation of a player, especially one who received 2nd Team All MVC consideration.

Odum was at that same level. He makes every player on the court better...Odum is the best PG in the valley IMO...I think our challenge now is to fit him with the incoming talent of Khristian Smith and Justin Gant.

[cu8493]

How can you say Odum makes those around him better any more than AY does? That is an unmeasurable beauty contest that will always be won by the person of your choice. I could say AY made McDermott all conference as a freshman. The best PG is the one who gets the ball up court and gets the players, into their sets and gets the ball where it needs to be. Ultimately, the game is about production.

Without a doubt, both guys have produced this year. However, IMO when AY is on his game, there is no one better because of his athleticism and his ability to score (7 20 plus pt games this year), which puts pressure on the defense and opens up opportunities for others. AY's achille's heel is his inconsistency. Odum is more consistent game in and game out. AY has higher highs, but lower lows. AY still has fewer TOs on the year(including the 5 he had Wednesday), despite playing a little more than 300 more minutes than Odum to this point . AY has been handicapped by the fact that until the last few weeks of the season when Jones and Manigat started to step up, he played with wings (Korver, Ashford and at times Runnels) who had little ability to score off the openings he created. If Jones and Manigat produce next year at the level they have in the CBI and Echinique continues to improve, the sky is the limit.

Frankly, either guy is a huge plus for any team. But, from my homer perspective, AY still had the better season statistically speaking - and he did it with a weaker supporting cast.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Without a doubt, both guys have produced this year. However, IMO when AY is on his game, there is no one better because of his athleticism and his ability to score (7 20 plus pt games this year), which puts pressure on the defense and opens up opportunities for others.

I agree with that. I just don't think he sees the floor very well and isn't a very good passer. He misses wide open teammates a ton and delivers the ball late even more often. Personally, I feel that his athleticism and scoring ability could be just as effective at the SG spot, opening up a place for a true table setter at PG. I think AY is tremendous at creating his own shot, but I don't think he is as good at creating good scoring opportunities for others.

I'm not sure about the "AY did it with less talent" argument either. While I think InSu's guards are better than Creighton's, I think that Creighton's big men are much better than InSU's.

[isumvc1]

I just hope the MVC is better next season than it was this season!

[sycamorestateofmind]

I don't think he is preseason POY and I don't think he was the best freshman, but I do think he's the best returning PG.

You should really come out of denial... Odum indeed should have been the FOY, he was the best freshman and he proved that to the world in St. Louis. Your new found love for his game is certainly entertaining though (best freshman in the league). I mean it's a true statement, but it's interesting to me. It's as if people on this forum think that Odum just started playing well in late February, "who is this kid". Like people were surprised or something, he had been doing that work all season long. MVC fans were so enamored by McDermott (a good player in his own right) that Odum flew under the radar and you all ignored the numbers (including the media) - that is a fact.

WIth all that being said Odum will NOT be pre-season POY, nor should he be. Weems should get it and I wouldn't even be surprised if McDermott gets it. I have come to the realization that you are not going to win FOY or POY awards for being a good defender (so what if you lead the league in steals) or being a statistically better all around player (who cares if you are second in the league in assists as a freshman). You get love for this post season awards for scoring and rebounding. Odum is not going to average more than 12 points a game next year because he doesn't have to. Odum will average around 4 or 5 boards a game which is good for any player let alone a guard, but that two will be overlooked.

McDermott pre-season POY. He looked really good in St. Louis BTW.... lol