Jake Odum

[Realhoops]

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.
. . .
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).

Ignored the numbers? It sounds like you are the one ignoring numbers to make the case that Odum was the best freshman in the league last year. You are the one who wants to consider only two "numbers" in determining that award and focus only on assists and steals.

Obviously McDermott is going to have more rebounds than Odum because of the position he plays. Obviously Odum is going to have more assists and steals than McDermott because of the position he plays. But if you look at "the numbers" from last season, McDermott was in the top 5 in the league in points per game, rebounds per game, shooting percentage, and three point percentage. Scoring and shooting is a pretty big part of college basketball, and it's something that every position on the floor is capable of contributing - those aren't categories that are particularly slanted to the four spot or anything, especially when you are including three point shooting and not looking at just a bunch of dunks or something. The only statistical categories that Odum had the edge on McDermott last season are the two that are particularly heavily weighted toward point guards; those are the only two categories he was even in the top 10 in the league in. I'm at a loss to how that demonstrates that Odum was "a statistically all around better player."

But, yeah, you're definitely right that everyone was just ignoring all of Odum's statistical domination last season. Everyone in the Valley, everyone in the national media putting McDermott on the national freshman all-American teams, etc. Must be a big conspiracy against Indiana State or something.



I like Odum's game a lot. He's a really solid point guard. He clearly makes his team better. But I'd take AY as my starting point guard over Odum every day of the week and I'd take McDermott on my team before Odum every day of the week. And so far the only people who seem to be holding onto this notion that Odum somehow got screwed out of the FOY award are Indiana State fans -- you know there's something to the notion of McDermott being the best Freshman in the league when you see Shocker fans and Jays fans agreeing.

[Ali]

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.

Emmenecker was POY without doing much in terms of rebounding or scoring.

[DoubleJayAlum]

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

What do you mean, "my new found love of his game?" I think you have me mistaken for someone else. I haven't ripped Odum before.

By the way, McDermott didn't just get Valley recognition - he was named to the Associated Press all Freshman team. Odum was not. Apparently the entire basketball world has it in for Jake Odum.

You might want to learn how to take a complement as well. As far as I can see, you've taken my statement that Odum is the best returning PG (which is actually a statement that many of my Creighton brethren disagree with) and turned it into an insult, which is just stupid. I realize that InSU fans aren't used to accolades and praise, but stopping acting like someone is out to get you.

[sycamorestateofmind]

No I took your statement for what it was worth and I thanked you for it, also agree. He is indeed the best PG in the Valley, he was last year and he will be for 3 more years - no doubt. Thank you very much for that. Don't say "you Indiana State fans" you see I came on here before any Indiana State fans and made a clear/fair argument about Odum and was practically chewed and spit out by many unfriendly folks (part of the reason I don't really feel the need to post on this forum).

But fact is, Odum shouldn't be the pre-season POY and I recognize that. However I will take it to my grave that Odum should have been recognized as FOY this past season. Good for Doug McDermott that the national media also recognized his play. If you look at rebounding and scoring he indeed had a better season than Odum. If you look at overall impact to team, defense and other things that actually matter when playing basketball you would have found Jake Odum the better all-around Freshman. Basically the reason the Sycamores were a 3 seed in the Valley in the first place and basically the reason that we were able to win in St. Louis. Without him we don't do any of that. So you can say what you want about my argument, say what you want about our fan base, it's all water under the bridge at this point. I don't care - if you can't face the facts then so be it.

[SubGod22]

No I took your statement for what it was worth and I thanked you for it, also agree. He is indeed the best PG in the Valley, he was last year and he will be for 3 more years - no doubt. Thank you very much for that. Don't say "you Indiana State fans" you see I came on here before any Indiana State fans and made a clear/fair argument about Odum and was practically chewed and spit out by many unfriendly folks (part of the reason I don't really feel the need to post on this forum).

But fact is, Odum shouldn't be the pre-season POY and I recognize that. However I will take it to my grave that Odum should have been recognized as FOY this past season. Good for Doug McDermott that the national media also recognized his play. If you look at rebounding and scoring he indeed had a better season than Odum. If you look at overall impact to team, defense and other things that actually matter when playing basketball you would have found Jake Odum the better all-around Freshman. Basically the reason the Sycamores were a 3 seed in the Valley in the first place and basically the reason that we were able to win in St. Louis. Without him we don't do any of that. So you can say what you want about my argument, say what you want about our fan base, it's all water under the bridge at this point. I don't care - if you can't face the facts then so be it.

So, you're pissed at this site because few fans agreed that Odum should have won this year? Nice. He's a nice player, but Doug deserved the award.

And I love that how you determine value is fact and everyone else is stupid and full of crap. No wonder you weren't as well recieved as you think you should have been.

And it's the reason I won't pay attention to you any more after this post.

[WSUbballer]

This is one of the reasons why Sycamore fans have developed the whiny reputation they have. It's simply mind-boggling in their minds that somebody could deserve an award over their Indiana State guy in Jake Odum. After all, they were the team that got hot in 3 days.

[sycamorestateofmind]

Fair enough >God

WSU - we were a good team all year, can you please acknowledge that? We finished 3rd in the Valley - us winning it all had more to do with us finally avoiding the play-in game than it did getting hot for 3 games. So we get hot and beat the 2 best teams in the Valley and we are still horrible fans for feeling slighted? Fact is, most people from our fan base thought McDermott was deserving - actually a poll on our fan site showed that he was more deserving 60% or more believed McDermott should win the award over Odum. So don't accuse the entire fan base of feeling this way.

Secondly, I think McDermott is a nice player - never said he wasn't. However to me he wasn't as interracial to his teams (who had more talent) success as Odum was to his. A team that was picked to finish 7th in the Valley that has been in the ****** for years and they finally rise above all that.

It's cool though fellas - I aint even that worried about it anymore. Just felt like I should come around and say hello.

[TylerDurden]

Fair enough >God

WSU - we were a good team all year, can you please acknowledge that? We finished 3rd in the Valley - us winning it all had more to do with us finally avoiding the play-in game than it did getting hot for 3 games. So we get hot and beat the 2 best teams in the Valley and we are still horrible fans for feeling slighted? Fact is, most people from our fan base thought McDermott was deserving - actually a poll on our fan site showed that he was more deserving 60% or more believed McDermott should win the award over Odum. So don't accuse the entire fan base of feeling this way.

Secondly, I think McDermott is a nice player - never said he wasn't. However to me he wasn't as interracial to his teams (who had more talent) success as Odum was to his. A team that was picked to finish 7th in the Valley that has been in the ****** for years and they finally rise above all that.

It's cool though fellas - I aint even that worried about it anymore. Just felt like I should come around and say hello.

I didn't think either was interracial. Who knew?

[sycamorestateofmind]

integral - some folks from Indiana spell like they talk, I would probably fall in that category at times. I'd like to think of myself as educated, but sometimes that auto-correct and lack of attention to detail will get you. Sorry!

[LJay]

Not to get into this who has a bigger deeek argument but after Harriman and Wragge went down to season ending injuries CU would not have won 10 games this year without McDermott.

Both McDermott and Odum are fine players.