Odum for FOY

[sycamorestateofmind]

Ok I promised my pals over at sycamorehoops.com that I didn't post on other fan forums, main reason being I get in enough arguments with my own fan base let alone trying to argue/discuss with fans that don't see things through the same glass as I. With that being said - I respectfully request that you all take a much closer at the FOY award before crowing McDermott. Keeping in mind that the next two games that Creighton plays are more important than the Sycamores finals game to McDermott getting the award or not.

That is all based on how much stock you put on pre-season rankings. I believe that Creighton was picked to finish 3rd in the Valley and they are going to finish no better than 5th in the Valley. Most would still say that Creighton is a more talented team than the Sycamores, yes? Jake Odum is the leader of the team that just finished 3rd in the Valley, a team that was picked to finish 7th in the Valley, yes?

Stay with me - the Sycamores didn't allow Jake Odum to actually take over full time for the Sycamores until the 6th game of the season, prior to that he had one start and played limited minutes in each game. After game 5 a win on the road at Oral Roberts in Odum's second career start. From that point on he's been fantastic and if you consider that the Sycamores had one of the toughest strength of schedules in the conference playing 80% of our games on the road, 2 vs. ranked BCS Conference schools (Notre Dame and Purdue).

The responsibility of being a PG in college basketball being more important than McDermott role for Creighton, we play in a guard oriented league and he's answered the calling against some of the best guards in the conference all season long - many times being the best player on the floor. On the entire season Odum is second in the MVC in assists (4.1 per game) and during MVC play he has 83 total assists good for 1st in the league and 28th in the nation. On the entire season Odum is first in the MVC in steals (1.8 per game) and during MVC play he has 37 total steals good for 1st in the conference and 7th in the nation. He ranks 4th in assist to turnover during the entire season and 9th in MVC play. He's 3rd in the league during league play in free throws attempted and free throws made a shade under 78% good for 11th in league play. The knock on him is scoring and rebounding, well he's averaging just under 12 a game in MVC play good for 12th in the league in scoring - thing is he doesn't have to be a scorer for the Sycamores but in 4 of the last 5 games he's reached double figures. For his size Jake Odum is an excellent rebounder averaging 4 per game.

On the season 9 Points, 4 Assists, 4 Rebounds, 2 Steals (Most complete player in the MVC as a freshman)

This post is not about bashing McDermott, I don't have to do that to make my case for Odum. Plus McDermott is a great player, no denying that. He has proven his ability to score and rebound in this league, no doubt. Head to head these teams have split this season in those games Odum has been at his best! At home in a W vs. Creighton Odum had a career high 9 assists. At Creighton in a losing effort Odum had a career high 23 points. So it's not like he hasn't shown his best when it counts.

I'm simply asking you to take a look at the numbers and realize that this thing is probably not as cut and dry as some of you are trying to make it look/sound. Thanks and best of luck the rest of the way and in St. Louis.

SSOM

[Aces1982]

Not a chance

[valleychamp]

no.

[Wizkid]

Tough crowd. Anyone want to back it up with an agrument other than just saying no? I could see it going either way, im on the fence.

[Jet915]

Seriously? Just look at the stats (this skinny freshman is leading the MVC in rebounding)....plus, even though ISUB is third but it's not like they are that far ahead of Creighton..

[sycamorestateofmind]

What stats Jet? You mean Pts, Rbs and 3pt%? Those stats? Is that all you and the voters are looking at? If so then your right we should probably stop talking about this topic.

Odum rebounding is comparable for his position - he's not 6'9 or whatever McDermott is. Odum averages 4 rebounds a game, he's a PG. Odum has more blocked shots this season that McDermott - now that stat wont factor into the voting but McDermott is 6'9 and he has 5 blocked shots on the season, he's a blow average defender at best compared the Odum. It's the total package and Odum has been the total package for his team. He is the best player on a team that finished 3rd in the MVC, we were picked to finish 7th fellas. Odum's value and role is greater to his team than McDermott's role is to his team. The Sycamores would not have finished 3rd without Odum - it would be pretty easy to argue that Creighton could finish worse than 5th with or without McDermott.

Keep in mind this is the best finish/record for the Sycamores since 2000, in case you all didn't notice we haven't been very good. For this kid to come in here and almost singly handily change the way people think about the Sycamores is unprecedented.

[8ball]

I'm a buyer on Odum, I just don't think he'll win the award.

[beatingrillz]

Odum will get some votes but should finish third or forth just not on the level as some of the other frosh in the league.

[sycamorestateofmind]

Odum will get some votes but should finish third or forth just not on the level as some of the other frosh in the league.

ROFL are you serious? He leads the league in both steals and assists? Who is the last freshman to lead the league in both of those categories? I guess I thought you guys could provide me with better insight than, NO and he's not on that level. I guess I was wrong - that is all, not sure why I thought you guys could actually take a step back and look at the numbers and form a reasonable opinion. Am I bias? Hell yeah I am bias, am I able to step back from all that and not get caught up in the hype of 1 player and look at the facts? I'd like to think so.

I mean 3rd or 4th? I am not asking for Odum to get votes - 3rd or 4th would be a complete farce. I mean it would be the ultimate undercut to what has been an amazing year for Odum.

[Wizkid]

Dont even waste your time sycamore. Grillz has been smoking the reefer.