2015 MVCfans.com - post season awards and honors

by **MVCfans** » March 2nd, 2015, 2:57 pm

I posted Part 1 of my post season honors today: COY, NOY, FOY, DPOY.

Two very difficult choices and two not so much.

link: MVCfans.com 2015 Missouri Valley Conference Awards and Honors – Part 1

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by **ilstubirds250** » March 2nd, 2015, 3:26 pm

Not trying to be a huge homer but how is a guy who is top 10 in the COUNTRY in steals per game not even considered for DPOY in the conference?

by **achrist70** » March 2nd, 2015, 3:29 pm

How is Morgan not even considered, best defender on the best defensive team should at least get a look.

by **MVCfans** » March 2nd, 2015, 3:43 pm

I could have added Lee, Morgan or several others who had fine seasons, but this award belongs to Tekele Cotton and he was really the only player I seriously considered. It's not an insult to the others, but an acknowledgement of how good Cotton is. Again, this is just my opinion.

by **Cdizzle** » March 2nd, 2015, 3:56 pm

ilstubirds250 wrote:Not trying to be a huge homer but how is a guy who is top 10 in the COUNTRY in steals per game not even considered for DPOY in the conference?

Steals do not necessarily equate to great defense. Anyone questioning Cotton as DPOY should probably refrain from making arguments about any of the other awards.

by **Cdizzle** » March 2nd, 2015, 3:58 pm

achrist70 wrote:the best defensive team should at least get a look.

This is questionable. It is very close, but it is questionable.

by **rlh04d** » March 2nd, 2015, 4:03 pm

achrist70 wrote:How is Morgan not even considered, best defender on the best defensive team should at least get a look.

The best defender on the best defensive team is Cotton.

WSU slipped past UNI per KenPom's defensive efficiency.

by **ilstubirds250** » March 2nd, 2015, 4:08 pm

Cdizzle wrote:
ilstubirds250 wrote:Not trying to be a huge homer but how is a guy who is top 10 in the COUNTRY in steals per game not even considered for DPOY in the conference?

Steals do not necessarily equate to great defense. Anyone questioning Cotton as DPOY should probably refrain from making arguments about any of the other awards.

I am absolutely not arguing it should be Lee over Cotton but to leave him out of consideration is crazy. You're a pretty damn good defender if you're top 10 in the nation in the most important defensive stat

by **Cdizzle** » March 2nd, 2015, 4:14 pm

ilstubirds250 wrote:
Cdizzle wrote:
ilstubirds250 wrote:Not trying to be a huge homer but how is a guy who is top 10 in the COUNTRY in steals per game not even considered for DPOY in the conference?

Steals do not necessarily equate to great defense. Anyone questioning Cotton as DPOY should probably refrain from making arguments about any of the other awards.

I am absolutely not arguing it should be Lee over Cotton but to leave him out of consideration is crazy. You're a pretty damn good defender if you're top 10 in the nation in the most important defensive stat

Walt Lemon Jr. was phenomenal at getting steals but was a terrible defender and his team got shredded because of his gambling.

I believe that Lee is better than that, but it's really a pretty poor metric for judging someone's overall defensive game.

by **rlh04d** » March 2nd, 2015, 4:30 pm

ilstubirds250 wrote:
Cdizzle wrote:
ilstubirds250 wrote:Not trying to be a huge homer but how is a guy who is top 10 in the COUNTRY in steals per game not even considered for DPOY in the conference?

Steals do not necessarily equate to great defense. Anyone questioning Cotton as DPOY should probably refrain from making arguments about any of the other awards.

I am absolutely not arguing it should be Lee over Cotton but to leave him out of consideration is crazy. You're a pretty damn good defender if you're top 10 in the nation in the most important defensive stat

I think the problem in general is that there simply aren't good stats for judging defense. Steals are the most important defensive stat, but that says more about the available stats we have than anything else.

Steals/blocks are important, but clearly the ability to shut down prolific scorers is the most important attribute for a great defender. It's like a DB in football -- interceptions are most likely the most important defensive statistic, but the best DBs are rarely even thrown at, leaving them with fewer interceptions. Not quite an exact comparison here, but still -- defensive stats tend to not be limited in judging the best defenders. That's something that is best argued by coaches and the eye test.