We're in the homestretch folks. I've been eliminated from The Big Chief Invitational (terrible season thanks to thugs shooting a certain Seton Hall guard,) I've gotten my email from Ticketmaster stating my NCAA Tournament tickets have been printed, and I'm finalizing a suddenly impromptu trip to Greensboro for a day of ACC Tournament action. What could be better? And while there is clearly plenty to look forward to, it's amazingly already time to start looking back and handicapping the Conference Player of the Year race.
Now, before we go much further, I want to be clear. This is a fantasy site, and while we offer plenty of non-fantasy related banter, what's below breaks down the ACC Fantasy Player of the Year. Nolan Smith is going to win the real life award. It really doesn't matter if I agree with that, because right now, this budding star in the sports writing field doesn't have a vote. If you can't pick up that I wouldn't vote for him - maybe my sarcasm isn't thick enough! Feel free to email me and strike up a spirited debate. I know at least one of you will. Moving along...
The Candidates (stats as of February 14th)
Nolan Smith, G, Duke - 21.4 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 spg, 47.9% FG, 36.4% 3P
Malcolm Delaney, G, Virginia Tech - 19.0 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, 44.0% FG, 42.4% 3P
Reggie Jackson, G, Boston College - 18.5 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 50.8% FG, 43.4% 3P
Iman Shumpert, G, Georgia Tech - 17.4 ppg, 3.5 apg, 6.0 rpg, 2.8 spg, 40.5% FG, 27.7% 3P
Jordan Williams, F/C, Maryland - 17.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 55.1% FG, 20 double-doubles
also considered: Chris Singleton, F, Florida State; John Henson, F, North Carolina, Kyle Singler, F, Duke, Jeff Allen, F, Virginia Tech
Wow, it's going to be very difficult to justify not choosing Smith here. He's had just one stinker (two points against Bradley, but dished out ten dimes) and has hit at least one 3-pointer in all but three of the Blue Devil's contests. But since I have to say something negative about him, Smith has just three blocks on the year, and is turning the ball over three times per game.
Delaney's case is bolstered by the increased three-point percentage. He's hit 16 more on the year than Smith, and if that is a category in your league, the extra trey per week is pretty vital. But since I'm trying to be fair, Delaney only has one blocked shot all season, and is averaging 3.4 turnovers. Ouch.
Things start to get interesting here. Jackson's numbers are slightly lower than the other two candidates, but his percentages are certainly higher. I'm a sucker for percentages. I hate to say it, but I just have more respect for a guard who shoots less and makes more. Just a personal preference. Unfortunately, that takes Shumpert out of the running here. It's not his fault he has to shoot 30 times a night, but it's not fantasy owners faults either. The rebounding from a guard, and the steals (he's eighth nationally) are tremendous. But as much as I want to, I can't look past those brutal percentages.
The last case to be heard here is Maryland's big man. He's not the all around contributor that the above guards are, but what he gives you is absolutely tremendous. 20 double-doubles in 25 games, third in the nation in rebounding, rarely turns the ball over and rarely misses from the floor. His free throw shooting however, leaves something to be desired. Pairing him with any of these guards would surely make you forget about his Shaq-like tendencies! He also is likely to carry the vaunted center eligibility. In the previously mentioned Big Chief Invitational, Williams ranks second amongst all center elegible players, behind only Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.
For comparison's sake, our Big Chief Invitational uses only points, rebounds and assists as categories. No percentages, no defensive stats. Player pool is BCS conferences. Smith ranks 3rd overal, and 3rd amongst guards. Williams 6th overall, Jackson 17th, Shumpert 20th and Delaney 23rd. Not bad seeing five ACC guys in the top 25!
So, most of the evidence is in. We've got stats, we've got a one league look at a players value. So, who's the player of the year? Again, it's difficult to not choose Smith, but it still is a matter of personal preference. One final nugget to consider: what the player cost you on draft day. It's probable that Smith and Delaney were taken rounds ahead of the other three contenders here. Heck, I had Shumpert ranked 20th in my absolutely awful pre-season top 50! But I also had Jackson and Williams in the top seven, and if you took a leap of faith on either of those two, you've been rewarded handsomely.
And now, drumroll please...In a race that's awfully close, my final ballot says: 5) Iman Shumpert, 4) Malcolm Delaney, 3) Reggie Jackson, 2) Nolan Smith, 1) Jordan Williams
Let the ridiculing begin. The truth is all five of these players would be tremendous cornerstones to your fantasy roster. My personal preference is Reggie Jackson, but I couldn't put Nolan Smith third on the list, no matter how much I wanted to! I'll take the center who scores about as much as Smith, rebounds twice as much, shoots better, and go hunting for assists from Kendall Marshall and call it a day.