The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

The Big 12 is tweeting out its annual awards

March 9, 2014 by Mike Casazza

Deep breaths. That’s freshman of the year.

No argument here, either. Barnes went 22-9/11-7 with a team that lost its top four scorers from a year ago. Remember when he started the season on the hot seat? Like, in November?

Yeah, 3-for-3 so far. And newcomer, of course, is different from freshman. But I’m not sure any one player, freshman or transfer, made a bigger impact upon arrival than the former Marshall guard. He’s a tall, strong, 24-year-old bully, in a good way, who can throw himself around on the perimeter and in the post, but who also cordially complements the way the Cyclones play.

Kane ranked sixth in the Big 12 in scoring, 11th in rebounding 11th, fourth in field-goal percentage, second in assists and sixth in steals.

So far, zero controversy. It’s all chalk, I think. Maybe Oklahoma’s Lon Kruger over Barnes. I could get down with that, since Oklahoma is the No. 2 seed. But I think Barnes did more with less, if you evaluated more and less in November. The Sooners have great young talent. Texas developed great young talent this season. And the Longhorns were eighth in the presason Big 12 poll and finished third.

Anyhow, Embiid was the best defender in the league from the start. He blocked 72 shots, the third-best single-season total by a freshman in Big 12 history, and I think his absence yesterday only underscored how good he is.

Eh, I’m guessing this vote was spread out, a couple of players got a vote and these two ended up tied. Maybe 3-3-1-1-1-1 or something like that. Forte is one of the scarier players in the league who can give you instant offense. And he’s good enough to start because he’s always on the floor late in the game — including yesterday, when he missed a big free throw late that contributed to WVU’s rise to sixth place in the standings. Neal’s another piece at Oklahoma who can also get it going in a hurry and give the Sooners an immediate boost. Both of these guys are good at what they do. I’m surprised Forte wasn’t the outright winner, but he did start the last eight games. Maybe that split the vote?

Welp, there’s the controversy. I don’t get that, I don’t agree with that and I bet you a lot of coaches voted before yesterday’s game, when he was off once again. Ejim’s eight games after the 48-18-20-for-24 v. TCU? Try 14.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 45.5 percent shooting. And that includes a skewer against Kansas State when he went for 30 and 16 and made 10 of 18 shots.

Personally, I have a hard time putting a guy who shoved a fan and was suspended for three games on the first team, but Marcus Smart has all the other qualifications. And if we’re being hones, who from the second team would swap places with Smart?

As for WVU, not a bad day. Staten is first team, Harris is, uh, honorable mention and Staten makes the all-defense team.