twballgame9 {l Wrote}:eagle9903 {l Wrote}:twballgame9 {l Wrote}:He was never the clear front runner in the minds of anyone outside of this board. And the vote won't be based on stats - it's a lot easier to post stats when you are one of two guards on the roster and play 39 minutes a game.
Nothing against him, and he is in the discussion for ROY, but the idea that he is the front runner is idiotic.
It's not idiotic. "Clear" front runner is too much, but front runner prior to Duke is not idiotic.
Even ignoring the obvious biases against the northerners and players on shitty teams, he was never the front runner. Considering those two things, I'd put him 3 or 4 among the contenders. Unless something strange happens, Suliamon is and has been the front runner.
I think the field is limited to Hanlan, Sulaimon, Warren and to a lesser extent the 2 G-tech frosh, Devin Thomas could sneak into the conversation but is closer to the 2 georgia tech forwards as unrealistic IMO.
Taking away the biases as you say, the arguments by the numbers:
Hanlan (PG) 33.8 mins/game - Pts: 14.4 (6th in ACC, 2nd on team)
Rebs. 4.1 (2nd on team)
Assists. 2.4 (2nd on team)
T/Os 2.2
of note: has most double digit scoring performances of any froshSulaimon 29.9 mins/game (SG) - Pts: 13.0 (15th in ACC, tied for 3rd on team)
Rebs. 3.4
Assists. 2.2
T/Os 1.3
Warren (SF) 25.7 mins/game - Pts: 12.1
Rebs: 4.0
Assists: .6
T/Os: .9
of note: has highest single game scoring performance of froshGeorges-Hunt (SF) - Pts: 10.7 (leads team)
Rebs: 4.9 (22nd in ACC, 3rd on team)
Assists: 1.3
T/Os: 1.2
Carter (PF) - Pts: 9.8 (2nd on team)
Rebs: 6.8 (14th in ACC, 2nd on team)
Assists: .9
T/Os: 1.6
Thomas (PF) - Pts: 8.2
Rebs: 7.8 ( was 3rd in ACC before last game, leads team)
Assists. 1.3
T/Os 2.4
Hanlan and Sulaimon are statistically a wash basically. Hanlan has been more consistent, Sulaimon's outburst against BC was not a normal occurrence. They split the head-to-head, but Sulaimon did so more recently and obviously more emphatically. So again, ignoring the biases, the decision comes down to whether being the guy on a team without other options should receive more or less consideration than being on a very good team that would be very good even if the player didn't exist. I think it is easily well argued, bias aside, that having a Plumlee and Larkin surrounding you makes scoring a lot easier but it also likely reduces shots (Sulaimon has 30 some less shots than Hanlan).
The argument for Warren or one of the others is pretty hard to make. Warren has been enigmatic whether based on positional glut or other reason. I think calling Hanlan 4th is way more idiotic than calling him the front runner.
edit: this is impossible to read, sorry