Zeke--POY AND DPOY

[FromdaBurgh]

Ok...call me crazy...BUT putting this question out there. I personally believe that Zeke is a LOCK for MAC Defensive Player of the Year...BUT IF he keeps playing the way he is COULD there be possible that he could be named POY as well?

**Disclaimer..I know that DJ is probably way ahead for that honor or maybe even McCrea...BUT...would the MAC even consider something like that?

[akronzips71]

Ok...call me crazy...BUT putting this question out there. I personally believe that Zeke is a LOCK for MAC Defensive Player of the Year...BUT IF he keeps playing the way he is COULD there be possible that he could be named POY as well?

**Disclaimer..I know that DJ is probably way ahead for that honor or maybe even McCrea...BUT...would the MAC even consider something like that?

Zeke should be a shoo-in for POY.

His contributions on offense lately are just stunning. This team is lucky to be .500 without him. He is easily the MVP of the MAC.

I think that between Zeke and DJ the honor will go to the team that wins the MAC. So if we keep it up, it should be Zeke. Winning will probably be the deciding factor.

[akronzips71]

I was also thinking about whether Zeke will be First Team All American.

If he goes in the first round (which I think will happen if he keeps playing the way he did the last two games) and is the only true center in the 1st, then he should be a lock on First Team All American.

[FromdaBurgh]

So the question is...would the MAC ever consider giving one player 2 major conference awards? Zeke continues to play outstanding on offense...we win the MAC. Would the conference ever consider giving both to one player? POY AND DPOY??

[ZachTheZip]

If they vote like they do for Coach of the Year, Zeke won't win a thing even if he averaged a triple-double the rest of the season.

[akronzips71]

So the question is...would the MAC ever consider giving one player 2 major conference awards? Zeke continues to play outstanding on offense...we win the MAC. Would the conference ever consider giving both to one player? POY AND DPOY??

That does not seem right to me. There are other players who deserve to be honored as well as Zeke. But I am betting on POY.

If Dambrot does not get Coach of the Year we should quit the MAC.

[Dr Z]

Not a fan of individual awards in a team sport.

[Quickzips]

Too much politics involved in the voting process for one player to receive both honors. I think he is definitly in the conversation for both, but more likely he splits the two awards with DJ Cooper. The bigger testament to this young man is that I don't believe Zeke will care one bit so long as the team keeps winning and makes a good run in March.

[Dave in Green]

I think that Zeke has a shot at POY. Then again, I thought that Coach Dambrot had a chance at COY last season. But, seriously, Zeke is compiling some amazing offensive numbers to go along with his well-established defensive reputation. His current MAC field goal percentage of 75.9 at the halfway point of the conference season is pretty stunning. The simple description of the POY award is that it goes to "the most outstanding player." I'd like to see the instructions the MAC gives to voters to consider in the selection process. I don't know that there's anything more that Zeke could do other than what he's already doing. It's rare that an elite defensive player also has such a high level of offensive performance in his senior season. It could easily be argued that Zeke's total impact on both defense AND offense this season is greater than that of Cooper or any other player in the MAC.

[FromdaBurgh]

Listen guys...I'm not trying to take this to no deep, philosophical, argumentative place...so let's not get on any "soap boxes". I am simply ASKING A QUESTION because I thought about it...END OF DISCUSSION!! Just asking...that is all...and thanks for your comments/responses/replies....moving on to Tuesday game against CMU.

[Dave in Green]

OK, after a little research, I found a pdf document on the MAC website (link here) that lists all MAC individual awards over the years. It shows that the MAC Defensive POY has only been awarded since 1997. The only two players to ever win both that and POY were Bonzi Wells in 1998 and Chris Kaman in 2003. Of course, both went on to have pretty good NBA careers. So, yes, it's possible.

[OZoner]

As noted, it will be either Cooper or Marshall, and it will probably be the player whose team finishes first. I wouldn't listen to anyone who says either player has a lock on the award. It'll come down to the wire.

And here's the part you're not going to like to read: Elton Alexander made a power play a few years back and shut out younger writers like myself. So the people who are voting tend to be older and more taken with traditional, less advanced statistics. Some will be swayed by Cooper's career numbers, even though it not a career award. These circumstances hurts Marshall's candidacy, I believe.