BS Roundtable: Post-season Awards Edition
Michael
Ok you beautiful bastards, the Big 10 season is officially over, and the conference released their end of year awards. Biggie did his thing but nothing is official until we all weigh in. So, gimme your picks for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team All Big 10. Gimme your Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Then I got a couple questions for you:
- How far will Purdue go in the B1G Tournament?
- What do you think their NCAA seed will be?
- How far will Purdue go in the NCAA Tournament?
- What defines 'success' for you this post-season?
I'll start:
1st Team All-Big 10
Caleb Swanigan
Ethan Happ
Melo Trimble
Peter Jok
Nate Mason
2nd Team All-Big 10
Malcom Hill
Tai Webster
Derrick Walton Jr
Bryant McIntosh
Miles Bridges
3rd Team All-Big 10
Dakota Mathias
Thomas Bryant
Jordan Murphy
Bronson Koening
Nigel Hayes
Coach of the Year
Chris Collins (the dude (probably) just took Northwestern to their first NCAA Tournament ever. Come on, why is this a debate)
Player of the Year
Caleb Swanigan
Defensive Player of the Year
Ethan Happ
- How far will Purdue go in the B1G Tournament?
- I think they make it to the championship game. Their toughest test might be their first game, where they play either a hot (and motivated) Illinois team, or a Michigan team that beat them badly a couple games ago. After that, it gets a little easier potentially, as no one else in Purdue's part of the bracket scares me. Purdue has been hit or miss in recent years on neutral courts, but hopefully that is behind this team.
- What do you think their NCAA seed will be?
- 4
- How far will Purdue go in the NCAA Tournament?
- They look like a Sweet Sixteen team. Anything after that depends solely on matchups.
- What defines 'success' for you this post-season?
- 30 total wins? I think I'll be ok with a team that bails at the Sweet Sixteen, but it will take an Elite Eight appearance to make me happy. I'm less concerned with the results of the B1G Tournament. It's been enough years that the NCAA Tournament is all that matters.
J
Hard to argue too much with first team, though I still think Happ is a little overrated. I also thought Hill and Webster deserved a little more recognition and was putting them on second team -- and now I see MIchael already did as well. So should I feel reassured that I'm not alone in thinking this or concerned that I am in agreement with Michael? More on this as it develops.
I think James Blackmon deserved some more credit than just honorable mention. So only minor variations from the RRT thoughts.
1st Team All-Big 10
Caleb Swanigan
Ethan Happ
Melo Trimble
Peter Jok
Nate Mason
2nd Team All-Big 10
Malcom Hill
Tai Webster
Derrick Walton Jr
Bryant McIntosh
Miles Bridges
3rd Team All-Big 10
Dakota Mathias
Thomas Bryant
James Blackmon, Jr.
Bronson Koening
Nigel Hayes
Coach of the Year
Matt Painter.
Collins is the popular choice and Slimy Pitino actually won it. Minnesota did indeed improve quite a bit this year but for me, I can't help but wonder what Pitino is doing that's not legit. As for Collins, I mean, yes it's a pretty significant accomplishment to get Northwestern to the tourney but in the end he took guys he didn't recruit and finished in sixth place. If Purdue is going to get dinged for winning the BIg Ten when it's down, then I can't see how Collins deserves an award for finishing midpack. So I'll be a homer and go Painter here.
Matt Painter mauled the top of the conference, going 6-1 against the five teams following Purdue in the BT standings. He also managed to have no truly BAD losses (Nebraska is debatable but I still think they're top 150 in RPI) and did a few un-Purdue-like things, such as coming back from 17 down to beat ND and not losing some of Purdue's historical trap games at PSU and NW. Give Matty the prize.
Player of the Year
Caleb Swanigan -- there's no debate here.
Defensive Player of the Year
Dakota Mathias -- Yes, I'm a homer it appears. But hey man, the sign says Defense Lives Here. Seriously, though, Dakota was completely unsung this year and as Aneesh pointed out, he's been Purdue's rock and is a model of consistency. He also regularly shut down key offensive players on opponents but got zero media credit because he's not Ethan Happ. You want to give it to Happ? Fine. But his team wilted down the stretch -- Mathias' surged.
How far will Purdue go in the B1G Tournament?
They could easily win it but I mean, how much could it really matter to these guys? And I can't blame them. I'd kind of rather they stay healthy and rested for the big tourney. I think they'll win a game, maybe two. I don't expect them to win the tourney.
What do you think their NCAA seed will be?
I feel like they're basically locked into no higher than a 4 at this point. Their national ranking suggests they're the final 3 seed or close to it but this is the kind of thing where it feels like the media and influencers have made up their mind. I haven't seen Purdue projected higher than 4 and even have been a 5 recently, despite their hot streak to win the conference. I think a terrible showing in the BTT drops them to 5 but most likely they hold firm at 4.
How far will Purdue go in the NCAA Tournament?
The trap we fall into every year, right? Man, it all depends on matchups. Right now, Lunardi's bracketology has them as a 4 seed and facing 5-seed Virginia in the second round (followed by Kansas in the Sweet 16). I do not like that path. I want no part of a Tony Bennett defense that held UNC to 43 points. If that happens, they go one game and lose. If they get a slightly better path, I think winning two games is a reasonable expectation/hope. I have a really hard time envisioning more just because I haven't seen Painter do it. As I said, though, he's been doing things this season with this team that have bucked some of his trends. Let's hope it continues.
What defines 'success' for you this post-season?
We said it at the start of the season....this is a big year for Purdue and Painter. They've done well by not falling down hard at all in the regular season and are conference champs. And Matty won J Money's coveted Big Ten COY award, which I know will go in the center of his mantle at home. But true postseason success eludes him to this point. I think postseason success is tiered -- you absolutely must win the first game of the NCAAs. Another collapse is inexcusable and brands Purdue for a long time. You win one or two and now it's excitement time as those early-round trip-up opportunities are behind you. I think advancing to the second weekend is the minimum for me to consider this year some measure of "success." Obviously, I'm happy to have another conference title -- don't misunderstand. That's wonderful. But that's not the brass ring. It's not the thing recruits look at as much as they look at NCAA success. And if Purdue can have a 5-star, national POY candidate and NBA player on their team and make a run deep...that does absolute wonders for the future of Purdue basketball.
Aneesh
I completely agree with your All B10 1st team, with one exception: I know Nate Mason is a serial Purdue killer, and he's been fantastic this year. And I know Bryant McIntosh's numbers aren't as good. But, just like your (correct) vote for Collins as B10 COY, c'mon...McIntosh spurned an offer from Matt Painter to take over the point guard position at a very good program, instead chose a school that had never made the tournament, and it looks like he made the best decision of his life. He'll be Northwestern's most beloved basketball player before he leaves, so I can't see a way around flipping Mason and McIntosh's spots.
1st team: McIntosh, Trimble, Jok, Happ, Swanigan
2nd team: Mason, Hill, Webster, Walton, Bridges
3rd team: Koenig, Mathias, Hayes, Bryant, SCOTTIE LINDSEY THAT'S RIGHT TWO NORTHWESTERN PLAYERS
COY: Collins, no doubt, get out of my face with this Pitino nonsense.
POY: That one Swanigan kid I hear he's pretty good at basketball and also very handsome.
DPOY: Happ. Mathias has been very, very good, and his seemingly-overnight improvement has been incredible, but I really don't see how he has a case for DPOY...unless the field is as weak as it seems to be.
How far does Purdue go in the BTT: Champs, with a definite scare against Michigan. Beilein's squad is getting hot at the right time.
NCAA seed: 4
Purdue in the NCAA Tourney: E L I T E. E I G H T. I'm so excited. I can't wait to see how they disappoint me this year.
Success: With a B10 championship and a B10 POY under Purdue's belt, an appearance in the BTT Championship game and making it to the Sweet 16 would classify this season as a definite success. I actually think that's exactly right for what this team is: excellent shooters surrounding one dominant big, with some depth and wing defense issues, and definitely one of the 16 best teams this season. Anything less would be a disappointment, and anything more is gravy.
Rowdy-Dowdy
My ratings are simple: If I haven't seen them play enough, I can't rate them highly...If they don't wow me/get my attention...they don't get awards. Guys who beat up on Purdue generally get some recognition.
COY
Chris Collins Northwestern
POY
Caleb Swanigan The Purdue University
All-Big Ten
Caleb Swanigan Purdue
Miles Bridges MSU
Peter Jok Iowa
Nate Mason Minnesota
Derrick Walton Jr. Michigan
Defensive POY
Reggie Lynch Minnesota
Runner-Up
Dakota Mathias Purdue
Most-Hyped/Pre-season Overated Player
Nigel Hayes Wisconsin
All-Overated Team
Nigel Hayes Wisconsin
Ethan Happ Wisconsin
Melo Tremble Maryland
Thomas Bryant IU
James Blackmon, Jr. IU
Most Disappointing Team
IU/aOSU (tie)
Don't get beaten by THAT GUY Team
Tim Priller IU
Dakota Mathias Purdue
PJ Thompson Purdue
Mo Wagner Michigan
Lourawls Nairn, Jr. MSU
Best Mustache
Mike Watkins PSU
Worst Mustache
Isaac Haas Purdue
National POY
Frank Mason Kansas
All America Team
Frank Mason Kansas
Lonzo Ball UCLA
Caleb Swanigan Purdue
Josh Hart Villanova
Malik Monk Kentucky
-I think Purdue will win a game or two in the tournament. It's a bit funny how most of the media are not picking Purdue in spite of their conference dominance. If they play motivated, they'll win it. All of that said, I think playing in a half-empty arena in front of disinterested people might be harder than playing a road game versus hostiles, for Swanigan and co.
-It feels like Purdue is kinda locked into a 4 seed, at this point. Attrition seems to have put them in that slot as much of the nation continued the trend of losing to lower-quality teams, Purdue handled its bidness.
-I think Purdue can/should make it to the round of 16, regardless of their draw. Less than that and it's a disappointing tourney for me, even with Painter's recent tourney record. If they make it to the Elite 8, I'll consider this season a tremendous success...Final Four and my life is fulfilled (kidding/not kidding). For Purdue basketball to 'get over the hump' and get out of the identity rut they're in, they must become a better tournament team.
-A few interesting post-season stories will be watching Melo Tremble, Thomas Bryant and Caleb Swanigan make their decisions for next season. Tremble was supposed to be a guaranteed one-and-done out of HS; and while he's been good, he hasn't improved much in his three seasons. Thomas Bryant has clearly regressed, statistically...but his IU teammates were non-existent this season, as Coach Forehead continues to do what he does with big men: Not develop them. Swanigan's the league's most-improved player and the league's best...yet NBA talking guys don't think he's going to get any first round sniffs if/when he leaves. I hope the Pacers are smart enough to pick him if they have the chance to...because if he goes to a team like the Spurs, he'll develop into one of the best in the league simply because of work ethic. He's done it his whole life...will continue on the next level.
-Will Pitino have opportunity to leave? If so, does he chase the money or wait for his Dad to invite him to be the coach in waiting in Louisville? Will IU cut bait with Crean and go after Archie Miller, Gregg Marshall or Chris Holtman? Will Illinois move on from Groce and go after 'Zo Martin? Will Nebraska move on from the Miles era and try to actually compete in basketball?
