Deadspin
Storming The Floor looks at the Wooden Award ... if they dare!
Earlier this season, a great debate was raging about which of two superior college basketball players should be named Player of the Year.
Our choices at that time were simple: Did we value the smooth versatility of Kansas State's Michael Beasley, or the gritty determination of North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough? Some cast it as callow Freshman vs. Experienced Upperclassman. Some went for style vs. substance. Some even said it came down to black vs. white. In the end, it was the success of Hansbrough's team, and his ability to produce when the game was in doubt, that put him over the top and garnered him the Naismith award.
That was before the NCAA tournament started. Since then, Beasley's Wildcats flamed out in the second round, and Hansbrough has continued to prove his worth. But hold up, partner. There's a new gun in town. Stephen Curry appeals to both camps - he has been effortlessly dynamic, putting up an average of 32 points per game in four tournament appearances. He has also been gritty, willing his team back from deficits and coming through in the clutch (mostly). And he has a hot mom. So, can we go back to early March and vote him POY?
No need. The John R. Wooden award, college basketball's version of the Heisman Trophy, has been in play this entire time. Wooden award panelists had until 3 p.m. yesterday to vote, which means they saw Curry's incredible explosion in the tournament and have no doubt given it all due weight in their deliberations. Of course, Hansbrough has also been excellent thus far, but it can be argued that his supporting cast of McDonald's All Americans made his path a bit easier.
The award won't be announced until April 12, but we can all dream in the meantime. Perhaps the distinguished voters were swayed. Maybe this year The Chicken Dancing Fetus can take the prize from Beaker with a Bowl Cut. Or, heck. It could still be Beasley.
The Final Wooden Award Ballot: [WoodenAward.com]
Comments
IT'S HANSBRAH, BRAH! HANSBRAH!!!!
Looking at the trophy makes Graham James wish he coached basketball.
Why don't they just give it to 5 guys as the top of the trophy would lead you to believe is the case anyway?
Which Golden Boy Will Get Wooden?
dude, that tag sounds like a game that's played at Neverland Ranch after a couple of jesus juices.
Hey! The Wooden Award stole that design from a Pet Shop Boys video!
God, Tyler is working so hard in that photo!
my vote's for jj redick. he's so fundamentally sound.
Im voting for Crystal Langhorne.
Which Golden Boy Will Get Wooden?
Bill Walker would like to throw his towels into the ring.
Psycho T would have found a way to not only get off that last second 3-pointer but get fouled and deflower a Kansas cheerleader at the same time.
I think the Los Angeles Athletic Club is a local Village People cover band. They are FABULOUS.
I give Hansborough the edge on hustle and grit, Beasley the edge on natural athleticism... but Curry, if I hadn't seen his parents, I'd swear he has some of both.
Which Golden Boy Will Get Wooden?
Can we accept Wooden? You could make a car out of it.. boats are woo- BOATS ARE WOOD! Yes! You've doubled your orphans!
@Camp Tiger Claw:
No matter who gets it, none of them will ever be the student-athlete I assume Tyron Lue was.
where's Love, he's gritty and determined...and white.
It's almost as if Kevin Love played basketball in a different time zone on a different coast.
Which Golden Boy Will Get Wooden?
If only Bruce Pearl could borrow Bob Huggins suit for an interview with Ms. Andrews.
Now, even Wooden is showing UCLA no respect. How sad
If I remember correctly, Pinocchio won the first Wooden Award.
just give it to the quarterback of whoever wins
/heisman'd
Wasn't Ron Paulus an early favorite?
The phrase 'Masturbatory Excess' almost doesn't go far enough in describing the silly hysteria surrounding post season awards.
/fuck hansbrough
@Rob Iracane: this different coast must have inherently inferior sports teams as well
@Sherrill-Theory: Greg Paulus?
Curry might have just enough white in him to steal this one.
And....Kyle Weaver remains the most underrated player in America.
Me's think that if Beasley gets it, he might be in more danger of assassination than Obama. Surely Bilas has a spare trench coat, can of mace and diapers laying around the house. I say, ROADTRIP!
@TomDaddyDollars: It was a Beano Cook joke -- and I screwed it up anyway; Ron's last name is P-o-w-l-u-s.
/sigh
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