Oakes, Pickering Named First Team

[Skippy]

Kaela Oakes and Chelsea Pickering were named first team all conference, while Brianne Ryan of Eastern Washington was selected the player of the year. Ashleigh Vella was named honorable mention all league.

 

[PBP]

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Part of me understands Ryan getting the MVP from a stat standpoint but she faded down the stretch (three straight games without scoring a point in the first half and her team lost four straight to end the season.) and it runs counter to 'tradition'... generally coaches always give the MVP to the team that wins the title.

Two years ago for example, Julie Piper, who had mediocre stats got it for Eastern while Amy Patton, who led the Big Sky both in scoring and rebounding was snubbed. Why? Only reason I can think of is because Piper's team won the title.

Also thought it was interesting that neither Kayla nor Chelsea was a unanimous choice. ISU was 'hurt' in this sense by not having one player truly standout. The flip side is that was a big reason they won the title this year...the sum was greater than the individual parts.

I assume Seton will be named coach of the year tomorrow.

PBP

 

[mvem]

Two years ago for example, Julie Piper, who had mediocre stats got it for Eastern while Amy Patton, who led the Big Sky both in scoring and rebounding was snubbed. Why? Only reason I can think of is because Piper's team won the title.

This is little different, though. Ryan plays for the 3rd. place team, Patton played for a team that didn't even make the Big Sky Tournament that year—it's difficult to justify giving MVP to a team that sucked. I'm guessing that's also along the lines of why Kylie Kuhns only got 2nd. team, even though she averages a double-double.

As you indicated, ISU didn't get MVP because their production was evenly split between 4 players. I believe this is the third time in the last decade a player from a non-champion won or shared MVP. Doma got it in '08 when the Bengals finished 2nd., and Julie Gjertsen of Weber shared it with Hollie Tyler of Montana in '05 even though UM finished a game ahead of the Wildcats.