Here's a task that would be great fun, but I'll warn you up front there are no right answers. Sometime in the next week or so the Big Sky coaches will get together to pick the post season award winners. How would you like to narrow down the top five players in the league from this list ( stats used are conference only, because I believe that is the most valid basis for comparison:
Guards
Ethan Telfair, ISU: shares conference scoring lead at 23.4 points, leads league in assists and free throw percentage, tied for third in steals. Strong candidate for newcomer of the year, has led team picked to finish last in both preseason polls to 10-6 mark.
Austin McBroom, EWU: Telfair's leading contender for top newcomer. Tied with ET for scoring lead at 23.4 ppg. Ninth in assists, seventh in free throw shooting, 15th in three point shooting, leads conference in minutes played. He and ET will matchup in Cheney Thursday night in a game that may decide the newcomer of the year race.
Quinton Hooker, North Dakota. Coming off a monster week where he averaged 36 points a game on 81 percent shooting -- 73 from 3 point range. Third in league in scoring at 21 ppg, shooting over 53 percent from the field, tied for 7th in assists, second in ft shooting and steals, and has two wins in head to head march ups with ET (although Telfair dropped 37 on UND in their first game).
Tyler Hall, MSU, likely freshman of year. Fourth in scoring at 21 ppg, 19th in rebounding, sixth in ft percentage, fifth in three point shooting.
Kris Yanku, NAU, returning first team all league selection is probably the odd man out because of team's poor performance. Still having productive year, 13th in scoring (15 ppg), ninth in rebounding, fourth in assists, 10th in FT, sixth in steals.
Jeremy Senglin, Weber State, ninth in scoring (17 ppg), 14th 3 ot percentage, third in threes made.
Those are just the guard candidates. Throw in Bolomboy, Breunig, Jois and Forte upfront and you've got your hands full. And who is player of the year? Likely choice is Bolomboy, but his late injury raises just a little doubt. ISU's Evans deserves coach of year, but will probably go to Rahe.
Guards
Ethan Telfair, ISU: shares conference scoring lead at 23.4 points, leads league in assists and free throw percentage, tied for third in steals. Strong candidate for newcomer of the year, has led team picked to finish last in both preseason polls to 10-6 mark.
Austin McBroom, EWU: Telfair's leading contender for top newcomer. Tied with ET for scoring lead at 23.4 ppg. Ninth in assists, seventh in free throw shooting, 15th in three point shooting, leads conference in minutes played. He and ET will matchup in Cheney Thursday night in a game that may decide the newcomer of the year race.
Quinton Hooker, North Dakota. Coming off a monster week where he averaged 36 points a game on 81 percent shooting -- 73 from 3 point range. Third in league in scoring at 21 ppg, shooting over 53 percent from the field, tied for 7th in assists, second in ft shooting and steals, and has two wins in head to head march ups with ET (although Telfair dropped 37 on UND in their first game).
Tyler Hall, MSU, likely freshman of year. Fourth in scoring at 21 ppg, 19th in rebounding, sixth in ft percentage, fifth in three point shooting.
Kris Yanku, NAU, returning first team all league selection is probably the odd man out because of team's poor performance. Still having productive year, 13th in scoring (15 ppg), ninth in rebounding, fourth in assists, 10th in FT, sixth in steals.
Jeremy Senglin, Weber State, ninth in scoring (17 ppg), 14th 3 ot percentage, third in threes made.
Those are just the guard candidates. Throw in Bolomboy, Breunig, Jois and Forte upfront and you've got your hands full. And who is player of the year? Likely choice is Bolomboy, but his late injury raises just a little doubt. ISU's Evans deserves coach of year, but will probably go to Rahe.
