Wildcats Basketball Roundtable: 2015 Season Wrap-up

7. College basketball awards were this past week. Utah’s, Delon Wright, is also nominated for this award along with our own Wildcats Stanley Johnson and T.J. McConnell. What Wildcats will walk away with the award? Do you think more of our players deserve more? 

Shereen:

Unfortunately this year, anyone voting has not resoundingly voted for our Wildcats. T.J. McConnell did not get Player of the Year, Coach Miller did not get Coach of the Year although Arizona only had two Pac-12 losses during the season, and I could go on and on.

Stanley Johnson didn’t win the Wooden Award, he actually was dropped out of the top 10, though he did make through to the top 15. What he did win was the Julius Erving Best Small Forward Award, it was so exciting for me as I watched the screen as his image popped up as the winner, YAY!

I was hoping that T.J. wins the Cousey award; he was is one of five players, but that award went to Utah’s Delon Wright.

It just seems that if you weren’t in the final four, then as a player your stock goes down, and you don’t get the award. But who knows, our players sure did earn any award they are given or are finalists for. Look at Frank, he got Player of the year after making the finals, don’t necessarily think he might have gotten this without being in the championship game.

Miguel: 

SO on top of what Shereen already pointed out in her first response on this I have never been big on awards because at the end of the day we live on the west coast and I don’t believe a lot of the people who hold a vote watch very many of our games. I always listen to analyst and “college experts” on ESPN shows talking about how they have a hard enough time staying up to watch us play. So there for I can only think the voters probably don’t get to see all the great things our players are. I have never been big on who wins what awards because it’s not always a fair vote, and if you aren’t winning a title what is it all for?

That being said I was happy to see Stanley get nationally recognized. I also do believe that we had arguably the best point guard and coach if not just the league but in the nation. On top of that how does Rondae not win one defensive award nationally much less, the Pac-12 defensive player of the year?

Ryan: 

With only three of our Wildcats being nominated for any kind of awards, I do find it hard to believe the none of them walked away with anything. To agree with what Miguel stated everyone else on the East Coast is asleep when we play ball. Those voters do not get the opportunity to see our true talent and excellent coaching. It is unfortunate but pushes our players and coaches to do better. I am happy Stanley Johnson was recognized but hope voters will tune into our games in the future. Our players deserve some of these awards.

Next: Coach Miller