Since 1969, when the Atlanta Tipoff Club presented the first Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award to Lew Alcindor of UCLA, no player from either Ohio State or Kentucky has ever won the award.
This year however, it is likely that one of these schools is going to receive its first Naismith Award. The only question is, is it Ohio State’s Evan Turner, or Kentucky’s John Wall?
To me, it’s Evan Turner, and it’s not close. Here’s why:
As Jay-Z once said, “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.” Turner leads Wall in nearly every major statistical category including points per game, rebounds per game, and field goal percentage.
Turner averages 19 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game compared to Wall’s 17, 3.8 and 6.4. Turner also shoots 55.4 percent from the filed while Wall shoots 47. 5 percent.
With his 19 points and 9.4 rebounds a game, Turner nearly averages a double-double, a feat accomplished only a few times in the history of college basketball.
Turner has also recorded two triple-doubles this season, an accomplishment even more rare. Coming into the year, there had been only one triple-double ever recorded in Ohio State history. Turner posted two in just over two weeks.
Another important aspect of a player of the year is the effect he has on his team. In the six games that Turner did not play after suffering a broken back on Dec. 5 against Eastern Michigan, Ohio State was 3-3. Since Turner’s return however, Ohio State has gone 9-1, including nine straight Big Ten wins. The lone loss coming on the road to No. 8 West Virginia.
Since Turner’s return, Ohio State has posted wins at No. 4 Purdue, over No. 14 Wisconsin, and at Illinois.
Big players make big plays in big games. In the biggest games of the year, Turner has shown up and led his team.
In back-to-back games against then 4th ranked North Carolina, and 12th ranked California, Turner scored 23 and 26 points respectively, and posted double-doubles in points and rebounds in both games.
At No. 4 Purdue on Jan 12, Evan Turner posted a career-high 32 points while leading his team back from a 13-point deficit to claim a 70-66 win.
Against ranked opponents, Turner is averaging 23.2 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Turner has scored 25 points or more five times this season compared to Wall who has only eclipsed the 25-point mark once.
With two-years more experience than Wall, Turner has proven to be the more mature player.
Wall is in the top 10 in the nation in terms of turnovers per game. His 98 total turnovers include four 7-turnover games this season.
Wall has also had a few run-ins with head coach John Calipari.
“I just try not to listen to him and go out and play basketball and try and help my team win,” Wall said of Calipari after a seven-turnover game against Vanderbilt on Jan 30.
Because of the impact he has on his team, and his ability to do more than just score points, Evan Turner is the most compete player in college basketball, and should be acknowledged as such.
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