The RTC Midseason All-America Team
Posted by rtmsf on January 23rd, 2010We’re a little past the halfway point of the 2009-10 season now, and we wanted to make sure that we had given the players who had performed at an elite level their due and propers with a little love from the crew here at RTC. Here is our 2009-10 Midseason All-America Team.
First Team (** unanimous)
- John Wall** (G), Kentucky (17.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.1 SPG) – Wall has been the most electrifying and clutch player in America so far this season.
- Wes Johnson** (F), Syracuse (17.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.8 BPG) – Johnson does it all for Jim Boeheim’s team, proving the cranky old man right.
- Luke Harangody** (F), Notre Dame (24.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG) – the nation’s scoring leader isn’t just a bomber; he’s also in the top five in overall efficiency.
- Damion James (F), Texas (17.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG) – James is the clear leader of a Texas roster brimming with talented players.
- Evan Turner (F), Ohio State (18.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 5.5 APG) – Mr. Triple-Double (two this year) missed a month and still made it onto the first team.
Second Team
- Sherron Collins (G), Kansas (16.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.3 SPG) – Collins has proved his worth in late-game situations where he’s taken charge.
- Cole Aldrich (C), Kansas (10.8 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.4 BPG) – Aldrich doesn’t get enough touches, but his impact on the game is invaluable to the Kansas attack.
- Jon Scheyer (G), Duke (19.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 4.0 A:TO ratio) – Scheyer has proven he can handle Duke’s point guard duties exceptionally well.
- Scottie Reynolds (G), Villanova (18.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG) – Big Shot continues to improve, leading Villanova to 17-1.
- Al-Farouq Aminu (F), Wake Forest (17.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG) – the Leap that we all expected from Aminu in year two has happened.
Third Team
- Da’Sean Butler (F), West Virginia (15.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.4 APG) – Butler’s superb numbers get crowded out by the other talented forwards in the Big East.
- Quincy Pondexter (F), Washington (20.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG) – it’s been a disappointing first half for UW, but not because of Pondexter.
- Jarvis Varnado (F), Mississippi State (14.1 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 5.3 BPG) – the nation’s most feared interior presence continues to erase possessions for the opponent.
- Patrick Patterson (F), Kentucky (16.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG on 63% FG) – Patterson is not as hyped as Wall or fellow big man DeMarcus Cousins, but he’s more efficient than both.
- Jimmer Fredette (G), BYU (19.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.6 SPG) – Fredette’s elevated production has helped BYU get off to a fantastic 19-1 start.
Others Receiving Votes: Jacob Pullen, Kansas State; Ekpe Udoh, Baylor; Xavier Henry, Kansas; Avery Bradley, Texas; Kyle Singler, Duke; Dexter Pittman, Texas; Greg Monroe, Georgetown; Jerome Dyson, Connecticut; Robbie Hummel, Purdue; Ed Davis, UNC; Omar Samhan, St. Mary’s; Klay Thompson, Washington State.
Wow, Evan Turner was NOT unanimous?
He missed a month and I’m pretty sure we sent our votes in pretty early in his comeback.
Players shouldn’t be punished for injury. He was one of the best players in the nation before and after his injury.
Players are rewarded for actual production not projected production if they hadn’t been injured. Turner has missed 1/3 of the season and it was slightly more at that point when the votes were cast. It’s not exactly a slight to have been listed as a 2nd team AA by a voter. In fact, it speaks volumes about our respect for his ability that he made 1st team AA despite missing so much time.
I’m a little shocked that Singler got a vote over someone like Jordan Crawford or Jacob Pullen.
Oh sorry, Pullen did get some votes. Missed that.
Turner played 7 full games before the injury, shot over 50% from the floor, averaged 20.6 ppg, 12.9 rebs, 6.6 ast. I’m just surprised a guy with those statistics wasn’t unanimous, that’s all. Certainly second team is good too but who could possibly have been voted first team over Turner?
Hey Brian…I actually voted Turner onto my third team, but it was nothing more than bad timing, which has already been covered here. As I submitted it, I knew that once we saw that Turner would be able to come back to full strength and once he got more games under his belt, he’d be a shoe-in for the first team by year’s end. On my ballot, I even put in parenthesis beside ET’s name “would have been higher.” Since you asked, I had 1) Wall/Collins, 2) Reynolds/Henry, 3) Turner/Scheyer. Forced to defend it, I don’t think that’s difficult. Even if you take the “worst” stats of that group I had ahead of Turner, meaning those belonging to X. Henry, I think most coaches would take (I’m estimating) between 14-15 PPG, 4-5 RPG, 1.5-2 SPG, etc for an entire season as opposed to Turner’s stats for just barely half of a season. Then you can get into issues like team circumstances, surrounding cast, etc. Something to remember, I think, is that these are mid-season AA teams. Not projections as to where we think things will be after the season. Anyone who sees/saw our list probably just assumes(-ed) that if Turner was anywhere less than 1st team, it probably had to do with timing of the ballots and number of games considered. That seems obvious to me, at least.
Here’s a question: has any player been “injured” more by a single incident than DeMarcus Cousins? The guy’s less than half a rebound away from averaging a double-double, he’s second in the nation in Pts per 40m, and I’d say at least half the coaches in America would take him with one of their top six picks in a draft of all forwards, but because of that incident against Louisville (probably the biggest stage he’s had this yr), he has the reputation of a hothead and therefore a liability. And he doesn’t get a single vote for an AA team. Hey, I didn’t vote for him, either, so I’m just as guilty. I don’t think he’d make anyone’s top three AA teams, though he’s certainly got some nice numbers on a team that also has two other AAs, and comparable with guys on the AA teams and in the Also Receiving Votes section. There are other guys I could have said this about as well, but I think that Louisville elbow thing has given him a reputation that encroaches on people’s assessments of his abilities, and I don’t know of any other player in the game who’s image has been similarly altered.
John Stevens
RTC
Fair explanations.
With regards to Cousins I don’t look at him differently because of Louisville. He’s a remarkable talent.
On my ballot, Cousins and Samhan were in contention for the #3 center spot. I felt Samhan’s defensive prowess was a little more advanced than Cousins’ at this point, so he ultimately got the nod. Obviously, subject to change throughout the rest of the season.
I’m glad Udoh got some votes. Really exploded this season and I really didn’t see it coming. Beilein sure wishes Udoh stayed…
Did any of you guys give any thought to Greivis Vasquez from Maryland? I know the terps don’t have the record of most of the teams the guys listed play for, but Vasquez is a complete stud. He is averaging something like 17/5/6 and has really improved his ball handling, though his 2 a/t ration is certainly not in the Scheyer realm. He is a floor leader as well. I know he isn’t quite 1st team at this point, but I can’t believe he was shut out while Singler, who has been seriously underwhelming this year, is getting votes. Word, thanks.
I didn’t, but I can’t speak for the others. Mainly I held Vasquez’s slow start against him compared to my other choices, but I’m well aware of how well he’s been playing the last month or so. He is definitely moving up on my board.
He was on my radar but, like rtmsf said, he came out of the blocks a little slow (that was written about on here, I believe) and that probably cost him. Certainly coming on, now. He’s got some fans around these parts.
John Stevens
RTC