If Garza doesn’t win NPOY? Maybe warrants him another of staying so he can win next year and a national championship
What will be the reaction
- Thread starter HawkeyeInCentralIowa
- Start date
I won't be surprised even though I think he is the best player. I would seriously hope he wouldn't be overlooked by anyone. He is the best big man in a conference with a lot of other bigs. Oh, and that conference itself is the best in college ball.
I wouldn’t be surprised. I would guess the winner will most likely come from a blue blood program.
I'm moving to Canada and I will really get into Canadian college basketball. Hopefully there are no trolls on the U of Waterloo message boards...
Truthfully, I get the vibe that Luka is coming back for his senior season regardless of what happens with this year. And for the record, I don't think he will get POY but I do think he deserves it. But, given the fact that he is not being projected as an NBA draft pick, combined with the attitude and love he seems to have for this basketball team, I cant imagine him leaving after this season.
Think about his choices...
1) Leave and go undrafted or drafted very late. Have to fight every day to stay on an NBA D-League roster.
2) Stay and be a heavy favorite for national player or the year, on a preseason top 5 team that is favored to win the BIG Ten and compete for a national title. In addition to bolstering a career that could see him end up as one of best players of all time in college bball and Iowa's best player of all time. Legacy. For a kid who was so under the radar in recruiting and worked his ass off to become what he is today, these things mean more than an elite level player who is just stopping by college for a pit stop before the NBA because its a requirement. I think Luka will come back next year and be the most dominant college bball player we have seen in a decade or so.
Think about his choices...
1) Leave and go undrafted or drafted very late. Have to fight every day to stay on an NBA D-League roster.
2) Stay and be a heavy favorite for national player or the year, on a preseason top 5 team that is favored to win the BIG Ten and compete for a national title. In addition to bolstering a career that could see him end up as one of best players of all time in college bball and Iowa's best player of all time. Legacy. For a kid who was so under the radar in recruiting and worked his ass off to become what he is today, these things mean more than an elite level player who is just stopping by college for a pit stop before the NBA because its a requirement. I think Luka will come back next year and be the most dominant college bball player we have seen in a decade or so.
Megan had more than one year of top scoring, so that helped there, but really, a surprISING AND UNEXPECTED YEAR can do it. Look way back ti Kinnick.
Garza should be the runaway POY in the Big 10 and in my biased opinion should be the NPOY.
I fully expect him to be "runner up" for NPOY, whether it's to Toppin or someone from Baylor or Kansas. I would not be surprised at all if they give Big 10 POY to Smith or Winston depending how all 3 teams finish.
Everyone do yourselves a favor and just go into awards season with no expectations, that way if he (rightfully) wins it will be all that sweeter.
I fully expect him to be "runner up" for NPOY, whether it's to Toppin or someone from Baylor or Kansas. I would not be surprised at all if they give Big 10 POY to Smith or Winston depending how all 3 teams finish.
Everyone do yourselves a favor and just go into awards season with no expectations, that way if he (rightfully) wins it will be all that sweeter.
Hate to say there is a precedent for Iowa getting jobbed on this stuff... Andre Woolridge not winning BTPOY back in the day was one of the biggest travesties in the history of regular season big ten basketball awards
McDermott and Kaminsky were unanimous POY as big men from non-blue bloods in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Fredette from BYU was unanimous POY in 2011. Luka has a shot.
Yes, go in with low or no expectations on the award as fans, and be pleasantly surprised if he ends up winning. There are some very good players nationally (duh), but Garza faces a huge uphill battle as the award seems to come down to the best player on a team ranked in the Top 5.
To give you a sense of where national perception is at, there was a poll this week on ESPN asking for the top big man in the country. The choices were:
Azubuike, Kansas
Jalen Smith, Maryland
Petrusev, Gonzaga
Some other guy i don't remember.
None of the guys on the list had stats anywhere near to Garza. Smith is a very good player for Maryland, but come on. Azubuike will be a first-round pick and long NBA career, but he is averaging 12.5 points and 9 rebounds a game. Really?
I am more concerned about Garza winning Big 10 player of the year. There are some voting members who just won't vote for a POY unless they win the league.
A few of those Russian bots would do the trick... Need to put in a call to Putin, and get some Luka bots trolling. They obviously work!
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