Jimmy Chitwood
Hall of Famer
Yesterday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 17 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which goes annually to the nation's top collegiate point guard. At least, that is how the award committee labels it. Here are the finalists:
Here's the problem. While it is true that the point guard position in college hoops is dominated by black athletes, there are still numerous white players who excel. However, they have been completely ignored by the selection committee.
The three most glaring D-I non-selections this year are Florida's Nick Calathes, Southern Illinois' Bryan Mullins, and North Dakota State's Ben Woodside (who is virtually invisible in the national media despite ranking #11 in the nation in assists and #12 in scoring).
Let's take a look at the important point guard numbers (scoring average, assists-per-game, assist-to-turnover ratio, and steals) of the 13 Division One candidates for the honor and compare them to Calathes, Mullins, and Woodside's numbers.
The black finalists:
Darren Collison 14.1 points-per-game, 5.1 assists-per-game, 2.24 a/t, and 38 steals.
Stephen Curry 28.9 points-per-game, 6.3 assists-per-game, 1.77 a/t, and 65 steals.
Sheron Collins 18.2 points-per-game, 5.0 assists-per-game, 1.52 a/t, and 27 steals.
Toney Douglas 20.2 points-per-game, 2.5 assists-per-game, .93 a/t, and 49 steals.
Levance Fields 11.0 points-per-game, 7.0 assists-per-game, 3.69 a/t, and 21 steals.
Johnny Flynn 17.0 points-per-game, 5.8 assists-per-game, 1.86 a/t, and 33 steals.
Dominic James 11.7 points-per-game, 5.1 assists-per-game, 2.79 a/t, and 47 steals.
Ty Lawson 15.5 points-per-game, 6.5 assists-per-game, 3.55 a/t, and 50 steals.
Eric Maynor 23.1 points-per-game, 5.8 assists-per-game, 1.84 a/t, and 42 steals.
Patrick Mills 18.7 points-per-game, 3.9 assists-per-game, 1.28 a/t, and 47 steals.
Jeremy Pargo 9.9 points-per-game, 5.4 assists-per-game, 2.0 a/t, and 30 steals.
A.J. Price 12.2 points-per-game, 4.3 assists-per-game, 1.78 a/t, and 12 steals.
Jeff Teague 20.6 points-per-game, 3.6 assists-per-game, 1.07 a/t, and 42 steals.
The snubbed white players:
Nick Calathes 18.1 points-per-game, 6.4 assists-per-game, 1.95 a/t, and 44 steals.
Ben Woodside 22.9 points-per-game, 6.4 assists-per-game, 1.99 a/t, and 33 steals.
Bryan Mullins 9.3 points-per-game, 5.6 assists-per-game, 3.26 a/t, and 45 steals.
It is quite obvious that these three white point guards belong in the conversation, even if they don't ultimately win the award. But apparently on-court production is not involved in the selection process.
That should make you wonder what the requirements actually are, because it seems having pale skin is an automatic disqualifier.
Darren Collison, who led UCLA to the last three Final Fours, and Stephen Curry, who led Davidson to its NCAA tournament run last season, were among the 17 finalists ...
The other finalists from Division I were: Sheron Collins, Kansas; Toney Douglas, Florida State; Levance Fields, Pittsburgh; Jonny Flynn, Syracuse; Dominic James, Marquette; Ty Lawson, North Carolina; Eric Maynor, Virginia Commonwealth; Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's; Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga; A.J. Price, Connecticut; and Jeff Teague, Wake Forest.
Two players from Division II were selected -- Virgil Buensuceso, BYU Hawaii, and Darren Duncan, Merrimack, while David Arseneault of Grinnell and Sean Wallis of Washington University were chosen from Division III.
Here's the problem. While it is true that the point guard position in college hoops is dominated by black athletes, there are still numerous white players who excel. However, they have been completely ignored by the selection committee.
The three most glaring D-I non-selections this year are Florida's Nick Calathes, Southern Illinois' Bryan Mullins, and North Dakota State's Ben Woodside (who is virtually invisible in the national media despite ranking #11 in the nation in assists and #12 in scoring).
Let's take a look at the important point guard numbers (scoring average, assists-per-game, assist-to-turnover ratio, and steals) of the 13 Division One candidates for the honor and compare them to Calathes, Mullins, and Woodside's numbers.
The black finalists:
Darren Collison 14.1 points-per-game, 5.1 assists-per-game, 2.24 a/t, and 38 steals.
Stephen Curry 28.9 points-per-game, 6.3 assists-per-game, 1.77 a/t, and 65 steals.
Sheron Collins 18.2 points-per-game, 5.0 assists-per-game, 1.52 a/t, and 27 steals.
Toney Douglas 20.2 points-per-game, 2.5 assists-per-game, .93 a/t, and 49 steals.
Levance Fields 11.0 points-per-game, 7.0 assists-per-game, 3.69 a/t, and 21 steals.
Johnny Flynn 17.0 points-per-game, 5.8 assists-per-game, 1.86 a/t, and 33 steals.
Dominic James 11.7 points-per-game, 5.1 assists-per-game, 2.79 a/t, and 47 steals.
Ty Lawson 15.5 points-per-game, 6.5 assists-per-game, 3.55 a/t, and 50 steals.
Eric Maynor 23.1 points-per-game, 5.8 assists-per-game, 1.84 a/t, and 42 steals.
Patrick Mills 18.7 points-per-game, 3.9 assists-per-game, 1.28 a/t, and 47 steals.
Jeremy Pargo 9.9 points-per-game, 5.4 assists-per-game, 2.0 a/t, and 30 steals.
A.J. Price 12.2 points-per-game, 4.3 assists-per-game, 1.78 a/t, and 12 steals.
Jeff Teague 20.6 points-per-game, 3.6 assists-per-game, 1.07 a/t, and 42 steals.
The snubbed white players:
Nick Calathes 18.1 points-per-game, 6.4 assists-per-game, 1.95 a/t, and 44 steals.
Ben Woodside 22.9 points-per-game, 6.4 assists-per-game, 1.99 a/t, and 33 steals.
Bryan Mullins 9.3 points-per-game, 5.6 assists-per-game, 3.26 a/t, and 45 steals.
It is quite obvious that these three white point guards belong in the conversation, even if they don't ultimately win the award. But apparently on-court production is not involved in the selection process.
That should make you wonder what the requirements actually are, because it seems having pale skin is an automatic disqualifier.