Month Four Awards
This is, likely, how it would stack up if I were a voter; as it is, I am simply a man of dignity and style with a Substack
There’s no longer anywhere to hide. You are what your record says you are at this point. March is here. You win a few, catch a heater and suddenly you’re playing for titles. You spit the bit in the conference tournament and the fates decide for you.
Because there is so much parity this year—this time last year, there were eight teams with fewer than five losses in the top-25; this year, there are three—I am going to make a fairly bold prediction heading into March: the low end of the bubble is going to burst in the next few weeks. If everyone in that “Last Four Byes” discussion wants my advice, they need to fight like hell not to go one-and-done in their conference tournament, because a lot of weird stuff seems poised to happen. Could Oklahoma win the Big 12? Could Vanderbilt push its way into the SEC Championship game and make itself certifiably Bubblicious? Houston has an iron grip on the American, but if the Cougars get caught slipping and somebody else gets that auto-bid, all of a sudden Memphis gets a little nervous.
Seems stupid. Seems speculative. Seems unlikely.
Seems like March. March is for nerves. It’s for starting a spring romance, stepping to the free-throw line for two to tie, a dagger three to rip the heart out of an opponent. Fall in love, either with a pretty girl or a 12-seed you’re convinced can make the Elite Eight.
So with that, let’s get to the Month Four Awards. This is pretty much it; I won’t go for final awards, so consider this my own personal ballot. Tie goes to the vibes.
Because I show my work: Month One | Month Two | Month Three
Wooden Award - Zach Edey, Purdue
Me, a month ago: Barring some sort of full-tilt personal meltdown a la Ron Burgundy or the Boilermakers going 0-for-February, this is Edey’s to lose. He’s been the most singularly consistent force of this basketball season, and the one most capable of altering the fate of his team simply by virtue of being there.
Me, now: Yeah, same.
Purdue went 3-4 in February; the losses exposed the same freshman guard issues this here blog has been concerned about for the Boilermakers all year long. My opinion on Purdue as a Final Four entity has softened considerably.
Not the problem? Edey, who slapped up a 25-13 with 3 blocks—on average—with 61.3 percent shooting in the losses. He’s the most dominant force in college basketball; if his teammates aren’t quite as good, it’s a testament to him and him alone that Purdue is where it is today. None of his contemporaries can say that.