Stauskas Big Ten POY, Beilein Splits COY (with Miles)
Stauskas goes from being one of the most efficient role players in America last season to being one of the most efficient PLAYERS in America this season.
As for Beilein, what more can be said that hasn't already been said.
We're quite lucky to get to root for both of these guys, as well as the rest of the team. Looking forward to a great next 3-4 weeks of the season (hopefully).
Michigan hasn't had two straight B1G Player of the Year recipients since Cazzie Russell took the award in back-to-back years in 1964-65 and 1965-66.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061209aaa.html
And Wikipedia says the award didn't begin until 1985
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ten_Conference_Men%27s_Basketball_Play…
You're right.
I was including the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Award that was presented annually to the B1G Player of the Year from 1945-46 - 2006-07.
Also, as corrected by the poster below, Gary Grant & Glen Rice in 1987-88 & 1988-89 was the last time prior to recently that there were two straight B1G POY.
Grant in 88 and Rice in 89
Well deserved and happy for the split. Both Coach Beilein and Miles deserved it
Well, looks like you got your first one at least.
But in all seriousness, congrats to Coach Miles. He deserves the award just as much as Beilein, and turned that program from a cellar dweller to a force to be reckoned with. They've got a lot of momentum going into the tournament, and once you're there, anything can happen.
I'll admit to having my doubts about him late last year and even a little early this year at times. He's risen to the occasion and proven a lot of people wrong. Would hate to see him leave, but I'm afraid that time has come.
Nik Stauskas
Congrats to Nik. Only downside is we've probably seen him play his last game in Crisler now :(
Tom Izzo will likely hold a press conference to talk about these awards and then blame (choose any 2),
-Global warming
-Tacopants
-Injuries
-Flourescent lighting
-Bad tuna he ate
-Jon Navarre
-Dan Dakich
-Polar Vortex I
-Polar Vortex II
-Al Borges
-Weird Guys
-The Other Guys (actual people)
-The Other Guys (the movie)
-This post
-Subs, followed by craziness
,as to why none of his player or his team won anything this year.
March 10th, 2014 at 10:27 PM ^
March 10th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^
-Distracted by Spike's game on AND off the court (he hit on Kate Upton fergodsakes)
-The situation in Ukraine
-Craft's rosy cheeks
-Watching too much True Detective
-That thing that happened that one time
-Reasons (walks up to podium and just says, "We lost because reasons"
March 11th, 2014 at 12:55 AM ^
Congrats to Nik, Coach Beilein, and Caris. How did Denzel Valentine win the sportsmanship award?
March 10th, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^
How the hell is he on anyone's ballot? Did he even play the last 6 minutes last night?
#BasketBallSchool
i get the fact that Neb had a good year and likely a ncaa tourny bid. but they lost to Umass, UAB and UM by 29 pts. the COY award was beilein's and beilien's alone. the UM team a few years ago was more impressive, winning a BIG title with a 6'4" power forward. but that's just me i guess.
the fact that this is beilein's first BIG COY ( and it's shared) is an absolute joke to me.
Stop being such a homer. Beilein is a great coach, and will continue to be a great coach. But Miles completely shocked everyone who predicted he would dwell in the cellar, ending up 4th in the Big 10. And this in a place that has virtually no basketball history.
Sour grapes are no fun for anyone. Be happy for Miles, and happy that Beilein won the media COY.
miles did a great job. but to the victor goes the spoils. UM won the BIG by 3 games. hasn't been done this millenium. and they were not picked by anyone to win the BIG. no one gave them any chance after mcgary got hurt. most said 10-8 at best.
Neb won 5 BIG games last year with basically 4 starters returning plus petteway.
so don't preach to me. beilein didn't get a sniff 4 years ago when he finished 4th in the BIG when most picked UM 10th or worst.
so take your BS elsewhere.
March 10th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
Well, the reason Beilein was passed over was the media had an unnatural infatuation for Painter, who won 3 COY awards in 4 years. And let's be fair; Nebraska has come a LONG way from where they were even a couple of years ago. At least with Beilein, you had a sense that they would be competitive. But this year for Nebraska was pretty unexpected.
March 11th, 2014 at 12:28 AM ^
You seem like a pleasant fellow.
March 10th, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
if you watched that Neb early in the season, you would have known they were not a cellar dweller, but that's on you. i got crap from a sparty fan early in the year about our close road win against them. i said, look out, they are better than you think. and they bit sparty in the ass. it wasn't a big surprise to me.
do yourself a favor and look at all of the past COYs. there are no "miles" types on the list. you need to win the BIG, or be close, to get COY. this vote was a joke. JB should have been unanimous.
March 10th, 2014 at 11:30 PM ^
Well, there are lots of teams that looked "better" than they are playing at certain times in the season, but few of them turn it on like Nebraska did. I'm not trying to say that they are a juggernaut, but I don't get the anger about Beilbein sharing an award with another deserving coach. What, just because past voting was filled with pedantic results means that should continue? Maybe the media is figuring out that there are more coaches in the conference than Izzo and Matta?
March 10th, 2014 at 11:51 PM ^
Before Tubby Smith got shitcanned for no reason, the Big Ten as a conference had the best coaches in the country and even without Tubby that doesn't change.
Maybe the ACC can challenge with Boheim, Coack K, and Williams. Top heavy to be sure.
Beilein, Matta, Izzo, McCaffery, Miles, Crean, and Ryan. I'm sure I'm leaving some deserving guys off the list also but that's a pretty elite group.
March 10th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
Nik Stauskas deserves that honor. He's been clutch down the stretch.
Just throwing it out there: THJ really sparked the Knicks to make a big run and take a comfortable lead over the Sixers. He's got 23 points and has shot 7/8 while going 4/4 from behind the arc.
It is just extremely impressive how Beilein was able to take two not-so-heralded kids in Tim and Trey and develop them into two of the best rookies in the league. Looking forward to seeing this trend continue!
March 10th, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
March 10th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^
JB will get consideration. miles won't even be on the radar.
likely the wichita coach, imo.
March 10th, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
March 10th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ^
March 10th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
A great accomplishment, and deserved for both men. Can't quibble with the job Miles has done in Lincoln as well.
As others have noted, it's amazing how far this program has come from the dark days of Ellerbe and Amaker.
March 10th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^
Bringing up MSU for no reason? God this blog is starting to really suck.
March 11th, 2014 at 12:22 AM ^
March 11th, 2014 at 12:39 AM ^
Can someone forward this to Mr. Izzo. I recall him saying if Gary Harris isn't the best player in the BiG he doesn't know who is. The name is, Nik Stauskas, Tom.
AND Denzel Valentine for the sportsmanship award at MSU?
WOW. #Joke
Those were no brainers...Morgan should be on the defensive team and Payne is the CLEAR winner of their sportsmanship award.