ESPN inSIDER ($): Nik Stauskas ranked #8 (of 25) player in MBB

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

Now that the regular season has been in the books for a few hours, I decided it's high time that I update my rankings of the top 25 players in Division I. The premise of my list is simple:

The NBA doesn't exist. If we were evaluating these players purely on college production and not on anticipated professional potential, who would rise to the top as the best performers in Division I?

To find that answer, I've gone back to a number of my preferred information sources, including but not limited to:

• My observations based on watching hundreds of hours of college hoops (I like my job)

• The excellent individual player stats generated by Ken Pomeroy at kenpom.com

• Data on play-by-play performance collected by Jeff Haley and available at hoop-math.com

• Translations that project NBA performance based on college metrics, compiled by Insider colleague Kevin Pelton

Here are my choices for the 25 best players in the college game.

(Who'd I miss? Let me know in the comments and on Twitter -- @JohnGasaway.)

Note: Statistics through games of March 8.

 

McDermott is #1
Stauskas is #8...no other B1G player is ranked in the top 25.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10581926/…

StoneRoses

March 10th, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^

At this point I think we all realize that next year we will be down a certain Canadian. Thanks Nik for your time in Ann Arbor and hopefully we will cap it off with another Final Four appearance. 

MGoGrendel

March 10th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^

so he can win back to back POY. (Maybe he will if we all say please!)

 

Great to see Nik succeed; he certainly has worked his butt off.  Look forward to see kids wearing his NBA jersey to Michigan games.

rockediny

March 10th, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^

I know many of you are already saying your goodbyes to lessen the blow if Stauskas does choose to leave. I know it's likely that he will leave but can we stop saying goodbye as if he's already left, it's depressing and slightly annoying. We still have the B10 tournament and that one other tournament. Can I just have those weeks to still BELIEVE? Please? 

 

 

 

.....please don't go

CR7

March 10th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^

McDermott my ass. Dude plays in a fucking mid-major conference. Sick of the hype. They haven't played a team worth their salt all season. And don't say Villanova. They're no great shakes either.

CR7

March 11th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^

How many mid-major players could hack it at a higher level? Adam Morrison and Jimmer Fredette just to name a few who had a mass amount of hype because they shot a bunch and could score against below-average competition. The Bird comparison is a joke because basketball has changed exponentially since then. It isn't just about fundamentals anymore. It's about pace and athleticism and skill.

I'm not saying kids from smaller schools can't make a career out of basketball; I'm saying I don't see it with this one.

Team 101

March 10th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^

I want Nik to do what is best for him.  I would love for him to stay if that is what is best for him because it is fun to watch him play but if he leaves someone else wlll fill the void.  We lost Trey to the NBA and won the B!G Championship.