Basketball awards

[The PonyGrad]

2010-11 SMU Men's Basketball Team Awards
MVP - Papa Dia
Screener - Papa Dia
Charges - Papa Dia
Rebounder - Papa Dia
Blocks / Deflections - Papa Dia
Defensive Award - Mike Walker
Most Improved - Robert Nyakundi
Good Plays - Jeremiah Samarrippas
Hustle - Collin Mangrum
Assists:Turnover - Jeremiah Samarrippas
Coaches Award - Ryan Harp
FT % - Robert Nyakundi
Academic Award - Aliaksei Patsevich
All-Conference USA - Papa Dia (first team) and Robert Nyakundi (third team)
C-USA All-Defensive Team and C-USA Defensive Player of the Year - Papa Dia
NABC All-District - Papa Dia (first team team)
CIT All-Tournament Team - Papa Dia
C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll - Austin Horn, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, Collin Mangrum, Aliaksei Patsevich, Leslee Smith
C-USA Academic Medal - Collin Mangrum


2010-11 SMU Men's Basketball Team Awards - By Individual


Papa Dia - MVP, Screener, Rebounds, Blocks, Charges


Mike Walker - Defensive Award


Jeremiah Samarrippas - Best A/TO, Good Plays


Collin Mangrum - Hustle


Robert Nyakundi - Best FT%, Most Improved Player


Aliaksei Patsevich - Academic


Ryan Harp - Coaches

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-ba ... 11aaa.html

[ClickClack]

Does anyone else find it embarrassing that we give out "good play", "hustle", "best at taking charges" and "best screener" type awards...my travel basketball team in 6th grade gave out similar awards. These are D1 athletes, we don't need ridiculous awards like that to make them feel good.

Team MVP
Best Defensive Player
Most Improved and MAYBE
Hustle Award are certainly sufficient.

[hoopmanx]

I don't find it embarrassing, but I do think its silly. I like the ones suggested, plus the Big Balls award, just cause.

[Junior]

i don't have a problem with the academic awards. puts the student back into student-athlete.

[HorsePower]

Maybe those awards aren't "necessary," but neither is any other award. The fact is that Nyakundi and the rest aren't spotting up for 3s without teammates setting screens to create some space for him. The coaches grade film in a number of categories, one of which is "good plays" — a number that increases with points, shots created for teammates, etc., and decreased with turnovers, fouls, etc. So while such awards might not be "necessary," they damn sure are relevant.

[hoopmanx]

Maybe those awards aren't "necessary," but neither is any other award. The fact is that Nyakundi and the rest aren't spotting up for 3s without teammates setting screens to create some space for him. The coaches grade film in a number of categories, one of which is "good plays" — a number that increases with points, shots created for teammates, etc., and decreased with turnovers, fouls, etc. So while such awards might not be "necessary," they damn sure are relevant.

no doubt that 'good plays' is essentially an award for plus/minus grades, and is quite relevant to what happens on the court. I'd actually like to see our plus/minus criteria, cause most staffs do it a little differently.

I think the point is, if you're going to give away awards like this, make people understand what they are, and how valuable/relevant they are, as opposed to making it seem like a participation trophy.

[ponyscott]

These awards are for the team members, coaches and the really tight Basketball team followers, and is not embarrassing in any way, especially considering that no one outside the program knows.....or cares. Good for them!

[Jim Shorts]

I must have missed it. Who won the award for running the fastest mile in the off season?

[Treadway21]

Surprised Harp won the coach's award.

[easttexasfan]

Suprised he gave the invocation for the new Moody Center. Thought Papa would have done that. My pick for the mile run would be Justin Haynes if he doesn't transfer. He is long, athletic, tough, in great shape, and should be a leader next season. He might be what Ryan was this year - a utility player who plays all positions and asks to sacrifice his game ( thus the Coaches Award) and play multiple positions. Justin certainly can guard a perimeter player or post player and has the athletic ability to do this.

[easttexasfan]

I must have missed it. Who won the award for running the fastest mile in the off season?

The mile time will be run in the pre-season before the regular season starts. Many coaches do this because it is a "gut" check and do see who is in shape. I believe that person will be a leader and sets the example. We won 20 games this year and it starts right there ( actually right now and what we are doing in the off-season). This is the time now for all returning players to set the example. I know we are touting our recruiting class and hope to see them really play well. I am one that when they perform on the court will believe it then. All the pre-season hype is well just hype. Hope Jfrog doesn't have the sophomore slump after a great freshman year. What can he do do improve his game this summer? Rob is terrific! He didn't wind up with a good finish but if he learns to create and shoot off the dribble - could be a first team all-conference USA.

[easttexasfan]

Does anyone else find it embarrassing that we give out "good play", "hustle", "best at taking charges" and "best screener" type awards...my travel basketball team in 6th grade gave out similar awards. These are D1 athletes, we don't need ridiculous awards like that to make them feel good.

Team MVP
Best Defensive Player
Most Improved and MAYBE
Hustle Award are certainly sufficient.

Good for your 6th grade traveling team. Hope you "coached" them up well and they learn the fundamentals from you. As far as the awards, Coach Doh probably got the idea from Dean Smith who probably knew something about what it takes to win championships. It is like the UConn womens coach says in his commercial - everyone sees the end result - a basket and cheers but most people don't know what leads to the basket- screens, cuts, ball movement, etc.

[easttexasfan]

I don't find it embarrassing, but I do think its silly. I like the ones suggested, plus the Big Balls award, just cause.

I think it means a lot to the players. Who cares what others think? It is their night. Coach Smith gave similar awards at the North Carolina banquet. I would venture to guess he knows a little bit about what it takes to win 20 games. The Big Balls would be totally inappropriate for a banquet.

[easttexasfan]

i don't have a problem with the academic awards. puts the student back into student-athlete.

Junior, you are so correct! I was not at the banquet but did attend senior night and my understanding is that all 6 seniors will graduate. That is what SMU is about. Don't necessary agree with what Coach Knight said about the Kentucky players not attending classes second semester but with Coach Cal's history of one and dones and taking final four's away, how can that guy still be coaching?

[easttexasfan]

Maybe those awards aren't "necessary," but neither is any other award. The fact is that Nyakundi and the rest aren't spotting up for 3s without teammates setting screens to create some space for him. The coaches grade film in a number of categories, one of which is "good plays" — a number that increases with points, shots created for teammates, etc., and decreased with turnovers, fouls, etc. So while such awards might not be "necessary," they damn sure are relevant.

Perfect Horsepower. You know your hoops.