Duck, Duck, Goose
The (Jay) Bilastrator nominates Oregon's Aaron Brooks for National Player of the Year.
Let's add another name ... Oregon's Aaron Brooks. Brooks is averaging more than 18 points, almost 5 assists and 2 steals, and he has taken it on himself to hit every big shot Oregon has needed to win key games. It was Brooks who shot down UCLA, and he was magnificent on the road at Arizona. There might be a long way to go in this whole player of the year debate, but Brooks deserves to be in it as much as anyone we have named so far.
I appreciate Jay's attempt. All season, POY discussions have centered around Texas' Kevin Durant, Wisconsin's Alando Tucker, LSU's Glen Davis, Nevada's Nick Fazekas, and Oklahoma State's Mario Boggan.
That's not a bad list. But its missing a key ingredient -- a player from the nation's best conference.
Enter Brooks, stage Oregon.
The Bilistrator is right to note that Aaron has taken clutch shot after clutch shot for Ernie Kent. After some tough personal circumstances last season, Brooks is this year making good on his talent and "potential." He's averaging more than 18 points, nearly four rebounds, and almost five assists a game. He's also shooting better than 40 percent (!) from behind the arc.
But he's also turning the ball over nearly three times a contest.
Should Brooks be a candidate? You bet. (Particularly if he leads the Ducks to at least two wins in their next four games, at Washington, Washington State, USC and UCLA). But he needs significant national exposure -- paging the Ducks' athletic department -- to become a top-tier contender. Times Square billboard, anyone?
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