WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

I've been meaning to ask about the Central Region "Player of the Year" award for a few days...

http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-region/2011-12/central-women


- Morgan Herrick (Chicago) - 11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
- Olivia Lett (IWU) - 21.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg


(In a head-to-head matchup - a 3-point Chicago win @ Chicago - Lett went for 30 pts and 10 rebounds...Herrick had 13 and 5.  I watched that game online and Lett was the best player on the floor by a significant margin.)

I know Morgan Herrick is a tremendous player, but doesn't it seem like a huge injustice for Herrick to win the Central Region P.O.Y. over Lett?

What am I missing on this?

[RogK]

If you want to call it debatable, go ahead. "Huge injustice" is nonsense. Morgan Herrick got UAA conference player of the year and Chicago went undefeated until last Friday.
You could argue that Olivia carried a bigger load for her team than Morgan did for hers. But, that suggests that Herrick's teammates were better than Olivia's.

[Hoosier Titan]

I've been meaning to ask about the Central Region "Player of the Year" award for a few days...

http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-region/2011-12/central-women


- Morgan Herrick (Chicago) - 11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
- Olivia Lett (IWU) - 21.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg


(In a head-to-head matchup - a 3-point Chicago win @ Chicago - Lett went for 30 pts and 10 rebounds...Herrick had 13 and 5.  I watched that game online and Lett was the best player on the floor by a significant margin.)

I know Morgan Herrick is a tremendous player, but doesn't it seem like a huge injustice for Herrick to win the Central Region P.O.Y. over Lett?

What am I missing on this?

I agree that it is indeed highly debatable.  Olivia's season-long stats are clearly superior, and she made the winning basket last weekend against a highly rated team on the road.  Her team is still playing, thanks in large part to her efforts. 

I'm sure that Morgan Herrick is a worthy winner, and that her winning is not an injustice.  But I would hope that the discussion was a serious one--that is, that the merits of the two (and possibly other) players were seriously considered and debated.

EDIT:  Rog, Melissa Gardner, Michelle Bilek, Britt Hasselbring, and Karen Solari--among others--all made big plays for the Titans this year, but I'm certain that no one in Bloomington would deny that without Olivia Lett the Titans would not be where they are.  It's not a dismissal of teammates to say that an outstanding player "carried the team on her/his back"--it's one of the nicer of the new cliches, in fact.

[NCF]

I've been meaning to ask about the Central Region "Player of the Year" award for a few days...

http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-region/2011-12/central-women


- Morgan Herrick (Chicago) - 11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
- Olivia Lett (IWU) - 21.7 ppg, 6.6 r

(In a head-to-head matchup - a 3-point Chicago win @ Chicago - Lett went for 30 pts and 10 rebounds...Herrick had 13 and 5.  I watched that game online and Lett was the best player on the floor by a significant margin.)

I know Morgan Herrick is a tremendous player, but doesn't it seem like a huge injustice for Herrick to win the Central Region P.O.Y. over Lett?



What am I missing on this?

I agree that it is indeed highly debatable.  Olivia's season-long stats are clearly superior, and she made the winning basket last weekend against a highly rated team on the road.  Her team is still playing, thanks in large part to her efforts. 

I am quite sure that Morgan Herrick is a worthy winner, but I do wonder how these decisions are made.

I wonder the same thing myself-and not just in bball.

[iwu70]

I share Q's doubts, view about the Lett -- Herrick choice.  I'm sure Herrick is a great player and her team surely had an outstanding season.  When was the decision made and who made it?  That's d3hoops All-Region, right?  Perhaps the All-American teams coming later will have a different conclusion.  Sure hope Olivia plays like she's been playing this weekend -- to conclude her absolutely awesome, stellar season.  But, the Titans are not a one-player show by any means, and the others have also had outstanding performances and seasons, within their own roles and the IWU system -- esp. Hasselbring and Gardner . . . but also key contributions by many many others.  I'm sure that will be needed again this weekend in facing the Tommies and then either Amherst or George Fox.  This is the ultimate challenge this weekend.  Should be great stuff -- my money is on our battle-tested Titans.  I take nothing away from, have all respect for St. Thomas, George Fox and surely Amherst.  All great teams.  Their stats and their records speak for themselves.

IWU70

[iwu70]

Good luck to Coach Smith and all the Titans tomorrow in Holland, MI. 

GO TITANS!!!

IWU70

[RogK]

What provoked my comments was Titan Q calling Herrick a tremendous player, but following that with the suggestion that giving her that award could be a huge injustice. Olivia is a superb player, but not "hugely" better than a tremendous one.
Both are top stars, with Olivia having superior scoring talents. Morgan was the foundation of Chicago's excellent defense. Both contribute greatly in numerous ways. Believe me, all you Titan fans would've been thrilled to have Herrick on your team. Likewise, any team in the nation would want Olivia in their uniform.
I am curious, along with everyone else, as to when the voting for the All-Americans occurs --- has it taken place already, or is it done during the finals?

[Titan Q]

What provoked my comments was Titan Q calling Herrick a tremendous player, but following that with the suggestion that giving her that award could be a huge injustice.

I'm comfortable with both points I made, Rog.  I do think that a) Herrick is a tremendous player, and that b) Lett losing the P.O.Y. award to her was a huge injustice. 

There is a just a big, big separation between these numbers:

- Morgan Herrick (Chicago) - 11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
- Olivia Lett (IWU) - 21.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg

And both led their teams to great seasons, and both provide great "intangibles." 

If we were talking about the CCIW M.O.P. I'd say that Diana Jacklin is a tremendous player...but had she won the M.O.P. over Lett it would have been a huge injustice.  On the men's side I'd say the same about Jordan Zimmer/Tim McCrary.

Olivia Lett, without question, had a better 2011-12 than Morgan Herrick as I see it.

[RogK]

Here's hoping that the best part of Olivia's season will be tomorrow and Saturday!

[Titan Q]

Here's hoping that the best part of Olivia's season will be tomorrow and Saturday!

That we can both agree on, Rog!

[D-3 watcher]

A closer look

TO--- Herrick --37.   Lett. 110
3 pt.  Herrick 6-15 .400.  Lett 46-151 .305
Total Fg. Herrick 100-206 .534. Lett. 237-496 .478
Ft.   Herrick 56-70. .800.   Lett.  153-181 .848
Assist. Herrick. 49.  Lett 105
Blocks  Herrick  19.  Lett 32
Steals. Herrick 34.   Lett. 57

As those stats indicate ( steals-blocks), Lett plays some defense as well. We all know
you can twist and not list stats that doesn't support your views, but these are
telling in a couple of ways. Lett has more turnovers, but she also plays the point
when asked, having twice as many assists. Lett is a great all around player, she
just doesn't hang around wanting to shoot, yes she does shoot a lot, but it is something you want a good shooter to do.

Herrick is a great player as well, not trying to take anything away, but the results of the player of the region is a little puzzling. She might be a better player, but not this year.

They are both good to great players, but only one led their team to the Final Four.

Yes I know that has no bearing on the player of the region, but in reality maybe it does, just saying.

[D-3 watcher]

Just learning how to do this stuff, so it doesn't look quite as pretty as some

[Hoosier Titan]

Very nice job, D-3 watcher.  The more stats that show up, the more puzzling this becomes.  Thank you for posting!

[NCF]

A closer look

TO--- Herrick --37.   Lett. 110
3 pt.  Herrick 6-15 .400.  Lett 46-151 .305
Total Fg. Herrick 100-206 .534. Lett. 237-496 .478
Ft.   Herrick 56-70. .800.   Lett.  153-181 .848
Assist. Herrick. 49.  Lett 105
Blocks  Herrick  19.  Lett 32
Steals. Herrick 34.   Lett. 57

As those stats indicate ( steals-blocks), Lett plays some defense as well. We all know
you can twist and not list stats that doesn't support your views, but these are
telling in a couple of ways. Lett has more turnovers, but she also plays the point
when asked, having twice as many assists. Lett is a great all around player, she
just doesn't hang around wanting to shoot, yes she does shoot a lot, but it is something you want a good shooter to do.

Herrick is a great player as well, not trying to take anything away, but the results of the player of the region is a little puzzling. She might be a better player, but not this year.

They are both good to great players, but only one led their team to the Final Four.

Yes I know that has no bearing on the player of the region, but in reality maybe it does, just saying.

You did a very nice job with these stats!

[NCF]

Very nice job, D-3 watcher.  The more stats that show up, the more puzzling this becomes.  Thank you for posting!

Do you know the criteria for selecting these awards? Is it done by committee,coaches a combination? I don't know the process, so I'm just asking.