The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Kentucky freshman forward Anthony Davis as the winner of the 2011-12 Oscar Robertson Trophy, annually presented to the National Player of the Year.
The 6-10, 220-pounder from Chicago, Ill., becomes the first USBWA national player of the year from Kentucky and just the second from a Southeastern Conference school. LSU’s Pete Maravich is the only other SEC player to win the award and he won it in back-to-back seasons (1968-69 and 1969-70). Also, Davis is the second freshman to earn the honor, joining Texas’ Kevin Durant, who claimed the award in the 2006-07 season.
Davis will be presented with the Oscar Robertson Trophy by its namesake, the legendary Oscar Robertson, at the USBWA’s annual College Basketball Awards Breakfast on Friday, March 30 at 8 a.m. at the New Orleans Marriott in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
A first-team USBWA All-American and USBWA District IV Player of the Year, Davis was chosen as the national player of the year from a field of 10 finalists, based on regular-season performance. Last week, he was named the winner of the Wayman Tisdale Award as the USBWA’s national freshman of the Year.
The SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year led Wildcats (34-2) to an unbeaten record in SEC play (16-0) and the SEC regular-season championship. Kentucky, the NCAA tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, continues its pursuit of a national championship in the South Regional in Atlanta, where they will play Indiana on Friday evening.
Davis has started all 36 games this season and has led the team with 14.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 63.6 percent from the field, second best in the nation. Davis also leads the nation in blocks (166). Twice this season Davis was named the SEC Player of the Week and he was the conference’s Freshman of the Week four times. In 30 of the Wildcats’ 36 games, he has scored in double figures while recording 18 double-doubles.
“Anthony Davis made an immediate and dramatic impact on college basketball,” said USBWA President Lenox Rawlings of the Winston-Salem Journal. “He has many skills, most obvious among them his ability to block and alter shots. Davis’ dominance inside solidfied Kentucky as a national title contender and brought Bill Russell back into the dialogue, shining light on the vital half of the game that people often ignore.”
(Release courtesy USBWA)
BostonCat / March 19, 2012
congrats to Davis….special kid, heck of a player!
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fearthephog25 / March 19, 2012
Congrats Davis. That is all fine and dandy, but I was wondering who leads the Nation in Double-Doubles?
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BostonCat / March 19, 2012
probably a player with a lot less talent around him.
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mikemiller13 / March 19, 2012
davis has had a great season and his case for player of the year is there. but boston, as you mentioned that “player” with a lot less talent around him….doesn’t that mean he is the focal point for the oppossing team, yet he still puts up numbers? just saying, kinda cancels out the arguement in a way, or you just made the case for that “player.” either way, good luck to uk
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BostonCat / March 19, 2012
if there was an MVP award, robinson would get my vote. him or green. but its about the best player. i would LOVE to see davis numbers if he took another 150 shots on the year.
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kungpaochicken / March 19, 2012
We’re never going to get an apples to apples comparison, Boston. Sure give Davis another 150 shots, but do consider that AD would also be doubled every time he touches the ball. His scoring and fg % would not be at the same level.
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fearthephog25 / March 19, 2012
BIG 12 BASKETBALL > sec basketball. How many games does uk lose in a BIG 12 schedule?
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mikemiller13 / March 19, 2012
your right boston, it’s the best player, not mvp. that’s my point though. we can sit here and say well IF davis took that many shots, or IF he was the go to guy. fact is, their is no IF with robinson. he does and is, and yet has the numbers he does being the focal point of opponents. the IF or what IF game is what ua fan’s play with their magic crystal ball they look into each year. i think davis’s upside at the next level is factoring in his favor at the college level. i’ll give you that for sure, davis has tremendous upside. both great player’s, if anything, i say it be a shared award this year.
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BostonCat / March 19, 2012
i think uk would do pretty well in the big 12 or 10. i mean uk handled the #1 and #4 teams in the conference rather easily. texas, osu, ou, texas a&m, and texas tech are all EASY wins. if norfolk st can beat mizzu…..my guess uk has a decent shot at beating them.
i don’t see how its even close. everyone sees it except for ku fans. don’t blame them for supporting their guy. if its just about ppg or 1 particular stat then why not give it to hamilton, lillard, or mcdermott? no one does what davis does right now. its not about potential. scoring inside, outside in numerous ways, rebounds, defends, block shots, assists, etc. no one does it like he does in so many categories. true definition of a game changer.
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fearthephog25 / March 19, 2012
What does Cody Zeller think of Anthony? Kept him well below his season averages I see. LOL And aren’t both just Freshman? And tj’s season averages are way down from last season. I bet he wishes he woulda went pro last year, he hurt his draft stock.
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BostonCat / March 19, 2012
at least zeller is good. some kid named marcius and some other white guys i think purdue found in the woods held robinson to 2-12 shooting. ouch!!!
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fearthephog25 / March 19, 2012
Goodluck against The Hoosiers though. I see some cat fans that are rather concerned, and even scared of facing Baylor. =P
Mr. Robinson did complete another double/double. Am I wrong? Which is more than can be said for tj’s no show or 8pts. vs. Iowa St. LOL Royce was by far the best player on the court that night. Ouch!! haha He even said it to the crowd.
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mikemiller13 / March 19, 2012
boston, i think your starting to reach alittle. scores inside, outside? does robinson? defends? does robinson? assists? ummmmmm, i’ll let that one slide. not sure where that came from. blocks, hey davis is the man. i guess what i’m trying to get across is davis is a great shot blocker, robinson is not on his level. but that’s it. robinson in every other way DOES put up better numbers. NOT IF or MAYBE. and he is defended by multiple players (since you mentioned purdue and some white guys from the woods, doubled) and other teams game plans are him. soooooo….
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fearthephog25 / March 19, 2012
boston’s points are mild and moot. Goodnight.
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BostonCat / March 20, 2012
robinson has no perimeter game, has average to below average ball skills. he plays like a bull in a china shop and thats GREAT. davis can shoot it from 15 feet, even out to the three. he can drive it from 18 feet going either way. robinson doesn’t really do those things. its mostly just a power game.
again if its just about numbers…..then pick the guy with the best numbers. someone like hamilton who is averaging 25 ppg.
teams have been doing their best to take davis away. playing junk defenses, sagging in the lane. they take the lob away….then davis steps outside and knocks down shots. he has evolved so much this season and is just outstanding. everyone sees this but ku fans. nothing at all against robinson. davis is just better and has had the better year.
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DocBean / March 20, 2012
I’m a KU fan, but I was a little upset when Self had Robinson in the game in the final 2 minutes against Detroit. It’s obvious they were trying to up Robinson’s stats so that he can get the national player of the year award.
With that said, I think Davis is a better player, Robinson has done more for his team, and either way you choose it’s fine.
I lean toward Robinson only because the way he’s risen up this year after all the tragedy he went through last year should count for something. I don’t think another player in the history of college basketball has dealt with that much, and played at the level TR has played.
IF KU makes the Final Four, then Robinson should have been hands down the player of the year, and Self coach of the year. If they don’t and UK wins it all, then I think Davis should be.
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GasCan / March 20, 2012
I love how fearthephog25 asks how well UK would do in the Big 12 then when it is pointed out that UK has beaten 2 of the top 4 from that conference, he claims the points are mild and moot then goes to bed. Its not like the Big 12 is far and away better than the SEC, last time I checked there were 2 teams left from both conferences. Bottom line, when it comes to basketball, the SEC and the Big 12 are similar. Not as good as the BigEast but much better than the Pac 12. Speaking of which, where have all of the ‘zona fans gone?
As far as the Davis vs. Robinson debate is concerned, to me it’s like arguing over what color is better. I prefer blue someone else may like red, but who am I to tell anyone that what they like is wrong. It’s all a matter of personal opinion. I like Davis, but I’m a UK fan. That being said, I think Robinson is a great player and is more than deserving of whatever awards he may win this year.
Good luck Jayhawk fans!
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mikemiller13 / March 20, 2012
even out to the 3? boston are you reaching again? just because you have seen him hit “A” 3 point shot doesn’t mean that’s a part of his game. 3 for 19, yet you say he steps out? robinson 6 for 13 maybe? davis is not calling for the ball at the top of the arc and driving every game….or is he? you’ve seen it, but only a time or 2. regarding robinson being all power…..he’s a 4, power forward correct? the only arguement with any substance you can put out is the blocks. all others are null and void. again, i say it should be a shared award for 2 who have had great seasons. good luck to my hawks and uk this weekend.
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mikemiller13 / March 20, 2012
gascan, if you see a ua fan….please send them my way. i wanna hear all about their preseason predictions and their gipsy ways
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Yeah, cuz davis shot and made so many wide open 3s against Iowa State. LMAO Or all season for that matter. haha He kept passing it off on wide open looks. Maybe cali-sleazy oughta let davis run the point forward position like White did to uk and coast to cost dunk.
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Look at boston, tryna act like davis is KEVIN DURANT or something…..slow down. LOL
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Doc Bill Self only did that against Detroit, cuz it was getting close to midnight in Omaha and it was T-Rob’s 21st. Birthday that Saturday. Wanted a standing ovation for his Birthday and 25th. recorded double/double.
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Gascan, I was referring to kentucky going on the road in the brutal Big 12, not at neutral location. No way uk goes undefeated in the Big 12, just no possible way – nor wins Big 12 Tourney. Couldn’t even win weak sec tourney. I look forward to a possible Baylor vs. uk matchup. Don’t be Skurrd and root for Xavier either. haha I know that is what your fan base is praying for.
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GasCan / March 20, 2012
I see how it is fear. If UK beats a Big12 team on a neutral court it’s no big deal, but if a Big 12 team Beats UK on a neutral court it’s another example of how bad UK and the SEC are, gotcha.
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Gas, was referring to no chance uk goes undefeated in the regular season in the Big 12. Your assumptions thinking uk can compete or goundefeated in Big 12 are wrong. If so, cats should have won 8 straight Conference Titles by now in a weak sec conference.
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Donttasemebro / March 20, 2012
Put Anthony Davis on the Jayhawks right now are they a 2 seed heck no. Put Robinson on Kentucky are they still a 1 seed heck yes. Anthony Davis would have crapped his pants on KU’s team this year. While Robinson would still have been the best player and leader for Kentucky.
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GasCan / March 20, 2012
First off fear, I never once said UK would go undefeated in the Big 12, but to think we wouldn’t even be able to compete in that league is just silly. Secondly,UK wasn’t able to win the last 8 SEC titles because we had an incompetent coach for two years and we had to compete with Florida. You know that Flordia team that won back-to-back national titles. Which got me thinking, since the creation of the basketball powerhouse that is the Big 12, how many national titles have you claimed? The weak SEC managed to win five in that same amount of time!
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Riding Billy Donovan’s wave, after you uk fans bash him. Nice!! LMAO Never would I ever ride roy williams’ wave or team. Nice one! haha
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GasCan / March 20, 2012
Quit avoiding the question fear, how many NCAA national championships has the almighty Big 12 won in basketball?
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fearthephog25 / March 20, 2012
Better yet, has uk won any in the last decade plus? LOL If cali-sleazy don’t win it all this year with this team or make a Final Four…he never will. Might as well take Knick job and coach Carmelo. haha Goodluck with the Mighty Hoosiers.
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GasCan / March 21, 2012
Your refusal to answer the question is telling fear, you just can’t accept that the Big 12 is not the powerhouse you’re try making it out to be.
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mikemiller13 / March 21, 2012
i think fear is saying from top to bottom the big 12 is a more competitive league. i would agree, but no denying the “TOP” teams (meaning 2 maybe 3) in the sec have faired very well and will continue to. still waiting for boston to reply with davis stepping out yet he’s 3 of 19……reaching
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