Grant Stout-MVC Player of the Year

[Hime_Peterson]

This has been a tremendous year for the Missouri Valley Conference. I've enjoyed watching the games, and it looks like four teams will make the NCAA Tournament. However, looking at the stats, there is not a clear-cut Player of the Year for the League. While there are more great teams, there simply isn't one guy who clearly stands out as being the best--like Kyle Korver or Darren Brooks of Southern Illinois. If Funk had been healthy for Creighton, I think he probably would have been the guy.

That brings me to my point. I think that UNI has the best team in the MVC and I think they will win the league. So, wouldn't it make sense that the best player on the best team should win the award?

In my mind, Grant Stout is the MVC Player of the Year right now. He might be the one guy in the league, and definitely on UNI's team who has no weaknesses--he can post up, face up and drive, shoot mid-range jumpers, shoot threes, leads the league in rebounding and blocked shots, and can pass. Scary thing is because of UNI's balance, he doesn't get the ball probably enough.

If I had a vote for MVC Player of the Year, I would vote for Grant Stout without hesitation. He is UNI's best and most valuable player, and UNI is the best team in the league, IMO.

Thoughts?

[Marc Wigim]

Consider this:

Grant Stout is a 6'8", 225-pound post player with the ability to drive, play great defense, and can shoot for anywhere on the floor. If he were able to add a few pounds of muscle, what are his prospects for going pro?

That being said, I agree. Grant Stout is worthy recipient, but it will likely be Ben Jacobsen, who's more recognizable and will be better known across the Valley. Them's the ropes. Jacobsen deserves it just as much as Stout, however, because Jacobsen is the textbook definition of a "go to" guy. Grant will just have to wait until next year.

[pantherfan4ever]

Consider this:
That being said, I agree. Grant Stout is worthy recipient, but it will likely be Ben Jacobsen, who's more recognizable and will be better known across the Valley. Them's the ropes. Jacobsen deserves it just as much as Stout, however, because Jacobsen is the textbook definition of a "go to" guy. Grant will just have to wait until next year.

Grant will have to wait until next year, but i dont think it is fair to say that jacobson would get it over stout just because he is more well known.. i think jacobson is very deserving of the award. stats such as blocks and rebounds are GREAT but they are seen on the stat card and make stout stand out more, to some, than jacobson... but most of what jacobson does this year are not "seen" on the stat card. his decision making has improved SO much this year, along with his all around defense. He is the obvious team leader as well, ALL of our players would say that. Jacobson does not have to take as much of the scoring load since coleman and stout now do more scoring, but he is still getting over 15 a game getting doubled and triple teamed and is making VERY smart decisions on offense and defense.

So i wouldnt say that jacobson would get the award just because he is more well known, the people that will decide the player of the year will look at the things that dont get into the stat collums as well and will look at who really does lead there team.. im not saying stout isnt a leader, but jacobson is our teams leader this year.

[ejacobson]

I, of course, hope that Ben gets the votes. But with that being said, I think Grant has improved tremendously and is likely to get votes for defensive player of the year because of his improvement and all those blocks and boards. But Grant and Ben feed off of one another. Grant gets the ball on the block because Ben and Brooks feed him down low, as does Coleman. But Ben also gets his shots with an average about 6 seconds left on the shot clock (this is just something I have noticed this year most likely due to the heavy pressure on him). That forces some tough shots. But I am just glad that the team is playing so well. Read the WCF courier article where this question was brought up to Mac and I think he had the best answer. With this many great players its hard to pick one.
GO PANTHERS!!!!

http://www.panthermania.net/articles/2006/02/08/news/mensbball/doc43e7608d0a9a9666568527.txt

[SMK4UNI]

Before this year we would have been happy to have one guy in the running for POY, at least I would have. Now we are discussing over 2 of our guys which one should recieve it. This is unbelieveable!!! I love the state the Panther Athletics are in.

My vote goes for Benny J. Years past he has been a scorer first and this year he is the most all around player in the league, IMO. He has great defense and is making great passes into the post. Without Benny on the court it would hurt the morale of the team and the fans. How many fans do you think have come out to watch just Benny J and ended up coming back to watch a great team? He draws the fans in and the team play gets the fans asking for more!!

[CF Panther]

Conference player of the year to date has got to be Stout over Jacobson. Jacobson may be "leading" right now, but it would only be due to his name. He's a great player, but awards like this should go to the player who night in and night out puts up the stats and plays for a winning team. Stout has been consistently coming in with a double-double or close to it in points and rebounds and comes up with a block or five each night. Now is the time for a player to win an award of this magnitude, and if Jacobson goes on a streak like he is capable of at this time of the season, he very well might win over Stout...

[AmesPanther]

When you are the name player and everyone is out for you, designs defenses to stop you, yada yada then it's tough to still be the leading scorer every game. Ben is the man. He is the best player. The stats don't show how much harder he has to play to get the same numbers because of his name.

[MGLD Panther]

When you are the name player and everyone is out for you, designs defenses to stop you, yada yada then it's tough to still be the leading scorer every game. Ben is the man. He is the best player. The stats don't show how much harder he has to play to get the same numbers because of his name.

I couldn't agree more! Who gets the ball 9 times out of 10 at the end of the game? Ben should receive the award.

[B.True]

simply put, i feel that jacobson receives it this year and then stout wins it next year!

[CF Panther]

simply put, i feel that jacobson receives it this year and then stout wins it next year!

...and Coleman the year after that...and then Travis Brown...and then...

[DWadle1983]

Based on their stats, it's probably close to a toss-up right now, and I imagine their stats will be the way most voters will evaluate them. While Ben is the go-to guy, and also has good rebounding numbers and leads the team in assists per game, Grant leading the MVC in rebounding and having the most blocked shots (although I imagine Patrick O'Bryant has a slightly better BPG average) may offset that. I could see how close they are in points per game deciding it. Of course, in the end it doesn't matter which one wins. If Blake Ahearn played on a team that would finish better than 5th, he might be the favorite leading the MVC in scoring, but he's not far enough ahead PPG to offset the Bears' finish. Does the voting take place before the MVC Tournament is played, and how do people think UNI's lack of depth will effect them in the MVC Tournament where they may have to play three games in three days?

[Lovie Smith]

If I had a vote it would no doubt go to Stout!

[Mac13]

I would strongly agree with you on this issue. He has been outstanding this season and will continue to improve with the help of the whole UNI coaching staff.

[kcpanther20]

I agree with the points about D's being designed to stop #12 but that is difficult to quantify. Stout's numbers are black and white, just happened to be looking on the MVC site today. Stout leads blocked shots by 20, almost 1 per game and is a run away leader on boards. He has 30 more boards than the runner up, that just happens to be Coleman. Not only dominating the glass from the competition but also sharing with teammate. Stout had something like 164 defensive boards, that alone put him #4 on the rebound list. Amazing. Defensive POY looks to be a lock.

As for POY, I hope the two don't split or take votes from each other and have someone else slip in.

[NJ Panther]

First of all the comment that Jacobson's advantage is that he is a "name" sounds like something I would expect from a Creighton/WSU/SIU board or our own board critiquing BCS players/schools, not PN, though nothing surprises me anymore. I personally think we've spent way too much time debating which of our players is better throughout the season, but because Benny is getting left in the dark I'll chime in. Benny gets covered by half the known universe every single game. One analyst even said Ben, Morrison, and Reddick are the three most keyed on players in America. Yet he's still averaging 15pts a game (or close to that). The fact he is keyed on so much means someone somewhere is open, which means others are getting more quality shot opportunities. Whats more since he is "a name" he could very well play like a prima dona, forcing shots left and right, refusing to play team ball, and focusing on his pro chances more then the teams NCAA chances. But he has'nt, he's involved everyone (see his rise is assists) and sometimes almost plays too much for the team when he needs to be more assertive offensively. This guy is more then willing to be a decoy, which is both wonderful and rare in a "name" player. As far as his FG% it has taken a hit because he is the player normally forced to create a shot at the end of the clock, usually when there is no shot near quality to take. He's persevered through some elbow problems and is still the biggest offensive threat of the floor everynight. He is also an amazing leader and still is the guy that can take things over when you need it. Personally, take Benny out of this program the past 4 years and we would'nt be near a lock for NCAA #3. The "name" can play, and he has done much to put this school on the map. No one does more for their teams success in the Valley, which is why Benny deserves the honor so much.