Tiger or Jack? Pepsi or Coke? Whopper or Big Mac?
Kansas State’s Michael Beasley or North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough?
The front-runners for the three major men’s college basketball awards are just the latest debate, and the choice isn’t clear.
“It’s Bird-Magic,” CBS analyst Clark Kellogg said. “It’s almost a pick ’em. I could see where Hansbrough would come out on top, but Beasley’s been the most outstanding player in college basketball. I’d tend to lean his way.”
One problem, however.
“I’m not involved in any of the voting,” Kellogg said.
Even those who do cast ballots aren’t exactly unified. Beasley, a freshman, and Hansbrough, a junior, are the finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented by the United States Basketball Writers Association for national player of the year.
“I can’t recall anything this close in the balloting in the last 10, 15 years,” says Joe Mitch, executive director for the USBWA.
Perhaps that means Hansbrough is no guarantee to make a clean sweep of the three major national awards.
The first that will be announced is April 4 when the Oscar Robertson Trophy is awarded. Two days later, the Naismith Award will be presented. Finally, on April 12, the John R. Wooden Award will be announced.
So far, though, the Tar Heel standout has collected more national player-of-the-year honors than Beasley for 2007-08. Hansbrough, a 6-foot-9 forward who averages 22.8 points and 10.2 rebounds, has been chosen national player of the year by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, ESPN.com and the Adolph Rupp Award.
Beasley, K-State’s 6-10 star who finished with 26.2 points and 12.4 boards per game, was picked national player of the year by CBS Sports.com and Rivals. com.
On one hand you have Beasley, considered in many circles as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft if he chooses to leave K-State. The flip side is Hansbrough, who may lead North Carolina all the way to the national title.
It almost depends on whom you ask as to which player will get his photo snapped with the hardware.
“It wasn’t tough for me,” said Dick Jerardi, sports reporter at the Philadelphia Daily News. “It’s Beasley. No doubt in my mind. It’s about the best player in the country, not about whose team is best.”
Before the Big 12 tournament, Beasley had a chance to lobby for himself but declined.
“Quote me — I’m giving it to Tyler Hansbrough,” Beasley said. “He can have it. He and (UCLA’s) Kevin Love can have it. They can share it. I wouldn’t give it to me. I just want to win.”
Beasley, however, no longer is on the main stage now that the Wildcats were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the second round by Wisconsin. But No. 1 seed North Carolina, which plays Washington State tonight in the Sweet 16, gives Hansbrough extended visibility.
That could come in handy for the Wooden Award because voters have until next Monday to cast ballots. Steve Carp, who writes for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, has flip-flopped.
“Originally, Beasley was my choice,” Carp said, “but ultimately I’m going with Hansbrough. He looks like the best player in the country. At the moment.”
Texas coach Rick Barnes said Beasley reminds him of Kevin Durant. If that’s the case, maybe Beasley will make it back-to-back years where a freshman receives national awards. Durant swept the big three last season at Texas.
“He (Beasley) puts up numbers, and when it’s over with, a lot like Kevin, you wonder where they all came from,” Barnes said.
So is that a vote for Beasley?
“Well, I think the player of the year lives here in Texas, so I’m kind of partial to D.J. Augustin,” Barnes said of his standout point guard. “That’s my vote.”
Even K-State coach Frank Martin understands that this is no easy decision if it comes down to Beasley and Hansbrough.
“Look at Kevin Durant. He did some things people thought would never be done again, and Michael surpassed them,” Martin said. “He’s great. But with him and Tyler, you have two guys where you can’t go wrong either way.”
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