While on paper it would seem that an RPI player should win DPOY, I'd have to disagree. As great as their team defense is, the one thing it lacks is a Dom Black-esque defender. This RPI team lacks the ability to shutdown an elite perimeter scorer. Players like Tedesco (averages 21.5ppg vs RPI), Fitzgerald (24ppg vs RPI), Gooden (20ppg vs RPI), Moesch (20ppg vs RPI), and Anderson (20pts vs RPI), to name some, have all scored well above their average against them. If it were to be an RPI player, I would vote Deppe. While he doesn't put up any flashy stats, he does a great job of guarding some of the leagues best interior players. Regardless, this goes to show how much of a toss up this award will be this year. 

Now that we are heading into the final weekend of regular season play, I think it's time we should start talking about awards. Let's start off with player of the year.

Although Plesser has pretty much sealed the deal (and well deserving of course), I believe that the conversation still has to be had. This conversation needs to start with his partner in crime, Tanner Tedesco. Tedesco is the motor of Union's offense and everything runs through him. One could argue that without Tedesco, Plesser is not scoring nearly as many points per game, as Tedesco is leading the league in assists and 11th in the country. Union's lack of a secondary ball handler is evident to how important Tedesco is to his team. However, if the conversation is to be had about importance to their respective team, then Fitzgerald is making his case for a back-to-back. The Brewers have been without their leading scorer, Avery Lee, for the whole new year, and Fitzgerald has shouldered the Vassar offense. Although his numbers aren't what they were last year, his in-conference numbers are still up there and he is also a plus defender (which Plesser and Tedesco aren't). Whoever gets it will surely be deserving, but I rest my case with Tedesco.

As for DPOTY, there isn't a clear top dog. If we look at the league's patterns with this award in the past, they usually lean towards the league leader in steals. If they follow this logic this year, it will go to Anderson or Cabral. While Cabral is a great one on one defender, Ithaca's defense is so sub-par that it would be an interesting choice to give it to him. SLU's defense is elite, however, they don't prove anything one on one given that they play a zone in 100% of their possessions (and Anderson averages half the steals of the last SLU player that won the award). The same goes for Dudzinski, who is the leader in steals + blocks, but doesn't prove anything as a lockdown defender in their zone. Nonetheless, I think he is the most likely to win it. If we are strictly talking lockdown one on one defenders, then the case needs to be made for Karaguezian from Vassar. He is the top perimeter defender on the top defensive team in the conference (according to d3datacast), and he is matched up with the opposing teams best guard every game in a guard heavy conference. He has shut down Tedesco (3/14 FG & win, 6/15 FG & win), Gooden (3/17 FG & win), and Anderson (2/5 & win), just to name a few examples. He is also ninth in steals per game. Again, whoever gets it will be deserving, but there are many interesting cases to be made with no clear top dog leading the pack.


As for ROTY, there really shouldn't be a debate here. Although this is a fairly strong class, with Abernethy, Phelan, and Driscoll all having good rookie seasons, Gooden has shut this conversation down. Even with missing the last 5 (and assuming the next 2 + playoffs), the gap between Gooden and the next rookie is too drastic to make a case for anyone else.

Does anyone know why Skidmore and Union didn't play last night? If I remember correctly, something similar happened last year with Skidmore and RPI

WPI89- it's kind of a tale of two ends with SR: they are one of the best Catch and Shoot teams in the country, but their 3-0 start to league may be eye candy. Wins over Emerson, MIT, and Clark don't move me as much as WPIs start. However, keep an eye on potential NEWMAC POY (and potential All American) Jack Margoupis. He is a mismatch nightmare, and if WPI couldn't even handle Dudzinski from SLU, not sure how they will handle him. As much as I would love to tune in to this marquee matchup, I will be away from the area and I am personally boycotting FloSports. Will be tuned into the box score though.

Am I missing something? All this talk about Okorougo, Lazarre, Pouye, Cuevas, etc for being POTY - well deserved, of course - yet, there is no talk about the season Henry Vetter is having. Second leading scorer on ridiculous efficiency (52/46/88), while taking every teams best shot. Vetter is usually handling the other teams best defender. If Trinity wins out, and Vetter keeps this efficiency up, we shouldn't even be having this discussion. Cuevas has outstanding numbers, but they must win games. Reminds me of an interesting situation from a season ago...

Great wins for Vassar over the weekend, got improved production from the bench following the Lee injury. The first road league games are going to be the real test though. Union has looked very strong and RIT is an extremely capable team, both will be tough wins for the Brewers. They'll be looking for improved offensive production from guards Shea Fitzgerald and Sebastian Medina while looking to keep up flashes of the high level defending displayed this weekend. At 0-3 in away games this year it is still left to be seen whether this group can perform on the road, this will be a make or break weekend for Vassar's chances of winning the league.