MBB: NESCAC

[midranger]

I'm a recently retired NESCAC player and long time reader of these boards who has played against most guys in these conversations.

D3BBALL - your claim that no coach would take Cuevas over Gyimesi, Okorougo, or Vetter is pretty ridiculous. If all teams were to disband and there was a redraft, Cuevas would go first overall 99/100 times. As someone who has played against all these players and teams, Cuevas is a special talent and every coach in the league treats him as such. Also, your constant references to Hank Morgan are silly. He was the best player in the league last year and won POTY, probably by a wide margin. If anything, Morgan winning POTY last year strengthens nescac1's argument that elite production can override team success (or lack thereof). Insisting that Cuevas is undeserving because Morgan had a better season last year is a moot point. Sobel in 2023 was better than Murray in 2024, who were probably both stronger than any candidate this season. That didn't make Murray undeserving nor does it have anything to do with the current season.

At the end of the day, the POTY debate, to me, should come down to a simple question: Who was the best player in the league? Most people around the league would agree that Cuevas separated himself from the pack  by this metric. I understand the team success argument, and would not disagree with Vetter, Okorougo, Gyimesi, or even Wolinski as POTY, but none of those guys are the best player in the league. Cuevas is.

The POTY usually comes from one of the top teams, and for a good reason, but as nescac1 points out there really isn't a definitive 'best player' among the top few teams. Gyimesi is clearly Tufts' best player, but Wesleyan and Trinity are really 2 (and arguably 3-4) headed snakes. For that reason, my vote would be Cuevas. Maybe you will be right, only time will tell. But the Cuevas slander is silly.

[nescac1]

Midranger, I'm obviously biased given the subject matter, but heck of a first post!  Look forward to more. 

[jumbomumbo]

I'm going to be honest, Cuevas is great but not PoTY great. I value winning. I don't care what other metrics go into it. I'd take any tufts, trin, or Wesleyan guard over him if I have the #1 spot on a re-draft.

[SpringSt7]

I have no issue with Cuevas but the more time goes by the more strongly I feel about Vetter POY. We can pretend like that Trinity team is absolutely loaded with offensive talent but it really isn't. Ayles and Davis are nice role players but nothing more yet. We talk Lazarre up a lot and he's probably worthy of a 2nd team all league spot but that is more defense than offense. Neither he or Okorougo make anyone better offensively or really make the defense work. Vetter is the straw that stirs the drink offensively, sets their entire tone as a leader, etc, two year captain. Has the ball in his hands at the end of the game and is the most likely to come through (see: national championship winning 3 with 10 seconds remaining)

He is my POY and it really has nothing to do with Cuevas or anyone else. I just think he is the most deserving and the best player