It's Award Time Again

Good practice, kids. Now its time for the easiest part of any coach's job. The cuts. Although I wasn't able to cut everyone I wanted to, I have cut a lot of you. Wendell is cut. Rudy is cut. Janey, you're gone. Steven, I like your hustle. Thats why it was so hard to cut you.

There are a lot of great basketball players in the ACC, and as each season concludes they are properly recognized and rewarded. But why should those guys hog the attention and the hardware just because they have talent? Hardly seems fair.



The Ekene Ibekwe Award
For hideous shooting in conference play.

























Nominees:

Hank Thorns, Virginia Tech
Harvey Hale, Wake Forest
Deron Washington, Virginia Tech
Anthony King, Miami
Brandon Costner, NC State


The Ibekwe goes to...

Anthony King. Because it's preposterous for a 6-9 low post player to shoot 38.4%, which King did against ACC foes this season. That's a special kind of terrible. At least he did it with grit, determination, and, oh, let's say, intensity.



The Quentin Thomas Award
For most turnover prone player in conference play.

























Nominees:

Quentin Thomas, UNC
Biko Paris, Boston College
Ryan Reid, Florida State
Nolan Smith, Duke
Adrian Bowie, Maryland


The award goes to...

Quentin Thomas. I mean, come on.

Give QT credit--he was much better this season, but he still handles the ball as if it were a bar of soap, throws the ball where no one is standing, and occasionally forgets which team he's on.



The Tunji Soroye Hole In The Lineup Award
For lowest possession usage in conference play.

























Nominees:

Ryan Pettinella, Virginia
Lance Thomas, Duke
John Oates, Boston College
Cheick Diakite, Virginia Tech
Raymond Sykes, Miami

The award goes to...

Ryan Pettinella, who was as much a spectator this season as you or I. His 10.7% possession usage means he should probably get himself a shirt that says "Yes, I am on the basketball team," because how would we know otherwise? He has all the talent of a mannequin--and the presence of one, too.



The Anthony Harris Award
For worst overall efficiency in conference play.

























Nominees:

Jeff Jones, Virginia
Marques Johnson, NC State
Hank Thorns, Virginia Tech
Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech
Rakim Sanders, Boston College

The winner is...

Marques Johnson. No player who played in at least 30% of his team's minutes had a lower offensive rating than Marques's 71.2. He turned the ball over a ton, posted a weak assist rate for a point guard, and provided minimal offense.