by balla45 » Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:03 pm
@Go Maji, I was at that game. Not overly impressive offensively, but did a great job on the defensive end and still finished 11 and 6, in his worst game of the season. Basically everyone that guards Rudolph is going to be 2 inches shorter, so I do not see that being a huge factor.
Mr. Basketball is an individual award, but team performance obviously means something. I can't think of any time where Mr. Basketball went to a player who played for a losing team. I would hazard a guess that the Mr. Basketball candidates will be Briton Bussman, Tanner Holte, Tanner Kretchman, Tyler Rudolph, Patrick Strom, and Ben Weisbeck. All of these guys play for very high level teams, with the exception of Strom, who has a state title under his belt.
@Shaw1, I would disagree with you that Dickinson and Williston are not competitive. Williston got blown out by Saint Mary's Central and Bismarck Century, much like everyone else has, but beat Mandan and Jamestown, and had a game with Minot go down to the wire. Dickinson has improved dramatically since Aanen Moody has returned to their roster. Still yet to win, but a 4 point loss to a solid Bismarck team tells me that they are improving.
I think the problem with evaluating individuals this year may be that Bismarck Century and Saint Mary's Central seem to be on such a different level than the other teams, where the teams in the EDC are fairly competitive with each other because they do not have two teams that are so dominant at the top.
In my honest opinion, you can take Tanner Kretchman, Tyler Rudolph, Patrick Strom, and Ben Weisbeck, and draw out of a hat, as they are all closely talented. Rudolph's advantage is that he is the best post in Class A by far, and his team has yet to lose. Can make good arguments for the other 3 as to being the best guard, but with Rudolph, it is not really questionable.
~I have no patience for anyone who doubts me, none at all. My entire goal is to make them feel ashamed for writing me off.
Jordan Maurer
North Dakota Phenom - President
jordan.maurer@northdakotaphenom.com~Be phenomenal or be forgotten.
~It does not take talent to hustle!