HomeDCMS Blog 2008 College National Player of the Year: Beasley or Hansbrough?
2008 College National Player of the Year: Beasley or Hansbrough?
Written by Wendall Stevens
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Time for the backlash. I know people will say are you crazy?!! Beasley is a beast and is a far better individual talent. People say Hansbrough is overrated. I want to say I totally understand. Listen I saw Beasley up close and yes from a pure basketball talent perspective, he is better. The key is most college players who play against North Carolina know Hansbrough's limitations but night in and night out he dominates his way to double doubles over and over.
At first I thought it was the talented players around him that made Hansbrough better but when Lawson went out, Carolina didn't miss a beat and that spoke volumes for him. The ACC, while this maybe considered a down year, is still formidable in regards to team by team talent. There are players who are more physically gifted but can't do anything with Hansbrough on the floor. Carolina is 27-2, defeated Duke, and is ranked #1. KState is 18-10 and may not make the big dance.
There are a slew of Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks throughout history who won the Heisman Trophy and didn't amount to squat in the NFL. Hansbrough has a NBA body and an NFL mentality. He just keeps coming at you and he is the primary reason Carolina is ranked where they are. The key is the record. Beasley is a special talent but if the Wildcats fail to make the NCAA Tournament, I just don't think you can give him player of the year honors.
To Kevin Durant's credit, he played with one of the best point guards in the nation in DJ Augustine. Durant loved Augustine and both fed of each other. Beasley doesn't have the luxury of a elite point guard. He has to create everything himself in many instances.
I think if Kansas State had won the Big 12, Beasley would get the nod.
