William Buford - Big Ten Player of the Year?

• mallymal614

  Is it possible? I think he has more than enough skill sets to do so. If a point guard can come along and feed him the rock, he can be a 20 points per game scorer. What do you all think?
• Scarlet_Fever

  

  I think he can for sure. He has the talent. If he can keep up the same level all year long it is possilbe. I'm not saying he will just that it's possible that he could.
• Prescott

  Buford will be in the mix, but the Big 10 returns many players capable of earning POY honors. Hummel , Johnson, Moore, Lucas, McCamey, Battle, Leuer, Koble, Shurma,.....
• Laley23

  

  I heard (and didnt want to post it as a thread because its a rumor) that Hummell has injured severely his OTHER knee.
  
  BTW, I think its gonna be tough for anyone to top the numbers McCamey is going to put up and Lucas of course has the back to back final four thing going for him...Leuer really came on for the Badgers as well. Id put him in the discussion, but behind those 3 and Hummell if healthy. Id say he is right outside the top 5 going in, but has the talent to be in the mix the whole season.
• CinciX12

  

  Kalin Lucas still IMO. Buford has potential to be in the top 5 with a good season though.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  If the Big Ten weren't so stacked with top shelf talent, I'd say Buford might have a shot. But unless he stop disappearing at crucial times in games, he doesn't have a chance. I'm hoping he has grown and will be the consistent, every-time-he-touches-the-ball threat we've been waiting for.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Buford has no shot at it, IMO. I just think there are too many guys ahead of him that are already established.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  thedynasty1998;432055 wrote:Buford has no shot at it, IMO. I just think there are too many guys ahead of him that are already established.

  
  You would be wrong to say this. He shot about 44 percent from the field last season, which is a decent percentage inside the line. Outside of the 3 point line, he shot 38 percent, which is decent. I would expect him to improve at least a little bit on both of those percentages, which would make him a very good shooter. By the way his FT shooting was very good at 75 percent.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Writerbuckeye;432580 wrote:You would be wrong to say this. He shot about 44 percent from the field last season, which is a decent percentage inside the line. Outside of the 3 point line, he shot 38 percent, which is decent. I would expect him to improve at least a little bit on both of those percentages, which would make him a very good shooter. By the way his FT shooting was very good at 75 percent.

  
  I think you took my post the wrong way. I didn't mean he couldn't shoot, I meant that it would be a long shot for him to win it.
• Big Gain

  A LOT depends on which team wins the Big Ten Title.
• Azubuike24

  

  I saw where Coble is choosing to forgo his senior season. Not that he was going to win it, but it was definitely a possible candidate in the way.
• karen lotz

  

  Azubuike24;435247 wrote:I saw where Coble is choosing to forgo his senior season. Not that he was going to win it, but it was definitely a possible candidate in the way.

  
  Does he know the draft was last month?
• Azubuike24

  

  karen lotz;437158 wrote:Does he know the draft was last month?

  
  He is still staying on basketball scholarship. He has just chosen to not play basketball, focus on graduating and in his field of study. Basically, he just isn't going to play college basketball anymore. One of the few examples where the kid keeps the scholarship and doesn't fulfill the athletic side of it. Generally it's the other way around.
• karen lotz

  

  Did his rehab not go well or what? I don't understand how someone with his talent can not play his senior year. Unless there are some lingering affects from the injury this just seems weird.
• Azubuike24

  

  karen lotz;437365 wrote:Did his rehab not go well or what? I don't understand how someone with his talent can not play his senior year. Unless there are some lingering affects from the injury this just seems weird.

  
  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-northwestern-coble
  
  From what I understand, he could play AND continue to rehab and get treatment, but it may not be 100% without adhering to the rehab completely as stated in the article. Then again, if I'm at a school like that, have a decent team returning around me and could be the difference to maybe making school history, I'd do what I could to suit up and even play at 80% all year. I'm not judging the kid but it kind of sounds like he's thinking of his future and not living in the moment. Unless he plans on making a career in basketball going forward, I'm not sure why the rehab on getting the foot back to 100% would matter. If you don't pursue basketball after this year, it could surely recover in the time after that while he pursues his career elsewhere. Sort of baffling IMO. Again, in the case of most athletes, the outcome or pursuit would be different (the player sacrifices a year of full health for one final playing season or as I said before, the athlete fulfills the athletic portion of the scholarship and not the academic part). In his case, it's sort of the opposite. Maybe someone else who follows the Big Ten more closely can shed more light...who knows?
• Big Gain

  Imagine that, a TRUE scholar athlete, who's thinking about his future instead of living in the moment. Causing the wannabe's to scratch their heads. What is this world coming to?
• Prescott

  The total healing of his foot has been cited as the primary reason.
  
  This seems to have been the basis for Kevin Coble's decision. Stating that, "The recovery of my foot is most important and extends far beyond my basketball career". He also thanked Northwestern University and the fans for their support. With that, the Wildcats will need to move forward next season with four returning starters and highly regarded freshman JerShon Cobb.
• Swamp Fox

  I am a big Buckeye fan, but I'm not sure that as things stand right now, Buford is the best player in the Big Ten. If he improves in all areas of his shooting accuracy and plays the whole game more consistently, perhaps, but regardless of that, he will have to perform at his highest level yet to push the Buckeyes over the top in the Big 10 this season.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Swamp Fox;438303 wrote:I am a big Buckeye fan, but I'm not sure that as things stand right now, Buford is the best player in the Big Ten. If he improves in all areas of his shooting accuracy and plays the whole game more consistently, perhaps, but regardless of that, he will have to perform at his highest level yet to push the Buckeyes over the top in the Big 10 this season.

  
  Completely agree with this. I think Buford is a really good player and will play in the NBA eventually, so not to discredit him, but Sullinger will be OSU's most important player this year.
• centralbucksfan

  Buford is good, but not near as good as many think he is. I expect him to improve...but he still has obvious weaknesses in his game. His handle is average at best, he isn't great off the dribble getting to the basket. He isn't a great one on one player. Again, these are area's he can improve on. But I think he has limitations where he will only get to a certain point. I hope I am wrong. I just believe, like many, there are better players in the Big Ten currently. Buford fits into that top 10-15...but I don't see him as a top 5 Big Ten player currently. He also needs to improve other area's of his game, mostly from a mental standpoint. He disappears for LONG periods as if he isn't even on the court. Vs Tenn...he was non existant. Very disappointing effort in that game.
  This year will be interesting to see how Buford does without Turner on the floor. Turner made everyone else on the floor so much better just because of the attention he commanded from the defense.
  Obviously, the PG situation is going to be key.