QUESTION: Steven Rush

[antfan2003]

Should Steven Rush be a front runner for MEAC player of the year? I know the voting is highly political but i think we have the two best players in the conference... Amber Bland and Steven Rush... of course we wouldnt be allowed to sweep player of the year honors....

[aggiejazz]

Rush, No

Amber Bland, will most likely come in second on the balloting.

[SixtiesAggie]

He could be a very strong candidate, depending on his overall statistics. I suppose the "deciders" will take a look at other aspects of his game other than scoring. However, he should be considered as one of the front runners.

I believe Bland shoud be strongly considered because of her all round game (scoring, rebounding, defense, ballhandling, plays point at times, assist, etc.).

Hopefully, Wills will make the All MEAC team.

[Aggie One]

Rush is a shoe-in for first team all MEAC as is Bland and Cook on the women's side. Wills should be on the second team and maybe Ewing has an outside shot.

POY? Probably not but Bland is awfully tough.

[Bornthrilla]

Kind of hard to win POY when your own coach doesn't even recgonize you as a starter.

[SHB2K]

admin said:

Kind of hard to win POY when your own coach doesn't even recgonize you as a starter.

BINGO!

If we promote Rush to the starting lineup, theres no doubt in my mind that he'll take the MEAC scoring lead from Rashad West and be a serious candidate by tournament time. I also feel like if Rush is in the game at the outset, we could jump out to early leads and bury some of these other teams by halftime instead of these double OT games. These boys are gonna be battling serious fatigue and soreness tonight, its gonna take some heart.

Anyone know when the last time a sub- 6 footer won the MEAC MVP?

[SixtiesAggie]

admin said:

Kind of hard to win POY when your own coach doesn't even recgonize you as a starter.

Have to agree, if you don't start it is unlikely that you will become POY. That whole lineup thing is a mystery, as well as some player combinations at critical times. Oh well, no need to agonize over something one does not control.

I assume that Bluntt will be the top candidate. I am assuming that scoring is only one of the considerations that determines the POY.

As we all know from many years of watching the MEAC, that some end of the year shoo- ins (strongly deserving players or coaches) have been snubbed.

[Bigboy]

From what I understand, Rush likes coming in off the bench, at least thats what I was told.

[AggieMike]

Yea, Steve prefers his role off the bench, he talks about it a lot.

I don't know if it has something to do with shaky beginnings to games or what but he likes being the spark and I think that playing him earlier means that you're going to take him out earlier, the minutes even out I mean he only sits the first couple minutes

[Aggie One]

Being able to watch the first few minutes gives him an idea of where the defensive soft spots on the perimeter are and how teams will play our outside shooters early on. He's a pure shooter so those first 4-minute warmups aren't necessary for him to find his range like a lot of guys.

Geezzzz... he's already hitting threes when he's getting off the bus anyway.

[Maxell]

aggieone said:

Geezzzz... he's already hitting threes when he's getting off the bus anyway.

He's probably hitting three's when he wakes up in the morning. (At least most mornings) ;D

[AggieGroove]

If there is such an award as sixth man, Steve Rush would be a shoo-in....l

[Bornthrilla]

MEAC award no certainty for DSU's Bluntt
By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

Posted Monday, February 26, 2007

DOVER -- The festivities were dying down on Saturday night at Memorial Hall and Jahsha Bluntt's face looked like a child when Christmas morning is finally over and all the gifts have been opened.

You know, the "What's next?" kind of look.

His Hornets had just won their third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season championship and his coach presented him with a very cool gift -- a net cut from the basketball hoop during his team's celebration.

"I don't know," Bluntt said when asked about the net. "Any one of us could wear it. [Coach Greg Jackson] put it around my neck."

Jackson is harder on Bluntt than any player at DSU. Bluntt may be the star, but he's not afforded any special treatment. Bluntt's passive personality just takes Jackson's teachings in practice in stride.

But make no mistake, Jackson just wants his best player, the reigning MEAC player of the year, to be pushed to do better.

"If Jahsha is not the player of the year again," Jackson said later on, "I don't know who would be. He's earned it."

Ballots for conference player of the year will be mailed this week to the league's 11 head coaches and sports information directors. DSU plays two more regular-season games, which means Bluntt has two more games to show why he should repeat as the league's best player. The media does not vote for postseason honors.

He can start that mission tonight at Memorial Hall when the Hornets (17-11, 14-2) host Bethune-Cookman (8-18, 5-10) in a 7 p.m. matchup, which also airs live on ESPNU.

While Bluntt is near the top of many critical statistical categories, a repeat won't be a shoo-in.

Since the award's inception in 1971, only five players have repeated as player of the year. Norfolk State's Damian Woofolk was the last, in 1999 and 2000.

Not only is it difficult from a statistical standpoint, the voting is done by coaches and sports information directors and tends to become a popularity contest more than a real gauge of achievement.

Bluntt had to win in 2005-06, but this season he's had competition, even from his own teammates.

Through Saturday, Bluntt ranked fifth in the MEAC in scoring (16.0), second in free-throw percentage (.852), fourth in made 3-pointers (2.46 per game) and second in minutes-played (35.4).

Those numbers could be enough when also considering the Hornets ran away with the league title again.

As has been the case in recent years, the MEAC is a guard-driven league. That's the position giving Bluntt the biggest run for the award.

Rashad West, a junior guard at Hampton, has represented himself well since being named the league's postseason tournament MVP last March. West leads the MEAC in scoring (18.0), and despite some fantastic freshmen at Hampton, West has been the team's most reliable asset.

But beyond scoring, West doesn't have great numbers. He ranks eighth in assists (2.63).

North Carolina A&T junior guard Steven Rush has been terrific in his first MEAC season. He ranks among the top five in three major categories: scoring (17.7), free throw percentage (.841) and made 3-pointers (3.88). The Aggies are the league's biggest surprise team and it's all due to Rush. A&T may get a bye in the tournament, an almost unthinkable prospect when the season started.

Rush, a transfer from UNC-Ashville, set the school's single-game record by hitting nine of 14 3-pointers in Saturday's double-overtime victory at Norfolk State. If there's one knock on Rush, it's that he's only started in four games.

Where do you draw the line?

If you're Bluntt, you hope voters will consider defense.

In his four years at Delaware State, Bluntt has been one of the league's best defenders. After the loss of their best defensive player, Joe Dickens, to injury, Bluntt stepped up. He's 10th in the league with 1.39 steals per game and he's helped the Hornets lead the MEAC in scoring defense (59.7).

Picking a winner, to be announced at a banquet March 5 in Raleigh, N.C., won't be easy.

Jackson would like to have the ultimate say in voting for his best player. But to repeat, Bluntt will need some help from outside Dover.

Contact Kristian Pope at 734-7946 or [e-mail].

MEAC LEADERS THROUGH SATURDAY

SCORING


1. Rashad West (Hampton) 18.0


2. Steven Rush (NCAT) 17.7


3. Twain McKee, (Coppin St.) 17.3


4. Rome Sanders(FAMU) 16.6


5. Jahsha Bluntt (DSU) 16.0


FREE THROW %


1. Austin Ewing (NCAT) .868


2. Jahsha Bluntt (DSU) .852


3. Steven Rush (NCAT ) .841


4. Julius Carter (SCSU) .840


5. Josh Cummings (BCC) .836


3-POINTERS MADE


1. Steven Rush (NCAT) 3.88


2. Leslie Robinson (FAMU) 3.17


3. Tony Murphy (NSU) 2.69


4. Jahsha Bluntt (DSU) 2.46


5. Jimmy Hudson (BCC) 2.46


MINUTES PLAYED


1. Ed Tyson (UMES) 36.22


2. Jahsha Bluntt (DSU) 35.79


3. Antonio McMillion (UMES) 35.26


4. Roy Bright (DSU) 34.85


5. Tony Murphy (NSU) 34.77

[aggiejazz]

In basketball there are players for some reason who play better coming off the bench than starting. It can't be explain other than it is the mind set of an individual.

A lot of Aggie fans want Rush to start but for this year its best to let what is working for Rush stay that way. Rush will start next year no doubt. Having Rush come off the bench hasn't hurt A&T and now that the Aggies are moving into the tournament there is no reason to change something that is working.

[Bornthrilla]

Having Rush come off the bench hasn't hurt A&T

That statement is debatable. It's not like we are 20-5 on the year and undefeated in the MEAC.