Joel Huerto is managing editor of One Man Fastbreak.net and a sports consultant with Opposing Views.com. He has been a member of the sports media for almost 20 years, which included nine years as a news editor at the Los Angeles Times. He will cover a variety of topics, from coach and player profiles to hot-button issues. Joel is also known as "maniLA ice" for his cool demeanor in the friendly confines of the YMCA hardwood. He loves to shoot the "tear drop" and prefers to play zone to hide his deficiencies on defense.
In honor of the Oscars, here are my picks for this season's top performers.
Best player in a lead role — Blake Griffin, forward, Oklahoma. The only way to stop this season's consensus player of the year is by hitting him across the face and dealing him a concussion, which is precisely what Texas did to the Sooners' power forward during Saturday's Red River Shootout won by the Longhorns. If there was any doubt that Griffin is the most valuable player in the nation, his absence allowed a lesser team hand the Sooners their second loss of the season.
Best player in a supporting role — Ty Lawson, guard, North Carolina. Preseason All-American Tyler Hansbrough gets all the attention based on reputation, but Lawson has been arguably the Tar Heels' most consistent player, and his ability to push the ball up the court is the fuel that drives the Carolina fast-break machine. In his last four games, Lawson is averaging 21.7 points.
Best performance by a group or duo — Levance Fields, guard, and DeJuan Blair, forward, Pittsburgh. Blair is a football player masking as a basketball player. Just ask Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, who nearly lost his left arm trying to pry the ball away from the 6-7, 265-pound Pitt bull. The NFL scouting combine is being held this week in Indianapolis, and Blair could easily slip in there and run a few shuttle drills without a hitch. Fields is one of the more underrated players in the nation. He looks more like a fullback than a point guard, but he is very efficient and ranks third in the nation in assists (7.5).
Lifetime achievement award — Jim Calhoun, Connecticut. He is one victory from reaching 800 career wins, and would become only the second active coach to accomplish that feat. He brought two national championships to Storrs, Conn., and is in line for a third. Just don't ask him about how much money he makes because it's a highly sensitive issue with him. And don't ask him about the officiating either. Recently he said, "We are going to play with shoulder pads," referring to how his team will prepare for physical teams.
Best producer — Jodie Meeks, guard, Kentucky. This award is given to the player who can put the ball in the basket with great proficiency. Could have easily gone to Stephen Curry of Davidson, but Meeks has been lights out with his 25-points-per-game average. Any time you can erase the great Dan Issel from the Kentucky record book, you've done something truly amazing.
Best foreign player — Hasheem Thabeet, center, Connecticut. In Arabic, his first name means "destroyer of evil." In English, it means "get that weak stuff out of here." The 7-foot-3 center from Tanzania is the HD version of Dikembe Mutombo.
Best floor director (or best coach) — Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh. This could be the year Dixon finally escapes Ben Howland's shadow. He has the Panthers back in the No. 1 spot and tied for first place in the rugged Big East. Dixon's Panthers' (25-2) also have an excellence chance of earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Most animated player or coach — Pat Knight, Texas Tech. When Pat Knight came sprinting onto the court in a game against Nebraska, kicking and screaming at the officials, his old man must have been proud. Like father, like son.
Best song-and-dance routine — Digger Phelps, ESPN. Digger and a sexy Jayhawks cheerleader rocked Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" like a couple auditioning for "Dancing with the Stars." The hip bumps were tremendous and Digger's finger pointing to the sky was classic Travolta. Overall, I give Digger a 9 and the Jayhawk cheerleader a 10.
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