Our Honor Defend

There was not a lot of suspense behind the conference player of the year accolade. However, there was a little more intrigue on the national award circuit given how well John Wall and others like Scottie Reynolds have performed this year and how much hype there is about Wall in particular.  Nevertheless, Turner took home the Oscar Robertson trophy given by basketball writers and was named AP Player of the Year.  Yesterday, he added the prestigious Naismith Trophy (as well as the NABC Player of the Year Award) to his shooty hoops accolades.

The other two awards are huge deals as it puts him an elite company with Jerry Lucas and Gary Bradds.  The Naismith honor is arguably an even bigger deal as the temporal domain of that award (1969 to present) puts him in an even more exclusive company in Ohio State lore.  Turner is the first Buckeye to win this honor and, for now, will be the only Buckeye in the pantheon of Naismith Trophy honorees like college basketball superheroes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.

The award is also a huge deal to his teammates.  You’ll see this in the Heisman setting as well.  A beloved teammate winning an individual accolade often becomes a collective achievement for everyone involved.  David Lighty explains.

…David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale, at Turner’s request, made the drive from Columbus in time for that 11 a.m. presentation.

“When he wins an award, it’s like all of us win,” said Lighty, who videotaped Turner’s acceptance speech like a proud uncle.

The next stop on the award circuit is Los Angeles for the presentation of the Wooden Award, for which Evan Turner is also a candidate.  There is obviously no further information into the all-too-important topic of whether Evan Turner stays or goes.  However, if he declares for the NBA Draft within the next week or so, it certainly will not be for lack of accomplishment in three years as a Buckeye.  Congratulations are definitely in order to Evan Turner and company for a great season.

Miscellany

• Ohio State’s defense is rewriting its theme for 2010.  The theme was “Believe” in 2009.  I prefer “Violence” or “Mayhem” in 2010, but I never get what I want.
• The tackle picture is one of great importance this spring and summer.  Priority #2 for Bollman is developing depth at center behind Michael Brewster.
• Unless you’re a fan of one of the soulless big spenders, this is opening day for your favorite baseball team¹.  If you’re one of those college students or other what-have-yous that isn’t chained to an office from 8am to 4pm, this is your opportunity to watch the Cleveland Indians begin their season on ESPN2 at 2:05 EDT.  I hate to spoil the ending of this season for you, but the Cleveland Indians will go 162-0 in 2010, sweep through October and will win the BCS of baseball.  Now, I know what you’re saying: you predict this will happen every year and it never happens… and there is no BCS in baseball.  I know… I know.  But, unlike previous years, I have a really good feeling about this.

1. I know of the partisan divide in Ohio baseball and that many Buckeyes are also Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and whatever fans.  Also, please be assured that I will not hijack this blog into a discussion of Cleveland sports.  I provide it here as a conversation piece to begin the work week. [↩]