Madison vs. Waynesville
2012 HomeWorld
Middletown High School Orchestra
Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2010 > March > 04 > Entry
Ohio State’s Turner or Kentucky’s Wall — Who’s the Best?
It’s one of the best debates to hit college basketball in a long, long time:
Who’s the best player in the country this season — Ohio State’s Evan Turner or Kentucky’s John Wall?
Early in the season, I gave the edge to Wall, but now I think it’s Turner. The way he’s returned from broken bones in his back, put his Buckeye team on his shoulders and lifted it to the Big Ten regular season crown and the No. 6 ranking in the country is amazing.
Not that Wall has swooned. With Wednesday night’s victory over Georgia — in which he led the way with 24 points — the Cats are assured of at least a share of the SEC title. And they have both a better record (28-2) and ranking (No. 3) than the Bucks.
But Wall has a far better supporting cast around him.
When the 6-foot-7, 210-pound Turner missed six games with his back injury, the Bucks went 3-3 and lost their first two Big Ten games. Since he’s back, they’re 14-3.
Of course, if not for Wall, Kentucky may well have lost to Charlie Coles’ Miami RedHawks, Stanford, UConn and Vanderbilt — all games where the 6-foot-4 guard made dynamic plays in the final minutes.
Wednesday Mike Rothstein of AnnArbor.com released the last of his four straw polls of several sportswriters around the country — all of whom cover college basketball — and Turner was the overwhelming choice for Player of the Year honors.
Of the 49 writers polled — each picking their top three players in the game this season — 41 gave their first place vote to Turner,. The other eight gave them to Wall.
By the way, rounding out the top five were Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson (3rd), Scottie Reynolds of Villanova (4th) and Duke guard Jon Scheyer (5th).
Interestingly in the first of the bi-weekly polls — released Jan. 20 — Wall has the overwhelming lead, taking 32 of 45 first place votes. Turner finished third in that poll and had just three first place votes.
As a junior, Turner has two years and a little maturity on the dynamic Kentucky freshman, whose only slight flaw is his 4.07 turnovers-per-game average this season.
Both players have impressive stats.
Turner is averaging 19.5 p.p.g., 9.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He’s shooting 53.8 percent from the floor
Wall is averaging 16.8 p.p.g., 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists. He’s shooting 45 percent from the floor.
Since the Naismith Award — given to college basketball’s best player — was first handed out in 1969, no player from Ohio State or Kentucky has won it.
That streak is about to end.
What I really hope for is that Ohio State and Kentucky end up meeting in the NCAA Tournament. Wall versus Turner would be a match-up for the ages. Something stirring reminders of Bird versus Magic.
If nothing else it would field the growing debate into overdrive.
And if you are a college hoops fan, you’ve got to love that kind of buzz.
Tweet
Comments
By Buy Ambien
April 5, 2010 7:36 AM | Link to this
signing reveals industryits diameter licence joomla antenna redress impedes hansen persisted
By Buy valium
April 4, 2010 11:38 AM | Link to this
logins williams forconsumers equilibrium preferably grid paragraphs inevitably tefra classroom useless
By Pistol Pete
March 14, 2010 12:35 PM | Link to this
Evan Turner is the Extra-Terrestrial player of collegiate basketball … Go ET ! Go Buckeye Basketball
By bigo
March 7, 2010 9:37 AM | Link to this
Turner is averaging 19.5 p.p.g., 9.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He’s shooting 53.8 percent from the floor Wall is averaging 16.8 p.p.g., 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists. He’s shooting 45 percent from the floor. enough said turners stats blow wall away
By bigdaddy
March 6, 2010 7:58 AM | Link to this
turner is a great player….WALL is a SPECIAL player, who will be the #1 pick next summer….
By OSU 00
March 6, 2010 7:37 AM | Link to this
Mr. Sports clearly knows nothing about sports. Likely a delusional UD fan who actually thought they were a legitimate Top 25 team.
By Vince
March 5, 2010 8:49 PM | Link to this
OSU’s womans team could give ud’s men’s team a good game. Ud’s men’s team looks like a bunch of boxers trying to play basketball.
By vest
March 5, 2010 6:45 PM | Link to this
Mr. Sports - plenty of people care about Ohio State and Kentucky basketball. Get over yourself. But to all you Kentucky fans - Evan Turner is the best college basketball player in the country and he will win the player of the year award.
By Mr. Sports
March 5, 2010 4:02 PM | Link to this
Who cares about Ohio State and Kentucky basketball. The last two NCAA tournaments here, some OSU moron sits in our area and proclaims “Now you will see real basketball!” and went home with his tail between his legs.
By Hank
March 5, 2010 2:54 PM | Link to this
Evan Turner at 6’7” 216 lbs is leading most everyone in Pts , rebounds , assists + steals … A very good basketball player and well respected among his peers . The Big Ten Conference has 4 Teams in the Top Twenty … Go ET !
By OSU Fan
March 5, 2010 2:35 PM | Link to this
The Big10 has 4 teams in the AP top 15 — I don’t see that as weak. The SEC only has 2 teams in the top 25. Maybe it’s the SEC that is “weak.”
By Didyosis
March 5, 2010 1:25 PM | Link to this
Big D are you serious?? The Big Ten gets into the Final four almost every single year and will continue to this year. MSU and OSU will make the elite 8 for sure!!
By ACEJAM
March 5, 2010 10:03 AM | Link to this
Didn’t Wall have to be benched this year becuase of issues. Turner plays 39 min/game and no issues. Turner wins hands down over the one year wondwer(I wonder who took his ACT).
By WORLDBFREE
March 5, 2010 8:16 AM | Link to this
Lmao to even mention Chris Wright in the same breath as Evan Turner or John Wall, is a insult
By WORLDBFREE
March 5, 2010 8:16 AM | Link to this
Lmao to even mention Chris Wright in the same breath as Evan Turner or John Wall, is a insult
By UD Grad '04
March 5, 2010 7:57 AM | Link to this
Chris Wright has the same chance of playing in the NBA as did BRob … None.
By Delusional UD Fan
March 5, 2010 7:34 AM | Link to this
No way, UD’s Chris Wright is the best college basketball player.
By buckeye311
March 5, 2010 7:04 AM | Link to this
This is a no-brainer: Take ET off the Buckeyes and they are a middle to bottom of the pack team in the BIG 10 and NIT team at best. Take Wall off UK and they are still one of the better teams in the SEC and in the touney. His numbers are better and he means WAY more to his team. Actually Wall should finish behind Collins from Kansas, Reynolds from Nova, and Vazquez from Maryland; all of whom are more vital to their team’s success than Wall.
By bothronmyteam
March 4, 2010 7:25 PM | Link to this
I would like to have both players on my team! That being said, I read the DDN and I am shocked after reading all of Doug Harris’s articles that Chris Wright isn’t beating out both Turner and Wall. lol
By d
March 4, 2010 5:54 PM | Link to this
Wall seams o have more upside! I sean him steal a ball with his left hand and finish with a strong left handed dunk this morning! He the truth! Still very young though! I dont now if I think turner is even the number two guy in nation right now, he is solid though! Big ten kinda weak
By TJ
March 4, 2010 5:12 PM | Link to this
I am a lifelong Buckeye, with Kentucky roots. When it comes to football, OSU all the way. But when it comes to hoops, well, there is no one better than UK!!! Go Wall, he is awesome! I am with Abby, we bleed Kentucky blue!!!
By OSU 00
March 4, 2010 3:41 PM | Link to this
I think that one of the most impressive things about Turner is his willingness to take over the point position for his team.
By Zero & Seven
March 4, 2010 2:41 PM | Link to this
ABBY - Since you live in Ohio but bleed KY Blue you will be interested in knowing that KY has played The Ohio State University 7 times in NCAA tourney. The results Kentucky 00 Ohio State ” 7 “.
By KY Who
March 4, 2010 2:37 PM | Link to this
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/03/is-ohio-states-evan-turner-running-away-with-the-player-of-the-year-award/1 Story on Evan Turner running away with the award. Another story of National Sports writers…Out of 30 nominees for the award Turner is shown to have 49% of the votes the 51% among the other 29 nominees. I want him to stay but is projected at the #2 overall pick in the NBA this year. He’s a class act & a great student athlete on and off the court.
By Clint
March 4, 2010 1:57 PM | Link to this
It’s gotta be Evan Turner - The 6’7” SF or G is a leader + highly respected by his peers and plays very hard for 40 mins . ET represents sportsmanship + a honor student . Evan Turner is the best player in college basketball today but John Wall will be drafted higher in the NBA . Go Buckeyes !
By buckfan3
March 4, 2010 1:42 PM | Link to this
Turner has better numbers all the way around, and gets his team involved. He IS the player of the year. If Wall wants one, he will have to stay another year.
By abby
March 4, 2010 1:19 PM | Link to this
Even though I am from Ohio, I bleed blue. Turner does not have a chance against Wall!