My pick for National Player of the Year, Tyler Hansbrough (left).

It’s that time of year again as my snail mail inbox here at the worldwide headquarters of BuckeyeBanter.com in downtown Columbus is overflowing with large envelopes from sports information directors across the country touting their team’s best players.

So, as member of the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), I submitted my ballot just in time for today’s noon deadline.

Voting twice in one week? Now that’s democracy!

Please note that I had to select 10 of the best players in the country, then the 10 best players in District V, which constitutes schools that are located in the following states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. I also had to select a National Player of the Year, a National Freshman of the Year, National Coach of the Year, District Player of the Year, and District Coach of the Year.

So without further ado, where is how I voted:

Oscar Robertson Trophy, USBWA Player of the Year
C - Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina (6-9, 250, Jr.)
Hansbrough is currently leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in both points and rebounds, averaging a double-double (23.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg) for the top-ranked Tar Heels, which just won the ACC regular season title after defeating Duke 76-68, Saturday night.

In that game, Hansbrough surpassed the 2,000-point mark for his career as he chipped in 16 against the Blue Devils. He also added 15 rebounds.

National Freshman of the Year
F - Michael Beasley, Kansas State (6-10, 235, Fr.)
In my mind, it came down to two candidates for the Player of the Year award, Hansbrough and Beasley. Even though I decided to go with Hansbrough, Beasley easily wins this award.

Obviously, Beasley is a much better pro prospect than Hansbrough is, and should be the No. 1-pick in June’s NBA Draft, but it all comes down to the fact that North Carolina plays in a tougher conference and is currently ranked No. 1, while Kansas State is 20-10 and is on the bubble in terms of an NCAA tournament bid.

Earlier today, Beasley was named both the Big XII Player and Freshman of the Year. He was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team choice and leads the nation in rebounding (12.6 rpg). Also, Beasley is in the top five nationally in scoring (26.5 ppg). He leads the conference in both categories.

The Rest of My First-Team:
F - D.J. White, Indiana (6-9, 250, Sr.)
White is third in the Big Ten in scoring (17.1 ppg), and is the conference’s best rebounder (10.3 rpg). He’s is also the only one who seems to care following the dismissal of head coach Kelvin Sampson, while the rest of the 18th-ranked Hoosiers have packed it in.

G - Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis (6-7, 200, Jr.)
Douglas-Roberts is sixth in Conference USA in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game.

G - D.J. Augustin, Texas (6-0, 180, So.)
Augustin is second in the Big XII in scoring (19.8), while leading the conference in assists (5.7 apg) for the ninth-ranked Longhorns.

My Second-Team:
C - Kevin Love, UCLA (6-10, 270, Fr.)
Love is currently seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring (17.4 ppg), and second in rebounding (10.9 rpg).

F - Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (6-8, 250, So.)
Harangody is one of 20 players currently averaging a double-double, leading the Big East Conference is scoring (21.0 ppg), and is second in rebounding (10.3 rpg).

F - Shan Foster, Vanderbilt (6-6, 205, Sr.)
Foster leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring (20.6 ppg), and is one of the league’s top three-point shooters at 47.2 percent.

G - O.J. Mayo, USC (6-5, 200, Fr.)
Mayo is second in the Pac-10 in scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game for the Trojans.

G - Sean Singletary, Virginia
Singletary is third in the ACC in scoring (19.9 ppg), and second in assists (5.9 apg).

National Coach of the Year
Sean Miller, Xavier
Xavier, which nearly advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last year before getting knocked off by Ohio State in the second round, is currently 26-6 on the season, and the Musketeers are ranked eighth by the Associated Press.

Five members of Xavier’s roster average in double figures, and starting guard Stanley Burrell almost makes it six, averaging 9.9 points per game. The Musketeers leading scoring is forward Josh Duncan (11.6 ppg). Talk about a balanced offense!

Hypothetically, let just say that Indiana offers their head coaching job to current Ohio State head coach Thad Matta, and he accepts, then Miller would be my first choice to take over for the Buckeyes. Sean’s younger brother, Archie, is already on OSU’s staff as an assistant under Matta.

But then again, maybe the Hoosiers will go after Miller.

Another possible candidate for the Indiana job is Scott Drew, the current head coach at Baylor. He would of been my second choice for Coach of the Year.

District V Player of the Year
F - D.J. White, Indiana (6-9, 250, Sr.)
See above.

The Rest of My District V First-Team:
F - Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (6-8, 250, So.)
See above.

G - Eric Gordon, Indiana (6-4, 215, Fr.)
Gordon currently leads the Big Ten in scoring (21.5 ppg).

G - Jamar Butler, Ohio State (6-1, 185, Sr.)
Butler is seventh in the Big Ten in scoring (14.6 ppg), while leading the conference in assists (6.0 apg).

G - Brian Roberts, Dayton (6-2, 175, Sr.)
Roberts is third in the Atlantic-10 in scoring, averaging 19.0 points per game, and ninth in assists (3.7 apg).

My District V Second-Team:
F/C Brian Butch, Wisconsin (6-11, 235, Sr.)
Butch is averaging 12.7 points per game, and is sixth in the conference in rebounding (6.0 rpg).

F - Raymar Morgan, Michigan State (6-7, 225, So.)
Morgan is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring (15.0 ppg), ninth in rebounding (6.3 rpg).

G - Manny Harris, Michigan (6-5, 180, Fr.)
Harris is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring averaging 16.4 points per game.

G - Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame (6-0, 195, Jr.)
McAlarney averages 15.0 points per game for the Fighting Irish.

G - Mike Green, Butler (6-1, 185, Sr.)
Green is eighth in the Horizon League in scoring (14.5 ppg). ninth in rebounding (6.4 rpg), and second in assists (5.1 apg).

District V Coach of the Year
Sean Miller, Xavier
See above.

Tags: NCAA Basketball by Matt Barker
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Right: Kosta Koufos and Othello Hunter celebrate in the closing seconds of Ohio State’s 63-54 win over Michigan State. AP Photo/Terry Gilliam

Thanks to senior Jamar Butler’s 20 points, Ohio State defeated Michigan State 63-54 to keep their NCAA tournament bid hopes alive as the Buckeyes will once again face the Spartans on Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET, and it will be televised on ESPN.

I tend to feel that Ohio State needs one more victory to get to the 20-win plateau and into the NCAA tournament. Anything else after that is gravy.

It was not looking to good for Ohio State in the first half, trailing by as much as 10 points after a three-pointer by Chris Allen put the Spartans ahead 22-12 with 10:38 left.

The Buckeyes were able to trimmed the lead down to five on two different occasions, once after a triple by Butler, and later when senior Matt Terwilliger, who started in place of Kosta Koufos, threw down a two-handed jam on a fine pass from Othello Hunter that narrowed the gap to 26-21 with 3:02 remaining in the opening period.

Michigan State led 31-23 at the break when Kalin Lucas scored driving to the bucket just before the horn sounded.

The Spartans took their largest lead of the game when Drew Naymick scored on a short jumper with 18:39 left, pushing MSU’s advantage to 35-23.

Michigan State had a 10-point cushion with 12:02 remaining in the game after a layup by Goran Suton made the score 45-35 in favor of the visitors in green.

With 11:10 left to play and trailing by 10, Ohio State head coach Thad Matta called a timeout.

We talked about having more activity and awareness, ” Matta stated after the game about what was said in the huddle. “Guys were moving and talking better and were more aware of where the shooter was. It was a completely different out there during the last 10 minutes. They played harder and smarter.”

It was a turning point in the game, as Ohio State outscored Michigan State 28-9 down the stretch. The Buckeyes also extended their defense full court, which forced eight Spartan turnovers in the final 11:10.

Ohio State’s David Lighty scored on a layup, and on the Buckeyes’ next trip down, he drained a three-pointer from the left wing that narrowed Michigan State’s lead down to 45-42 with 10:06 to go.

With 4:46 remaining in the game, Ohio State took their first lead of the contest when Butler was fouled in the backcourt and went to the line to shoot two, since the Buckeyes were already in the double bonus. Butler converted both charity-stripe tosses and OSU led 53-52.

The Buckeyes never trailed the rest of the way.

With 3:40 left, Butler fired a pass to Hunter for a rim-rattling, two-hand jam that padded OSU’s lead to 55-52.

Trailing by three with 1:13 left, Michigan State turned the ball over on a shot clock violation.

On Ohio State’s next possession, Koufos couldn’t connect on a short jumper in the lane, but Hunter was there for the one-handed rebound and slammed home the miss.

Othello got off to a slow start today. It didn’t seem like he was in the flow of the game early on. Then he took advantage of his athleticism and length in the second half, and that put-back was one of the best plays I’ve seen in this building.”

Now let’s do this again on Friday.

Ohio State shot an even 50 percent from the field (23-for-26), but was just 3 of 13 (23.1%) from beyond the arc.

Michigan State was 22-for-47 (46.8%) from the floor, and 5 of 12 (41.7%) from three-point range.

Ohio State forced 17 turnovers for the game while only committing nine.

Along with Butler’s 20 points, Hunter chipped in 13, Lighty added 12, and Koufos contributed 11 points for the Buckeyes.

Raymar Morgan was the only Spartan to score in double figures with 19 points.

Tags: Big Ten Basketball by Matt Barker
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