Mullins over Holsinger for FOY?

[Ms. dawgcrazi]

Mullins' overall numbers do not tell the complete story on him. He ran the Saluki ballclub, and was the glue that held it together. If you ask many SIU fans, they would tell you he is their favorite player. He plays way beyond his age in every phase of the game, except shooting. He generally successfully passes the ball to the open (or, what appears to be not-so-open) man. He will be a Valley great before his time is up at SIU.

[MVC 4 Life]

The reason Mullins won over Holsinger is because SIU was a winning team. There is that old saying that a team can lose with or with out the star, but they can not WIN with out him. If Evansville did not have Holsinger they would be in the same position they are in now, playing a play in game. But if SIU did not have Mullins they would not have the 2 sead in the tourney. SIU would be playing a play in game. So you tell me who was more important to there team. Winners win losers lose.

[landmark]

I have to disagree with you royal most of mullins steals are from his defense against the other teams point guard, they arent from stealing passes, they are from knocking the ball away

[cufan]

Wow is this league poised to put together some outstanding seasons over the next few years. Mullins, Holsinger, Dotzler, Ahearn, Ogirri and several others that I have neglected to mention at this time. Those guys are all going to have some great battles in the coming couple of years.

By the way, just as I believe comparing Matthies to Ahearn is apples to oranges, I think the same in comparing Mullins to Holsinger. They are asked to different things in different systems. It is difficult to say one is better than the other. I think the guys above are always going to be separated by how will their respected teams did throughout the season when divying out post-season honors.

[Pocket Aces]

Mullins tore Holsinger up in the 2 matchups.


Holsinger struggled shooting in those two games no question, but Mullins didn't exactly light it on fire. He had 9 assists and four steals at Carbondale, but turned it over six times at Evansville. His lack of a threat of an outside shot really hurt his team in Evansville. Holsinger had five assists in Roberts. Mullins' numbers were a bit better when totaled up for those two games, but this is not a two game award. It is awarded to the work done over the entire season. The wrong player got the award in my opinion.

[UE-BBALL#1]

Holsinger scores more, shoots better from anywhere, 3 pt land, and the free throw line, and sports a slightly better assist/to ratio. Mullins beats Holsinger in one category, steals. Mullins is the better defender, but Holsinger blows him out of the water offensively. In my opinion its not that close. With an arguably worse supporting cast, Holsinger still managed to do a better job getting others the ball. SIU (the team) was rewarded with the FOY award, it didn't go to the best player.

[getreal4]

Aces won 5 games end of story.

[Dawgbit]

SIU fans tried to tell RDR a long time ago that Mullins would be FOY.:rolleyes:

[Ace Happy]

Do you agree that Mullins deserves Freshman of the Year?

Mullins named freshman of the year with a low scoring average and is a defensive specialist but plays on winning team.

Holsinger averages 12.4 points per game and carries PG duties with no relief and plays on bad team.

Valley salutes two Aces
By STEVE FORD Courier & Press staff writer 464-7511 or sford@evansville.net
March 1, 2006

For the second basketball season in a row, the University of Evansville didn't have a first- or second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection.

Matt Webster, 6-foot-7 junior forward who is the Aces' leading scorer (14.6) and rebounder (6.6), was listed among the honorable mention selections. However, Evansville's Jason Holsinger made the all-Newcomer and all-Freshman teams. Aces teammate Shy Ely also made the all-Freshman team.

Paul Miller, a 6-10 fifth-year senior at regular season champion Wichita State was elected the Valley's Player of the Year by a vote of league coaches, media and sports information directors.

Other first-team selections were junior guard Blake Ahearn of Missouri State, senior guard Ben Jacobson of Nothern Iowa, junior forward Grant Stout of Northern Iowa and junior guard Tony Young of Southern Illinois.

Second teamers included senior David Moss of Indiana State; Creighton's Johnny Mathies, a senior guard, and junior center Anthony Tolliver and two from Bradley: 7-0 sophomore center Patrick O'Bryant and senior forward Marcellus Sommerville.

Apparent snubs for the Aces and Holsinger were the selections of Creighton junior Nick Porter as the Newcomer of the Year and Southern Illinois' Bryan Mullins as Freshman of the Year.

Porter, a junior-college transfer, averaged 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Bluejays, compared to 12.4 points and 4.3 assists for Holsinger, who has started all 27 games.


Mullins averaged 5.7 points for the Salukis and had just three points against six turnovers when SIU lost 64-59 to UE on Feb. 21. But Mullins did average a league-best 2.86 steals and was an all-defensive team selection.

Holsinger, a 5-11 point guard, was one of just two freshmen (Mullins was the other) on the all-Newcomer team. Holsinger was also on the all-Freshman team with Ely, a 6-4 forward.

Asked about Holsinger's and Webster's lack of conference love, coach Steve Merfeld thought it was a matter of finish. At 5-13, UE placed eighth in the 10-team MVC. "It all goes back to the league standings," he said. "Wichita State wins the title and Miller's in easy. Then you look at SIU and Creighton and they're in a tie for second."

UE plays Illinois State at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the MVC tourney in St. Louis.

"We had a nice finish in the league (going 4-2 over the last six games), but apparently that wasn't enough. It was nice to see both Jason and Shy on the all-freshman team, though. They're both very deserving."

O'Bryant, the league's best shot blocker at 3.1 per game, was named Defensive MVP, and Missouri State senior Kellen Easley was the Sixth Man of the Year.

Evansville (9-18) plays Illinois State (9-18) in the first round of the State Farm MVC Tournament. Thursday's tipoff in St. Louis is at 8:30 p.m.

[Ace Dad]

I expected Holsinger would by FOY. Any kid who starts at PG in the Valley and does so well is deserving. But, he was penalized for not winning enough.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Appears to be a hose job to me. From what I saw of the two this year, both against WSU and several other TV games, Holsinger was clearly better at running the Aces offense and had a better shot and range. In the SIU game in Wichita, all Mullins did was whine about not getting calls and he looked out of control. Holsinger, on the other hand, was knocking down shot after shot.

[danh96]

Mullins tore Holsinger up in the 2 matchups.

[TrueBlueJay]

Tolliver ate Miller's lunch in their two head to head matchups - that does not always tell the entire story.

[RoyalShock]

Holsinger is a better shooter by far. But from what I saw tends to shoot too much and at bad times.

Mullins led the league in steals, but I think that's mostly a result of the defense played by his teammates.

Both are pretty good so it would be hard to argue either way. I do think Holsinger has the potential to be very, very good. Better than Mullins.