ESPN.com - NCB - Feedback: Rewarding the Big East's best

The early ecstasy of March Madness always energizes the college basketball world. But it also overshadows the end of the regular season and the individual accomplishments of the players and coaches.

Not here. Not at ESPN.com. Here's your choices for the Big East Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Newcomer of the Year:

Troy rings the Bell
The Player of the Year is without a doubt Boston College's Troy Bell. He's averaging over 20 points a game and is the leader of the best team in the conference. Enough said.

Wilbur
Chesnut Hill, Mass.

The Player of the Year in the Big East should be Troy Bell of Boston College. He is key player in the Eagles' surprise season. He is among the league leaders in major categories. Bell's play will lead the Eagles far in both the Big East and NCAA tournaments.

Dwayne Morris
Union, N.J.

No one (including Troy Murphy) has done more to help his team win than Troy Bell. Beyond the stats (scoring, assists, steals, etc.), Bell simply makes his teammates better and therefore makes the team much better. Take Murphy from the Irish and they're around a .500 team. Take away Bell and BC is lucky to win 2-3 conference games!

John Nash
Chatham, N.J.

Troy Bell is the Player of the Year ... NO DOUBT! No player means more to his team than Bell does to BC. There's no possible way BC is this good without Bell. Villanova is mediocre. They would be that way with out Bradley. The Irish and Orange would be decent teams without Murphy and Shumpert.

Jason Daino
Keyport, N.J.

Big Bradley balls the best

Player of the Year debate
Player	Stats	Record
Bell	20.3 ppg, 4.4 apg	21-4
Bradley	20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg	16-10
Murphy	22.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg	19-7
Stats and records through Feb. 27

The kid is just money. I think he would beat Troy Murphy by 10 points in a game of 21. His low-post moves are more refined and he has a better shooting percentage. Troy Murphy I see as a work in progress whereas Bradley looks like a finished product on the floor. Night in and night out you can count on him. Murphy's game still falls victim to streaky nights all the time. I think that's what separates the two the most.

Matthew Hardisty
Bristol, Conn.

Michael Bradley of Villanova has dominated the Big East this year and thus should be the Player of the Year. He is a polished big man and is only a junior, so he will be back again to wreak havoc on the Big East next year.

Chris Caverly
Mass.

Michael Bradley is a strong force in the middle for the Wildcats. It has been clear that 'Nova would be well under .500 if Bradley had not transferred. He is among the top players in Division I in points and rebounds, not to mention having the best field goal percentage. If he goes into the NBA next year, the Wildcats will not get the chance to do damage in the NCAA tourney.

Eric Ricci
Bronx, N.Y.

The Player of the Year in the Big East has got to be Michael Bradley. He is shooting 70 percent from the field, which leads the country. He also is one of the only 20-and-10 guys in the country. If only he had some players around him...

Ryan Gibbs
Hamilton, N.J.

The Man is Murphy
Boston College is an aberration. Troy "Ring the Bell, Because this Fight's Over" Bell can't BEGIN to carry Troy Murphy' jock strap.

Duane Blaine
Bloomington, Minn.

Troy Murphy of Notre Dame deserves the Player of the Year. This guy simply finds a way to score. A great shooter, a great rebounder and a monster in the post. He was willing to come back this year and risk lowering his stats so his team could make a run towards the Big Dance for the first time in over 10 years.

Matt Phillips
Sterling Heights, Mich.

My Player of the Year goes to Notre Dame's Troy Murphy. This kid has played great basketball all year. He has kept his team up and it's showing late in the season by being ranked in the top 25. He has scored for them, rebounded and blocked shots. What more could you want from a player? He has been a leader and has definitely proven to everyone that he should be Player of the Year.

Nick Gouvouniotis
Hackensack, N.J.

Without question, the Big East Player of the Year should be Troy Murphy of Notre Dame. No player in the league showcases his talents every game like Murphy, and no player in the league is more valuable to his team.

Dan Schoenfelder
Denver

Skinner: The Great Rebuilder
Al Skinner has done an amazing job at Boston College. He took over a beleagured program that was in shambles after Jim O'Brien left. To take a team from worst to first is an incredible accomplishment, and he certainly deserves Coach of the Year honors for his work at Boston College.

Tushar Tanna
New York

Hands down this award goes to Al Skinner. The simple fact that he is still employed is a shock to me. After suffering miserable season after miserable season, he has resurrected this team with the help of Mr. Bell and company. There are other deserving candidates, but for BC to be this good after being so, so bad is a testament to his coaching and fortitude.

Devin Conneally
Jamesport, N.Y.

Al Skinner gets my vote. His team had no expectations placed on it coming into the season, but it has made a fool of everyone. BC has played consistent all season, and thus Skinner is my choice for Coach of the Year.

Mark Esposito
Storrs, Conn.

Coach of the Year debate
Coach	1999-2000	2000-2001
Al Skinner Boston College	3-13 Big East 11-19 Overall	11-3 Big East 21-4 Overall
Tim Welsh Providence	4-12 Big East 11-19 Overall	10-5 Big East 20-8 Overall
Records through Feb. 27

This is a no-brainer. Al Skinner took quite possibly the worst major-conference team in the country two years ago, and turned them into a top 10 team with virtually the same players. Providence's Tim Welsh has done great too ... but Skinner beat him twice this year.

Andrew
New Bedford, Mass.

Wizard Welsh wipes up the Big East
Tim Welsh of Providence deserves the Coach of the Year. There was no one that had this team becoming a sure-bet tourney team. Yet here it is, rising above the Big East competition and securing a spot at the Big Dance.

Jordan Mazur
Pittsburgh

Tim Welsh deserves the award, though BC has a better record and more of the overall fame. Providence has been one of the best teams also. The difference is that PC has done it with no absolute outstanding players (BC has Troy Bell). Every player contributes about the same. And the defense he has that team playing is simply unbelievable.

Andy Chesebro
Blacksburg, Va.

With all due respect to Al Skinner and Craig Esherick, I think Tim Welsh of Providence should be Coach of the Year. Few programs have gone through such a tumultuous time over the past 12 months as Providence has. Three Friars were thrown off the team last spring because of their involvement in an off-campus brawl. The negative publicity that followed severely hurt the school's reputation and put Welch in a true bind in the recruiting process. Yet, despite all that, the Friars won 20 games this year for the first time since Rick Pitino strode the sidelines for PC. Tim Welch has done a first-rate job.

Matt Gendreau
Westford, Mass.

A compromising call for Coach of the Year
Al Skinner of BC and Tim Welsh of PC deserve to share the award. Both led their respective teams beyond expectations and most likely into the Big Dance.

Matt Magliozzi
Attleboro, Mass.

Cook has recipe for Newcomer of the Year
Everyone wants to say Eddie Griffin, but he doesn't deserve it if he's going to punch his own teammate. I would have to say that Omar Cook has been a great surprise for St. John's and he has helped to give them a chance at the NCAA tournament.

Paully C.
Syracuse, N.Y.

Omar Cook is clearly the Newcomer of the Year. With his unselfish play, and distinct NYC determination to succeed, watch out for the Red Storm in years to come.

Paul Hirt
Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Without a doubt this award should go to Omar Cook. His ability to create is amazing. He leads the nation in assists and St. John's in scoring. He is a point guard who can do it all. Imagine if St.John's had the experience and talent they had last year, it would only make Omar better, maybe even the Player of the Year.

Jeff Bartilucci
Tampa

Griffin grades high
No one deserves Newcomer of the Year more than Eddie Griffin. He leads the nation in blocked shot and is second in rebounding. Even though the Pirates have struggled, "Easy Eddie" continues to shine despite the tremendous pressure.

Matt Markus
South Orange, N.J.

I think that both Darius Rice and Omar Cook are terrific, but I guess – like everyone else – I would have to opt for Eddie Griffin. He is a solid player, despite all the controversy off the court, and once he learns to help lead the team, instead of putting up the big numbers, he could be a premier player.

Matt Bader
Syracuse, N.Y.

Newcomer of the Year debate
Player	Stats	Record
Cook	15.4 ppg, 8.7 apg	14-12
Griffin	18.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg	13-12
Butler	15.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg	19-9
Stats and records through Feb. 27

Eddie Griffin is the best newcomer. He has shown that he has the ability to dominate, which is remarkable for a freshman. It's unfortunate that Seton Hall's vets couldn't step up and make this team a contender. Unfortunately, Griffin has to suffer because of poor coaching and bad chemistry.

Mike Bott
Sunfish Lake, Minn.

Singing Sidney's song
Just look at him. So eager, so talented, so undaunted in every situation...BC's Ryan Sidney is my pick for Newcomer of the Year.

Dick Foley
Esterp, Fla.

This award should go to a freshman that has helped his team win. Eddie Griffin may be the most talented newcomer and produce the best stats, but Seton Hall just isn't that good. I like BC's Ryan Sidney. He is a role player and he's had a tremendous impact this season. Sidney not only has poise, but he is confident. However, he probably won't get Newcomer of the Year because he doesn't average many points.

Jacob Massoud
Oxford, Ohio

Caron Butler's too big of a whiner and punk. Griffin won't be around very long, and because he hasn't meshed well with the Pirates, they have struggled. Omar Cook is good, but Ryan Sidney has shown that his presence on the floor leads to expanded production both on offense and defense. He is the spark plug and a huge reason for BC's newfound success.

Kevin Faherty
Boston

Balling Butler begins with a boom
Caron Butler deserves this award. He's come in and shown poise and leadership just like Ray Allen and Rip Hamilton before him. Griffin may be a better player, but his altercation with Ty Shine not only showed his immaturity but quite possibly ruined team chemistry, contributing to Seton Hall's dissappointing performance this year. You can't hurt your team and get an award.

Bill Kelly
Chicago

I admit I'm a UConn fan, but hey, that means I've seen every game Caron Butler has played, not just the highlight reels. You know the Beatles song, "Here, There, and Everywhere"...well that's Caron Butler on the court. He can shoot and pass. He's got great footwork. He's a tough defender. But he also has that hard-to-define quality that every coach loves – he just knows basketball, a sixth sense, so to speak. But the burden of two years removed from a national championship weighs heavy on UConn's shoulders, and it has been up to Butler to carry almost all of that weight alone this season. I'm pretty darn proud of him for that.

Maureen Colley
Westport, Conn.

Don't forget Humphrey
This is the toughest category because it could go to Caron Butler, Eddie Griffin or Omar Cook. All 3 are great freshmen and I hope to see them in Big East for a few more years. However, the Newcomer of the Year is Notre Dame's Ryan Humphrey. He is one of the most athletic players in the conference and an extremely aggressive rebounder and shot blocker. A year ago ND was a respectable 22-15, but with Humphrey's addition they are in position to win the Big East tourney and get as high as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Mark Smeraglinolo
Stratford, Conn.

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