I know hindsight is 20/20, but, who was tougher in Rupp this weekend? His "body of work" during the season should have been enough. At least at the top, the 9th Region was as tough as it gets this year. Therefore, IMO, the 9th Region POY should be a Mr. Basketball Finalist. Thoughts?

Mr. Basketball was voted on prior to the Sweet 16 and when looking at the body of work from all the finalists leading up to the postseason I think the committee was spot on. Not saying Ruthsatz didn't deserve to be a finalist or shouldn't be a finalist, just saying that it wasn't until a month ago that people said loudly that he should be 9th Region POY.

 

I think he'll take Sweet 16 champion and Sweet 16 MVP over Mr. Basketball anyday and I bet all of the finalists along with Quentin Snider would trade with him without thinking.

Mr. Basketball was voted on prior to the Sweet 16 and when looking at the body of work from all the finalists leading up to the postseason I think the committee was spot on. Not saying Ruthsatz didn't deserve to be a finalist or shouldn't be a finalist, just saying that it wasn't until a month ago that people said loudly that he should be 9th Region POY.

 

I think he'll take Sweet 16 champion and Sweet 16 MVP over Mr. Basketball anyday and I bet all of the finalists along with Quentin Snider would trade with him without thinking.

 

Fair enough - let's be clear - not suggesting he should be Mr. Basketball. But, in a region with three top 10 teams, I think a nomination as finalist was in order. It's not like he became great in Feb. He was fantastic from the "get-go".

I never had the privilege of seeing Quentin Snider, Kelan Martin, or Justin Johnson live, so I can't speak to how Ruthsatz compares to those three.

 

Did see Jackson Davis once & Trent Gilbert four times. I think both of those guys are better than Ruthsatz.

 

Also saw Hatton twice & Shane Hall twice. I think Ruthsatz is better than both of those guys.

I never had the privilege of seeing Quentin Snider, Kelan Martin, or Justin Johnson live, so I can't speak to how Ruthsatz compares to those three.

 

Did see Jackson Davis once & Trent Gilbert four times. I think both of those guys are better than Ruthsatz.

 

Also saw Hatton twice & Shane Hall twice. I think Ruthsatz is better than both of those guys.

 

I think they got the top 5 right

I think they got the top 5 right

 

 

Good opinions, thanks for the comments. I will never disparage another young man directly in favor of another. But, I believe Nick Ruthsatz belongs on that list.

He should have been. Kid had a heck of a season. Makes everyone around him better and has a killer instinct

He should have been. Kid had a heck of a season. Makes everyone around him better and has a killer instinct

I wish they would change the format. Possibly be able to add a player, if he is deserving, from each team who makes the Sweet 16, and vote after the finals.

 

But as was mentioned, Nick wouldn't trade the championship for a Mr Bball nomination and those who were nominated would trade.

I'm going to say the first five are spot on but Ruthsaz could have been in the mix with the other 2.

Why is this award voted different than the football award? Makes no sense. Someone educate me.

I don't think there is any doubt that Ruthsatz should be in the conversation and most fans who have seen him play around here for a few years knew the kid would have a great tournament.

 

I think there are a couple of reasons why he didn't get the consideration he probably deserved.

1. He was probably overshadowed by Brandon Hatton and the whole state knows who Brandon Hatton is. Hatton got a bunch of exposure across the state over the last 3-4 years. They played in the Sweet 16 a few years ago. They played in LexCath's Tourney a few years, played in the King of the Bluegrass and also played at various places across the state in one game deals.

 

2. The 9th Region was loaded this year and I think either Holmes, NCC, CCH would have all made the finals because the region was just that deep this year. Throw in names like Hatton, Bolden, McDonald, Schulte and Ruthsatz and you get a lot of kids fighting for publicity in an area that really doesn't get recognized for its basketball. Statewide it is seen as a "football region" based on its success on the gridiron and across the river from a high school football hot bed.

 

3. Over the course of three years, Ruthsatz probably didn't get the exposure that was needed across the state. Not looking to blame anyone or anything, but it is likely an issue across the three years he was there. There were no appearances in the Sweet 16, no appearances at the LexCath/King of the Bluegrass/Marshall County Hoopfest and they choose to play in Ohio a couple of times in tourney's and in Florida, with a few exhibitions across the state and the Scott County Tournament.

 

With all that being said, the kid can really play. Everyone would like to have a kid like him running their show.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but, who was tougher in Rupp this weekend? His "body of work" during the season should have been enough. At least at the top, the 9th Region was as tough as it gets this year. Therefore, IMO, the 9th Region POY should be a Mr. Basketball Finalist. Thoughts?

 

I think its quite possible he was simply overlooked, or maybe, never seen by a lot of people around the state until this week.

 

He moved here as a sophomore.

 

He played his AAU ball out of state (with an Ohio team last year) so he likely never played an AAU game in Kentucky.

 

CovCath didn't play in the Republic Bank or King of Bluegrass this year, and I don't think they ever played in either while he was here. CovCath played a very good schedule, just didn't play in these tournaments.

 

CovCath didn't win the region last year or the year before, so no one had seen him in the Sweet 16 either.

 

You asked for reasons why he was nominated, I think all of the above played some role in it. I'm not in any way knocking the kid, his schedule, or saying he shouldn't have been nominated. Simply giving reasons, which I think is what you were looking for.

 

Kid can play. Team can play. Lots of things go into being a finalist, including being a "name" kid around the state before your senior year.

I really don't know the process or criteria used to make this selection; does anyone? If it's simply coaches and media opinion then I would say that many kids are overlooked in the process. How could either of those groups see everyone play during a season where they spend most of their time coaching or reporting in a relatively small area. Mr. Ruthsaz walked away with the biggest prize of all though.............that's not opinion, it's fact

Just out of curiosity why would being a finalist matter? Only 3 people had a chance to win this award....Quentin Snider, Jackson Davis and Kelan Martin.

 

No one else had a chance so is being a finalist really that big of a deal?

I really like this kid and although I only watched him this week at Rupp he can flat out play. He makes everyone better and you can tell he is a true leader on the floor with his other teammates. I think he could have easily made the list. I guess that maybe not everyone knowing about him hurt his chances, but HEY they know about him now. Congrats to him on an amazing job this season.