A Commentary: Erick Green Is Not Being Snubbed

Erick Green is a great player on a terrible basketball team. That is not an indictment against him, but an evaluation of his impact on the program and vice versa. His 25.5 points per game average puts him in the lead of all NCAA Division I basketball. Doug McDermott of Creighton is second at 23.9 points per game.

However, Green's assist-per-game average is 4.2, and that does not even crack the top 50 in the NCAA's statistical category (actually 122nd in the country). Syracuse's guard Michael Carter-Williams averages 8.9 assists per game, leading the country, and it's not even close.

Third point, Green steals on average 1.350 times a game, which is also not a great number when compared to some of the top guards in the country. His statistics do not even crack the top 150 in the country in that category. Again, a lackluster number when it is compared to some of the top guards in the country.

Let me repeat: this article is not to damn his effort, because without his valiant efforts in each game, Tech would not average 73.8 points per game, ranking #48th in the country. Erick Green clearly is the best player in the program. He is the MVP. He is the guy who sparks the offense. Unfortunately, he is not being helped by his teammates. Robert Brown is in a terrible slump that appears to have no end in sight. Raines, for his size and bulk, does not consistently demand double-teams when he is on the low post and Jarrell Eddie puts out effort, but sometimes he struggles. The bench is mighty thin on reliable guards who can keep the offense humming when Green sits on the bench to catch his breath.

When Erick Green goes to the bench, the offense flounders, and when Green is on the court, he basically becomes the offense. His defensive skill is average at best. His ball handling skill is also average, having a 1.87 assists-to-turnover ratio, and that is simply not good enough.

Look, Erick Green is a terrific player. He recently said that he is having fun for the first time in years. He may not be a first rounder as an NBA Draft pick, but that is okay because he does have some qualities about him. He has never complained. He work his butt off in practice and plays hard during games.

He is a team leader. He is well respected by his teammates. Whenever he jumps for his shot, fans are on their feet hoping it will swish the net. He may not be a total package in the eyes of scout, but in the eyes of fans, he is, and that, frankly, is what truly matters, awards be damned.