Wall's POY hopes done?

Wall's POY hopes done?

By Eric Lindsey on March 3, 2010 11:52 AM



According to the poll, which Wall led earlier in the year, Ohio State's Evan Turner has taken a commanding lead to win the majority of the Player of the Year awards -- the Naismith, Wooden, Robertson and Associated Press. Turner leads Wall in points, 138-93.

In the latest poll, Turner, a junior guard/forward, tallied 41 of the 49 first-place votes. He was the only player in the poll named on every ballot.

Wall, meanwhile, picked up the remaining eight first-place votes, 31 second-place votes and seven third-place votes.

Turner certainly has the credentials to win National Player of the Year. On the year, he is averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.

Wall's numbers are just as spectacular -- 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game -- but if there's one thing he has going for him, it's his late-game play. According to a note by UK basketball spokesman DeWayne Peevy, Wall has been nothing short of clutch.

In the last two minutes of games (plus overtime) this season, Wall has scored 62 points in 66 minutes on 60 percent shooting, all while turning it over just four times. That translates to 37.6 points per 40 minutes in cruch time, according to Peevy.

In other words, when the game is on the line, Wall is at his best. Look no further than Saturday's Tennessee game when Wall, thanks to a personal 7-0 run, single-handedly cut an 18-points deficit in Knoxville, Tenn.

Is it too late for Wall to win Player of the Year? Not by a long stretch. But Wall will certainly have to make some noise over the last few games to change the opinion of the pollsters.

Stay tuned.

Check out the full poll, which also includes Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins.