Pre-season Madness Begins

Here's how I see the All-League team shaping up. Only one of these is really questionable, the others ought to be locks for what the actual team looks like. See if you can guess which one isn't the lock.

G - Meade, Holy Cross
G - Linebaugh, Colgate
G - Deberry, Lafayette
F - Draughn, American
F - Blue, Colgate

Now, if there was any sense to this, I'd be able to pick more than three guards. This league is short in every way. Trying to pick a second frontcourt player (Blue seems to be the best of the bunch easily) is tough. The two other options are probably Rob Dill of LC and Nate Lufkin of HC. I think Jernavis Draughn is better because of his ability to play the 3 and 4, as well as his strength, which neither Dill or Lufkin has really shown me they have. Both of them are taller, but I'm not sure they're stronger in the post. Draughn can take a few dribbles, drive, rebound, and play some post. Dill and Lufkin seem like they can only rebound and play the post, or simply play the under the post in Lufkin's case (he was outrebounded by PG Jave Meade last year). Also, I'm an AU fan dammit, I'm allowed to slide AU's way when things are questionable.

As is, I think the rest of these are pretty solid choices, with Rodriguez from AU not making the cut because he hasn't consistently been a scoring threat, due to playing with Patrick Doctor two years ago and getting hurt last year. All in all, it's hard to argue with the lineup here. Colgate gets two spots, but it's hard to not put Blue and Linebaugh on the list.

Now onto the preseason POY. In the coaches and SID's minds, it's probably a three-man race. Meade, Linebaugh, and Deberry. Before I tell you what I think, let's make it clear that this is the hardest award to give out. It's a toss-up regardless. And that's why it makes it easier to give it to Linebaugh.

I think this guy is great. I can't say enough about him. With most of the AU opponents, I'm busy yelling things about their sister while they play, but Linebaugh is just about sick every time I see him in action. He takes hits like no one else I've seen, and has that extra something on the court.

Two cases in point:
- The 2001 PL championship tournament. Linebaughs finger basically pops out of his hand after he gets hit, he keeps playing for a bit, comes over to the sideline to get it popped back in, and goes back out on the court and looks like Steve Nash.
- AU @ CU last year. He hits a more-than half court shot at the end of the 2nd half to win the game, and essentially give Colgate the tie for 2nd place, when they really had no business coming in anywhere above fourth.

So Linebaugh's my pick. Other people can reasonably disagree. My pick to actually be league MVP at the end of the year? #10, Andres Rodriguez. Seriously underestimated by everyone. Will play better than everyone by year's end.

But, again, I'm just an AU fan.


NEXT: Picks on teams.

PS. Congrats to HC alum Jack McKeon for defeating the powers of evil.  @ 4:54 PM