Beasley wants wins, not awards
by JEFFREY MARTIN, Special to FOXSports.com
Conference tourney roundup
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Sunday's action:
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ACC championship
- No 1 Tar Heels knock off Clemson
- Chalmers shoots Jayhawks to title
- No. 8 Badgers beat upstart Illini
- Georgia completes improbable run
- UT-Arlington going dancing
Big 12 championship
Big Ten championship
SEC championship
Southland championship
Conference tournament brackets:
More college basketball:
"I don't care about the national Player of the Year," he said Tuesday. "Quote me — Tyler Hansbrough can have it. Kevin Love can have it ... I wouldn't give it to me."
It appears as if the immensely talented Kansas State freshman — undoubtedly the top NBA prospect in the country and very likely the best pure collegiate player in the nation, too — is going to have to settle for runner-up in the popularity contest that the voting for P.O.Y. has become.
You've heard the case for Hansbrough by now; he kept North Carolina afloat while point guard Ty Lawson was sidelined with an injury. But such logic, while sound on the surface, is flawed.
Lawson's presence in Carolina blue in the first place shreds the argument. Beasley, who played one season of high school basketball with Lawson at Oak Hill Academy, doesn't have the support of a similar backcourt talent, although freshman point guard Jacob Pullen has the potential to be quite special. Regardless, he's leading the NCAA in rebounding (12.5) while also averaging 26.5 points for the Wildcats (20-10), the No. 3 seed in this week's Big 12 Tournament.
But Beasley couldn't be bothered to defend himself.
"I can do without it," he said. "I won't lose any sleep."
And that, according to K-State freshman forward Ron Anderson, is typical. Anderson played in the same AAU organization (D.C. Assault) as Beasley and he, like Beasley, is from the Maryland area, which explains why he says he knows Beasley better than anyone else on the roster.
"I know he's sincere because he tells me all of the time," Anderson said. "Some people think it's just for media purposes, but it's not. He could care less about winning Player of the Year."
Because that would be a singular recognition, and Beasley would rather share the focus.
That's why he's the class clown, a 6-foot-10 prankster who keeps the mood light. He's not the malcontent he was labeled entering K-State; his coach, Frank Martin, broke into laughter Tuesday when asked about the perception of his star.
"He's always trying to please people," Anderson said. "He's humble. He always tries to keep a smile on people's faces, just to make sure they're comfortable being around him. A lot of people might think Mike to be conceited or have a big head, being as he is one of the best players in the country, but he's not like that.
"Those that really know him know what type of person he is."
Lately, though, he seems to be the type of person who has grown tired of the constant media barrage. In recent weeks, reporters from Sports Illustrated, ESPN and the Washington Times have ventured into the Little Apple for a slice of Mike. Last week, it was a spot on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period." Tuesday, it was the Los Angeles Times.
He could do without all of the attention, which is unavoidable if he leads K-State to where he and the rest of the Wildcats believe they can go. If the postseason wins mount, the spotlight will only shine brighter, and it's certain to be focused on Beasley.
Anderson isn't worried.
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| Michael Beasley doesn't want the Player of the Year award. Really. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images) |
"It was before the KU game at home, and one of the players came in and said, 'Man, I'm really excited about this game — how can you not be excited about this game?' And Michael, being who he is, said it's no different," Anderson said. "He said you approach this game the same as if you're playing the last-place team in the conference. You compete the same. The atmosphere might be different, but you play the same. You play your game, he said, and that's what he's going to do come tournament time. He's not going to let the cameras, the media and the crowd affect his play.
"He's never done that."
Whether the end of his almost certain one-and-done college career — Anderson insists the subject of the NBA never comes up in conversation — more resembles Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse (a national championship in 2003) or his buddy Kevin Durant at Texas (a second-round loss last season) will be sorted out in the coming weeks.
Given the choice, according to Anderson, Beasley would follow the example set by Anthony, who was a second-team All-American and not the Player of the Year as Durant was.
"He wants to win. That's why he's here," Anderson said. "He'd be much more content winning the Big 12 Championship and making a run in the NCAA Tournament, and possibly winning that, and not winning Player of the Year as opposed to losing in the first round of both tournaments and winning Player of the Year."
Jeffrey Martin is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com. He also writes for the Wichita Eagle. He can be reached at reyheath@gmail.com.
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