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It has been a long journey.
The regular season has ended and the conference tournament beckons! We are at the final stop on this great quest to find the Big East’s best player of 2018-19.
First off, thank you to everyone who has been around since the beginning and read the power rankings from week to week.
To the people who commented, replied and got into my DMs about who should REALLY be in the power rankings I thank you. Motivation is key to anything and your input was big along the way.
To the players. You may never read this, but you guys rock. The performances you put in all season were unreal and made this race one of the best in the conference’s history.
To the……yes……okay…..okay great.
My producer informs me that I can stop stalling and get to the big reveal!
The winner of the final rose and Big East Coast Bias Big East Player of the Year award is none other than Seton Hall’s Myles Powell!
In all seriousness, this is a pretty amazing result.
For those that have followed my power rankings and the Bachelor votes to this point you would know that Markus Howard has led wire to wire. He was first in every power ranking, first in every poll leading up to the final vote and led the final vote for some time.
However, Powell came storming back at the end much like the team he plays for and snatched the crown right at the end.
Powell is a worthy winner of this season’s award and has the numbers and performances to back it up.
This season, Powell averaged 22.6 points (second in the Big East), 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals (second in the Big East). He also led his team to an 18-12 overall record, 9-9 in conference play, third place in the league and essentially clinched a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance for his school after his team lost four three-year starters to the pros.
That is a heck of an achievement with such a young team.
As we head into the Big East Tournament, he is a list of Powell’s top five performances of the season that helped him to receive the player of the year award from our readers.
5) Jan. 30 Providence at Seton Hall
Powell had 31 points, four rebounds, two assists and four huge steals in a must win game to keep the Pirates on track in Big East Conference play. The Pirates had lost four in a row, but Powell stepped up and carried Seton Hall to a big win that got them back in the win column.
4) Mar. 9 Villanova at Seton Hall
This was one of Powell’s best all-around games of the season as he tallied 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in a win over #23 Villanova to help wrap up a trip back to the NCAA Tournament. Powell’s three pointer in the second half from 30 (maybe more) feet out sent the Prudential Center into a frenzy and helped finish off a great regular season.
3) Feb. 17 Seton Hall at Creighton
Numbers wise this might not have been Powell’s best game, but he hit the biggest shots of the game to lead the Pirates back. Seton Hall was trailing the Jays late in the second half when Powell caught fire. The junior finished with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and hit a dagger three to silence the Chi Health Center and capture a massive road win for the Pirates.
2) Dec. 8 Kentucky vs Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden
Powell had 28 points and four assists while doing almost all of his damage in the second half and overtime on the way to arguably Seton Hall’s most impressive of the season at MSG over #9 Kentucky. Many moments stand out including the off-balance three pointer that gave Seton Hall the lead with a second to go in regulation. The game would go to overtime, but Powell would make a huge three in the extra session as well on the way to a massive victory.
1) Mar. 6 Marquette at Seton Hall
The Villanova win shouldn’t overshadow the unbelievable performance Powell had to knock off #16 Marquette at the Prudential Center just three days earlier. In the win, Powell had 34 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead the Pirates to a victory in a must-win game to stay on track to clinch a spot in the dance. Powell’s transition three to give the Seton Hall the lead with two and half minutes to play blew the roof off the Rock and facilitated a game-ending 18-0 run to stun the Golden Eagles. It had all the makings of March magic and a performance worthy of the conference player of the year award.
What a season for Powell and congratulations on winning the site’s Big East Player of the Year award! Feel free to make an acceptance speech on Twitter and tag us @becb_sbn and @SSaintj7!
Again, in all seriousness thank you to everyone who kept up with the rankings, weighed in and voted! We really enjoyed this and hope to do it again next season.
Next time you will hear from me will be at Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament!