Another Face in the Crowd

Originally Published: Feb 23, 2010 9:4 PM CDT

Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- With his arms around his classmates, James Anderson towered over them as the school’s alma mater played following a win over Baylor on Saturday.

From a distance, Anderson blends in the crowd, much like he has on the national stage throughout the college basketball season.

"I don't think I get as much respect as some of the other guys around the country for what I've been doing for our team," said Anderson, the Oklahoma State junior guard.

Anderson is the Big 12's leading scorer, fourth in the country in points per game but has been virtually off the radar when it comes to being a serious candidate for national player of the year.

"It's absolutely, positively absurdity that I haven't seen his name mentioned," said Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford after the team’s win against the Bears. “I haven’t seen his name mentioned - I think I saw a top 10 player of the year candidates (list). Somebody doesn’t know anything about basketball – somebody has no clue about basketball.”

According to Ford, apparently neither does the rest of the country. Last week, AnnArbor.com polled 49 journalists who vote for various player of the year awards. Ohio State’s Evan Turner and Kentucky’s John Wall were the front-runners, while Anderson received a single third-place vote. Three other players from the Big 12 were ahead of Anderson in the poll.

"It's just going to take people who have a voice in it to maybe watch a little tape and not sit at home and eat potato chips at night or whatever they're doing," Ford said on Monday, when asked what it would take for Anderson to receive national recognition. “Watch tape and study the game. Don’t just watch one conference. Watch everybody – watch the SEC, watch the Big East, the ACC, the Big Ten and watch the Big 12 to figure out who the best player in the country is.”

Ford doesn’t think that Anderson should be the evident choice, but certainly in the mix for being the best player in the country.

Anderson has played like he belongs among the nation’s elite down the stretch for the Big 12’s youngest team. He has scored 30 or more points in four of the Cowboys last eight games, with OSU going 5-3 during that span.

"It's just motivation to be talked about and then they're leaving me off again,” Anderson said. “It's just continuing to motivate me and showing everyone that I am one of the top players in the country."

The crowds should be focused on Anderson down the stretch. The question is, will he be just another face in it?

Anderson’s Numbers*

Stats: 22.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 stl

Team RPI: 29

Strength of Schedule: 36

Superlatives: Big 12’s leading scorer, fourth in Division-I in scoring, fifth in Big 12 FG percentage, eighth in Big 12 3-point field goals made

His Big 12 Competition*

Stats: 11.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.8 blk

Team RPI: 1

Strength of Schedule: 20

Superlatives: Sixth in Division-I blocked shots, second in Big 12 blocked shots, third in Big 12 rebounding, third in Big 12 offensive rebounds, second in Big 12 defensive rebounds

Stats: 15.0 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.2 stl

Team RPI: 1

Strength of Schedule: 20

Superlatives: Third in Big 12 free throw percentage, fifth in Big 12 assists

Stats: 17.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.7 stl, 1.1 blk

Team RPI: 24

Team Strength of Schedule: 57

Superlatives: 10th in Division-I rebounding, first in Big 12 defensive rebounds, second in Big 12 FG percentage, second in Big 12 offensive rebounds, fourth in Big 12 steals

The Rest of the Country*

Stats: 16.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.7 blk

Team RPI: 3

Strength of Schedule: 46

Superlatives: 19th in Division-I rebounding, first in SEC offensive rebounds, second in SEC rebounding, second in SEC FG percentage, fifth in SEC in blocked shots, fourth in SEC in rebounding, sixth in SEC scoring

Stats: 16.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 blk, 1.6 stl

Team RPI: 4

Strength of Schedule: 14

Superlatives: Fourth in Big East defensive rebounding, fifth in Big East rebounding, seventh in Big East 3-point FG made, seventh in Big East blocked shots, eighth in Big East steals

Stats: 19.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.6 stl

Team RPI: 8

Strength of Schedule: 49

Superlatives: Fifth in Big East scoring, seventh in Big East steals, eighth in Big East 3-point FG made

Stats: 19.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.9 stl

Team RPI: 32

Strength of Schedule: 61

Superlatives: First in Big 10 scoring, first in Big 10 rebounding, first in Big 10 defensive rebounding, second in Big 10 assists, third in Big 10 assists, fifth in Big 10 FG percentage

Stats: 16.8 ppg, 6.3 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.9 stl

Team RPI: 3

Strength of Schedule: 46

Superlatives: Sixth in Division-I assists, first in SEC assists, third in SEC steals, fourth in SEC scoring