A season after... Does Melvin Ejim's jersey still deserve to be in the rafters?
- Thread starter mjhavlo76
- Start date
Yeah seems to be incredibly obvious no brainer, total of 4 jerseys. Ejim is still playing, probably just a matter of time.
I always say if you don't hang Fizer because he didn't graduate...even though he gave up millions to come back for a junior year...then Academic All American Ejim is the #1 candidate in Cyclone history to have jersey retired.
Fizer gave up more $ to play for ISU than any player I can think of. All it got us was our greatest MBB season of all time. He'd have gone mid to late first round and came back.
I don't think they have to rush it, but that doesn't mean that I don't think that Ejim, Niang, Morris and Fizer don't all belong up there. The 4 year rule will eventually be abandoned and Fizer will get up there belatedly. I didn't think that they necessarily had to rush on Freddy, but they did. I like the cooling off period after the playing days kind of like voting a player into Cooperstown.
Someone tried to diminish Fred's senior year by saying he didn't even win the CPOY. Just because he didn't win it doesn't mean he wasn't worthy. As I recall he didn't lead in many conference stats but was top 15 in virtually every major conference stat which was pretty much unheard of in the Big 8 at the time.
PPG: 3rd
Rebounds: 8th
Assists: 15th
Steals: 12th
FG%: 8th
3FG%: 2nd
FT%: 1st
as well as:
Eff FG%: 1st
True shooting %: 1st
Not being more one dimensional and leading the league in one of the big two stats of points or rebounds hurt him in the CPOY voting but doesn't diminish his worthiness.
Someone tried to diminish Fred's senior year by saying he didn't even win the CPOY. Just because he didn't win it doesn't mean he wasn't worthy. As I recall he didn't lead in many conference stats but was top 15 in virtually every major conference stat which was pretty much unheard of in the Big 8 at the time.
PPG: 3rd
Rebounds: 8th
Assists: 15th
Steals: 12th
FG%: 8th
3FG%: 2nd
FT%: 1st
as well as:
Eff FG%: 1st
True shooting %: 1st
Not being more one dimensional and leading the league in one of the big two stats of points or rebounds hurt him in the CPOY voting but doesn't diminish his worthiness.
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4 most deserving assuming you get rid of the 4 year rule: Fizer, Tinsley, Niang, Morris
Not too different than Ejim and Kane rankings I just posted. Ejim did win the award and people here were saying Kane was the better player. I don't agree with that but it's not a crazy position.
The leading scorer isn't always an efficient player so 3rd in scoring but as efficient as Fred was means he was pretty lethal. Career 51% shooter and only 1.8 TO per game as primary offensive focus is great.
We just played the #2 scorer in the Big 12 but he's only shooting 42% fg. IB is 3rd leading scorer a half point behind him but shooting 46%. Easy choice on scoring alone.
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I don't see a reason for Ejim to not have his jersey in the rafters
Conference POY
All-American
2nd all time in rebounds
One of the winningest players in school history
Conference POY
All-American
2nd all time in rebounds
One of the winningest players in school history
Kane should've won poy. Niang and Morris Jersey hangs. Pass on ejim
Hang Ejim’s jersey. So many have pointed out the awards and honors, and I love what he represents for the whole university in that he accomplished all of that while being a top notch student.
The coaches select the Conference Player of the Year, and I think they do a good job. He was the most valuable player to that ‘13-14’ team in terms of value above replacement in my opinion. He did the dirty work on the glass the team needed while also leading the league in scoring. His ability to guard fours and fives while being a mismatch on offense was immense. If you removed Ejim for a typical wing that team gets killed on the boards, and if you removed him for a typical four or five then Kane and Georges don’t get the spacing they thrived on. They asked him to be a hybrid and he was elite in crucial ways both roles. Could his defending been better? Yes, but so could that whole team. He could guard wings and centers. His versatility was special. He was also the on-floor leader of those early Hoiberg teams. Ejim didn’t put up with BS in practice, and given the cast of characters and Fred’s laissez-faire attitude, that was crucial. Kane gets credit there, too.
The coaches select the Conference Player of the Year, and I think they do a good job. He was the most valuable player to that ‘13-14’ team in terms of value above replacement in my opinion. He did the dirty work on the glass the team needed while also leading the league in scoring. His ability to guard fours and fives while being a mismatch on offense was immense. If you removed Ejim for a typical wing that team gets killed on the boards, and if you removed him for a typical four or five then Kane and Georges don’t get the spacing they thrived on. They asked him to be a hybrid and he was elite in crucial ways both roles. Could his defending been better? Yes, but so could that whole team. He could guard wings and centers. His versatility was special. He was also the on-floor leader of those early Hoiberg teams. Ejim didn’t put up with BS in practice, and given the cast of characters and Fred’s laissez-faire attitude, that was crucial. Kane gets credit there, too.
I want a picture of ME in the rafters. With middle fingers up. That would make Johnny smile.
kane should get in for the pass off Dinkleberries ass and the layup.
Were you in a coma his senior season? He was the Big 12 player of the year and an All American. They don't award that to the second or third best player on a team.
That was list of those who have been Big 12 Player of the Year. As far as I know. I could be missing someone.
If we want to keep it exclusive, I’ll vote against ejim. Fizer, Tinsley, Morris yes. Niang no-brainer. Ejim just misses the cut. Sorry. He just wasn’t that good. Ejim didn’t take over games except that one vs tcu. He was a great player. But not a hang the jersey player. Just my opinion
