Q: Why not Sam Young for Big East Player of the Year? There was a lot of talk about Blair and Thabeet, but Young has been consistent all year and came up big when it mattered most. Louisville's Terrence Williams could be argued, but no one had a performance like Young's on Saturday.

Bill, Forest Hills

FITTIPALDO: Before Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese handed out the player of the year award Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden he mentioned how the voting was the closest it has been in years. He mentioned that five players received first-place votes from the league's 16 head coaches. I'm sure Young received one of those first-place votes. Young's problem was he had a little dip in his play near midseason for about three or four games. He didn't play very well. At the same time, Blair was having these monster games. A lot of it was the timing.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon complained this week that he had to turn his votes in for the awards last Friday, a day before the final games. He would have liked to have seen the results of the final games before casting his votes. Maybe Young would have received more votes in that scenario. Blair played great all season, too. He deserves the honor.