McFeely: Bison's Morgan, Evans in conversation for Summit League player of year awards … sort of

I don't have a vote, but I have a phone and an opinion. Here's my breakdown of possibilities to win the POY awards in the Summit League, in alphabetical order. There are five candidates for men's POY and two for the women's award, IMO.

Realistically, South Dakota State's Zeke Mayo (men) and Brooklyn Meyer (women) are going to be the winners. The best players on the teams that won the regular-season titles. But there are others worthy of discussion, including North Dakota State's Andrew Morgan and Elle Evans.

Tommy Bruner, Denver: The 6-foot-1 fifth-year guard is the NCAA Division I's leading scorer at 25.1 points per game. That's not nothing. When Bruner gets rolling he can carry the Pioneers to victory, as witnessed by his 41-point performance against North Dakota State a couple of weeks ago that erased a 20-point Bison lead in the second half. Bruner shoots the 3 well enouugh and gets to the free throw line often, where he shoots 81%.

But ...

Bruner is a one-way player to whom playing defense is but a rumor. And that's one reason why, for all his scoring, the Pioneers haven't been big winners in his two years in Denver (his third team in this transfer portal era). He's not the complete player you'd like to see in a POY candidate.

Frankie Fidler, Omaha: He is the dude for Omaha, which doesn't help his chances at being POY. The Mavericks just aren't very good, one of those middle-of-the-pack teams in the Summit that doesn't have much of a chance of ripping off three wins in Sioux Falls to reach the NCAA tournament.

But Fidler, a 6-7 junior wing, is an elite player in the league. His 19.8 points per game is third in the conference and he gets to the free throw line, leading the league in attemps and makes. The thing that separates Fidler, though, is his willingness and ability to rebound. Fidler ranks eighth in the Summit in rebounding, pulling down 6.1 per game.

Combined with his defense, Fidler is an all-around player for the Mavericks. Fidler should make first team all-Summit League this season and being in contention for the POY award might make up for getting robbed of the Freshman of the Year award that went elsewhere in 2021-22.

Tyree Ihenacho, North Dakota: This is a tough one because while UND is one of the top teams in the league, the Fighting Hawks don't have one obvious star. You could make the case four players deserve consideration for first-team all-conference Ihenacho, B.J. Omot, Treysen Eaglestaff or Amar Kuljuhovic. You could also make the case that aside from Omot, because of his scoring, none of them deserve first-team all-conference.

For our purposes, we're looking for the most important player that a team can't do without. And I think Ihenacho edges out Omot for UND's most important player. Therefore, he deserves consideration for POY.

Ihenacho's numbers won't stand out. The 6-4 senior guard is averaging 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game none of which are close leading the league.

But the most important moment in UND's season was when Ihenacho was granted eligibility by the NCAA after transferring for a second time (he left UND a couple of years ago and landed at James Madison). Ihenacho freed up Omot and Eli King to take on a different roles that changed the dynamic of UND as a team. His first start came Dec. 29 and after that, he's never played less than 30 minutes in a game.

Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State: The best player on the most talented team in the league that is the best bet to make the NCAA tournament, IMO. Hey, the tourney's in Sioux Falls. It's a home game for the Jackrabbits.

Mayo leads the way. He scores 19 points a game and 5.9 rebounds per game and has the ability to go off. He had 35 against NDSU, 28 against Akron and UND, 25 against Wichita State and UND. Mayo can hit the 3 or score at the rim.

The 6-4 junior has had down moments, too. He's had a tendency to go one-on-one too often and rumors around the league have him a prime candidate to enter the transfer portal at season's finish. Sometimes those two things go hand-in-hand.

If you to bet $5 on the POY, though, Mayo would be the best place to place it. He's the most well-known commodity in the Summit League and he plays for the team everyone thinks is the most talented.

Andrew Morgan, North Dakota State: That Morgan has worked his way into the conversation as a POY candidate is an accomplishment by itself. Early in the conference schedule, Morgan at times was almost invisible. In the second half of the Summit slate, though, he's been a stud.

It's no coincidence the Bison have become a contender over that span, at least before their blowout loss Thursday at South Dakota.

Over the eight games prior to Thursday, Morgan averaged 18.4 points. Over the last six before Thursday, he averaged 20.2. He's averaging 13.3 for the season, which shows the earlier struggles. But since scoring just 2 points in a loss at St. Thomas on January 25, Morgan had been dominant.

Morgan is a bit of a throwback, with a modern twist thrown in. He's a 6-10 big who can work on the low block, but is a good enough shooter to hit 3-pointers.

Morgan's push might be a bit late to be POY, but he's a first-team all-conference player for sure.

Elle Evans, North Dakota State: Heaven Hamling was coach Jory Collins' first key recruit several years ago as he was trying to raise the Bison's program from the dust, but Evans has been the best player to don a green and gold uniform in two decades.

As a 6-3 guard, Evans changes the game at both ends. She's one of the Summit League's best defenders and scoring 15 points a game while getting 5 rebounds. Evans shoots 45% from 3-point range, best in the conference and eighth in the country.

She is the best all-around player in the Summit League as a sophomore.

Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State: The best player on the best team in the league, which hasn't lost a conference game forever. The Jackrabbits have been ravaged by injuries this season and with a victory over the Bison on Saturday would run the table in the league again.

Meyer is a big reason for that. The 6-2 sophomore is the best post in the league, averaging 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds. She had 19 points and 10 rebounds in a blowout loss to No. 1-ranked South Carolina. Her production dipped against ranked Gonzaga and Creighton, but the fact the Jackrabbits play those types of teams shows what type of program they are.

Meyer and Evans are the only two POY candidates worth talking about, and Meyer gets the edge because of her value to the top team in the conference and likely NCAA qualifier.