Posts
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- Barring a total disaster, which isn't going to happen, North Carolina senior center Tyler Zeller sealed home the ACC's Player of the Year award with his stellar performance versus Maryland on Wednesday night.
Playing in his last game at the Dean Dome, Zeller scored 30 points, a career-high for an ACC game, grabbed eight rebounds, and played with the kind of spirit that trickles down to his teammates. The Tar Heels clobbered the Terrapins 88-64, and will enter Saturday's rematch with Duke feeling pretty darn good about themselves.
But it's Zeller whom they should feel best about.
The Indiana native has come a long way from when he arrived in Chapel Hill nearly four years ago. He actually scored 18 points in his debut, getting 23 minutes of playing time because Tyler Hansbrough missed the opener due to an injury. But Zeller broke his hand against Kentucky in the next game and came back for the final 16 games of the campaign, which included the postseason. He played about five minutes a game for the eventual national champions.
While Zeller is proud of that title and being a part of the team, he has often said he wants one of his own, one he's much more responsible for. And that's where the final leg of his drive this season comes from. And now, it just may result in being named the ACC's top player.
"It would be a fantastic honor to be able to win that," he said. "But at the same time, it's a team sport so I just go out and try to help my team in any way possible."
Zeller battled more injuries as a sophomore and averaged 9-3 points per game, and last season he was at 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. But after Wednesday's performance, Zeller will enter the Duke game averaging 16.2 points and 9.3 rebounds overall, but in ACC play his numbers are 18.5 points and 9.7 rebounds. His three blocked shots versus the Terrapins gives him 30 in 15 ACC games.
"Tyler does a great job of holding his post position," said UNC point guard Kendall Marshall, who became the single-season assists leader in school history Wednesday. "He also knows how to act; he gets a lot of other big men in a lot foul trouble. But when you have a guy showing you his (jersey) number, where he wants you to get him the ball, it's hard not to give it to him."
But Zeller is about more than numbers. He is a young man of faith, devoted to his family, the values they espouse and live by, and his dedication to academics.
Zeller was recently named the 2012 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year, which is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. And that's another reason he deserves the ACC's top honor
"The most special is I believe he's the true epitome of a fantastic student-athlete," said UNC coach Roy Williams when asked what has been most special about coaching Zeller for four years. "I cannot think of a better representative of that term, I cannot think of a better representative of the University of North Carolina. Early entrance into our business school, going to have a degree
"He's enriched my life and made me a heck of a lot better coach. But more important it's made me a better person being around him."
The 7-footer is a throwback of sorts, a senior who went through the college experience like players used to, and he got better every year. College basketball is better off when players such as Zeller stick around and make the sport proud.
With respect to the other competitors Virginia's Mike Scott, Duke's Austin Rivers and maybe UNC teammate John Henson Zeller simply stands alone. And his performance Wednesday gave him enough separation from the others that pretty much regardless what transpires Saturday night in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Zeller will win this award.
He certainly has Marshall's vote.
"Without a doubt," he said. "If you're going off of team success and what that player means to the team I think he's head and shoulders ahead of the competition for that individual accolade."
No comments:
Post a Comment