National awards: Turning to Turner too obvious to miss

Evan Turner is the CBSSports.com National Player of the Year.

There's no other reasonable choice.

I started the season with John Wall and stayed with the Kentucky freshman as long as I could. But Turner's numbers and impact on both Ohio State and the national scene ultimately proved too much, and anybody who didn't switch from Wall to Turner probably should seek help for stubbornness.

Which is not to suggest Wall isn't great.

He's terrific.

And it won't surprise me if he tears through the opposition in the coming weeks and leads UK to the national title game, just like Derrick Rose did at Memphis two years ago. In fact, I'm predicting it. But that has nothing to do with this, because this is a National Player of the Year award announced the week before Selection Sunday, and any National Player of the Year award announced at this time must go to Turner, who overcame a serious injury to lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and consensus top 10 ranking.

Jim Boeheim took an unheralded preseason lineup to a 28-3 season. (US Presswire)

That's why he headlines the CBSSports.com National Awards.

National Player of the Year

Winner: Evan Turner (Ohio State)

Reason: Turner averaged 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the regular season, which ranked first, first and second in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes went 3-3 when he was out with broken bones in his back, 21-4 when he was available. Which means they were a .500 team without Turner, and a team worthy of consideration for a No. 1 seed with him.

That's incredible.

This was an easy decision.

National Coach of the Year

Winner: Jim Boeheim (Syracuse)

Reason: Boeheim took a roster missing last season's top three scorers and led it to a Big East title and the No. 1 ranking without the benefit of an elite recruiting class. As I pointed out last week, the Orange consist of basically role players from last season (Andy Rautins, Kris Joseph, Rick Jackson, Arinze Onuaku), a transfer (Wesley Johnson), a guy coming off a redshirt year (Scoop Jardine) and a mostly unheralded freshman (Brandon Triche), and yet a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is on the way.

Give Boeheim the credit.

He's about to win 30 games for the fourth time in his career.

A fourth Final Four is also possible.

National Freshman of the Year

Winner: John Wall (Kentucky)

Reason: DeMarcus Cousins is statistically better and probably more overwhelming. But nobody means as much to Kentucky's success as Wall, the electrifying point guard who hit a winner in his first game and has paced the Wildcats ever since. The 16.8 points and 6.2 assists per game only tell part of the story. To truly grasp Wall you must see the other things -- the way he leads, his ability to make closing plays, his willingness to take tough shots in tough spots.

He's a future NBA All-Star.

I'd bet on it.

He's about to lead UK to the Final Four and more.

I'd bet on that, too.