Photo by Emily Eshman/Chronicle File Photo
Is Gerald Henderson the ACC Player of the Year?
Since about the middle of December, Henderson has continually elevated his status from potential-and-aspiring star to the team's veritable go-to player. The Duke faithful has long recognized the crucial role Henderson plays--and not only in scoring terms. Yes, Henderson's point production picked up in that December period. The junior co-captain went for 11 points in Duke's loss to Michigan Dec. 6, and his point totals haven't dropped below that number since. (Incidentally, he's on a streak of 22 games scoring in double figures, good for third-best in the ACC.) Henderson carried the Blue Devils to a road victory against Florida State, hit the jumper that knotted the score against Wake Forest at 68-68 with 10 seconds left before the eventual last-second loss, and has recently had a look about him that just dares anyone to try and stop him.
"You can see it in his eyes," said freshman Elliot Williams of that look. "When he's about to go, he's got this fire, man. He's intense every play, and he's ready to go."
Henderson's numbers are just as impressive as that type of incalculable measure. He's fourth in the league in in-conference scoring, averaging 20.2 points per game, and 10th in the league with a 16.7 points average throughout the season. Tyler Hansbrough leads the ACC in scoring with a 21.3 point clip.
For all his scoring prowess, though, Henderson is also the motor that keeps this team running through high-flying antics and a penchant for making key plays at key moments. Because of his explosive ability, Henderson can spark the Blue Devils when the offense stalls, and it's also his intensity that keeps his team on track.
But for one reason or another--and perhaps because of two guys residing a couple minutes down 15-501 --Henderson hasn't always gotten the amount of recognition you would expect for starring on a seventh-ranked Duke team. Heck, Henderson wound up on the NABC District 2 Second Team announced Thursday. On the first team: Hansbrough, Jeff Teague, Toney Douglas, Jack McClinton and Lawson.
So it was a welcome surprise to wake up to ACC Player of the Year contemplations that narrowed the ACC POY race to Henderson and Lawson.
It could be a result of Duke's strong surge of late, one that positioned the Blue Devils for a share of the ACC regular season title that seemed unlikely after they dropping 4 of 6 games during February-into-March. After all, if it were Duke and North Carolina left at the end, it would have been a glaring error to leave Henderson out of the POY conversation, wouldn't it?
Are they right? Henderson and Lawson. Having been on the wrong end of Lawson's efforts, Duke can certainly attest to the speedy point guard's importance on a team that also includes the reigning National Player of the Year. Lawson lit up the Blue Devils for 21 second-half points in the first meeting Feb. 11, and he's scored more than 20 points in four out of his last five games.
Henderson certainly has gotten more talk lately, but that's seemed to happened simply by virtue of being the star of a team that could now tie for the regular season championship outright. Henderson hasn't even been the biggest difference in Duke's latest five-game charge. That would be Williams, the freshman bundle of energy and exuberance who has contributed a new look to a team that desperately needed it three weeks ago.
So what do you think? Lawson has been the clear frontrunner for POY for some time now. If Duke bests North Carolina tomorrow in Chapel Hill, does the ACC Player of the Year nod go to Henderson instead?
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