Bambrick: To suggest that the men’s basketball season hasn’t been a disappointment would facilitate lies. After winning the North division of the SoCon last year the expectations were high, but thus far neither coach Ernie Nestor nor his squad have lived up to the presumptuous outlook of the fans and the university.

The season-ending injury to senior Montell Watson, prior to this season, was no help. He played the three previous years and was a solid starting guard on last years’ team. His injury has hurt the team, but helped make my pick for team MVP a cinch.

Without a doubt, the team MVP, thus far, is senior LeVonn Jordan. He’s displayed the ability to erupt against solid competition, putting up 30, 26 and 24 against Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Davidson, respectively. Against Davidson he seemed like the only player that still cared. He’s averaging 15.6 points along with 6.8 boards per game. He has scored at least 10 points in all but three games for a team that only scores 62.1 points on average. While he shows the capacity to flop in a few games, most notably in Monday’s overtime loss at The Citadel (2 points on 1-10 shooting), he is the most solid player on the floundering 5-17 team.

Moody: Though I’m tempted to say senior LeVonn Jordan was the MVP this year, I’m opting to take a different route. There probably wouldn’t be many objections to crowning Jordan with this honor, and it’s hard to argue against his numbers. Jordan is averaging 15.6 points per game and he leads the team with 649 minutes played. However, my MVPs for the men’s basketball season this year are the freshmen.

Accounting for half of the team’s roster, the freshmen athletes have experienced a rookie season with more challenges than most freshmen face and they have persevered. The players haven’t had the luxury of sitting back and learning from the older players this year, but rather the challenge and opportunity to gain game experience.

There were no excuses for them this year, and they were expected to play like juniors and seniors. Often, when one freshman left the court, another entered in his place. The freshmen helped to fill the void of last year’s seniors and the loss of Montell Watson.

So, for playing with maturity and rising to meet high expectations, my MVPs for the season are Devan Carter, John Charlesworth, Adam Constantine, TJ Douglass and Scott Grable, with an honorable mention going to Jordan.

Varner: In a year full of negatives for the Phoenix, one bright spot on the team shines through: Senior LeVonn Jordan,who’s easily this season’s MVP, leads the team in points per game, rebounds, steals, field goal attempts makes, three point field goal percentage, free throw attempts and makes and is second on the team in assists, steals and blocks.

At times he carried the team on his back and single-handedly kept the Phoenix in games. He has become the player everyone expects to make a play and has not turned down the challenge once. Other than the Phoenix’s overtime loss to The Citadel Monday night.

Not many teammates have come close to his level of play this year, He also has won the Verizon Wireless “Performer of the Month” award multiple times.