It was only a year ago when a meteoric late-season rise from Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough's helped the prolific guard take home the 2011 Big East Player of the Year award. Months before that, though, Hansbrough's name was barely a blip on the national radar.
And now, somewhat eerily, another Notre Dame February surge has been paced by yet another player who has begun to elbow his peers aside for that coveted national spotlight. The man in question, 6'9" Glenview, Illinois junior forward Jack Cooley, has been one of the league's most efficient players since Big East play kicked off back in late December, and makes his season debut in our national rankings this week at No. 19.
In league play, Cooley's 10.71 rebounds per game and 63.4% true shooting percentage each rank second in the conference. He also has a sizable advantage in offensive rebounds over clubhouse leader Kevin Jones, and sports a higher free-throw rate, a better blocks per game average, and a higher field goal percentage.
If Cooley is able to keep up his torrid pace (20.8 points & 14.3 rebounds in his last four) over Notre Dame's four remaining games, then it's entirely possible that Big East coaches will give him the nod over Jones when the time comes.
A fresh batch of rankings after the jump...
| Rank | Change | Player-School | Notes |
| 1 | -- | Anthony Davis-UK | Blocks are still climbing, but hasn't had 10+ rebs since January. |
| 2 | -- | Thomas Robinson-KU |
Five assists vs. TTU were a season-high. More like 1B at this point. |
| 3 | -- |
Draymond Green-MSU |
Five assists in a game? Pfff...he's done it nine times this year. 3.7 apg. |
| 4 | -- |
Doug McDermott-CRE |
36 points in Sat.'s doozy vs. Long Beach. First big game in a while. |
| 5 | -- |
Jared Sullinger-OSU |
More easily frustrated than he was last yr. Could it be the lack of girth? |
| 6 | -- | Kevin Jones-WVU | Played 40+ minutes in nine straight games and 14 times this year. |
| 7 | -- |
Harrison Barnes-UNC |
23.5 points/gm & 18.5 FGA/gm last week. Still time to make a mini-surge? |
| 8 | +1 |
Scott Machado-ION |
15 assists and 8-for-8 FTs in BracketBusters win over Nevada. |
| 9 | -1 |
Marcus Denmon-MIZ |
Has flirted with stardom often, but last year's #'s somehow look better. |
| 10 | -- |
Damian Lillard-WEB |
Best ORating in college basketball (127.2). Second in scoring (24.5). |
| 11 | -- |
J'Covan Brown-TEX |
Double figure points in 12 straight. Unheard of consistency from him. |
| 12 | +2 |
Isaiah Canaan-MUR |
A big-stage performance vs. SMC (23 points, 9-13 FGs, 4 asts). |
| 13 | -- |
Will Barton-MEM |
At his very best vs. Tulane last wk: 20 points, 9 rebs, 7 asts, 3 stls, 1 blk. |
| 14 | +3 |
Mike Scott-VIR |
Strong game vs. Maryland (25 & 7). Muddying up the ACC POY picture. |
| 15 | -3 |
John Henson-UNC |
Not-so-good: Riding a nine-game streak with sub-50% shooting. |
| 16 | +2 |
Reggie Hamilton-OAK |
Last four games - 33.75 points, 5.0 rebs, 5.0 asts, 23-of-45 3Ps!!! |
| 17 | -2 | Mike Moser-UNLV |
Four rebounds on Sat. were a MWC-low. Productivity is sliding a bit. |
| 18 | UNR | Royce White-IST |
Good & Bad: 5.78 assists and 4.28 turnovers so far in Big 12 games. |
| 19 | UNR |
Jack Cooley-ND |
Nearly five off. rebounds per game in Big East play. 70.8 FT% is nice too. |
| 20 | -- | Tyler Zeller-UNC |
Numbers don't lie: He's been the most efficient Tar Heel this season. |
Five who just missed: Arnett Moultrie-Mississippi State, Dominique Morrison-Oral Roberts, John Shurna-Northwestern, Nate Wolters-South Dakota State, John Jenkins-Vanderbilt
Previous Rankings: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15