Naismith Award 2011: Jimmer Fredette Leaves Door Open for Walker/Sullinger

Player of the year front runner Jimmer Fredette, who struggled yesterday against the Florida Gators failed to lockup college basketballs most prestigious award.

Jimmer's final stat line looks good, as he scored 32 points, but take a deeper look into his stats and it's not all roses for Fredette.

Jimmer shot only 11-29 from the field, including just 3-15 from beyond the arc, but the most glaring stat was his overtime performance or lack there of.

Fredette managed zero points with two turnovers on 0-2 shooting during the most crucial moments of his career.

To me, the best player in the country should thrive in an overtime situation like Jimmer was in, not flop. Look at UConn's Kemba Walker. The bigger the stage, the better he performs. In the most clutch situations, Kemba comes through, as all great players should.

It's one thing to score a bunch of points in a regular season game, but it's what you do on the big stages that define true champions. 

Jimmer will still be the front-runner to win the award, although I feel this performance should give Kemba Walker and Ohio States Jared Sullinger a chance to make up some ground. 

Walker has been nothing short of spectacular in the tournament, scoring 18, 33 and 36 points respectively, in each game so far. Kemba has enhanced his level of play as the competition has gotten harder and the stage has become bigger. 

Jared Sullinger has not needed to be as big for his Buckeyes, mainly because they have won their first two tournament games by a combined 61 points. Sullinger will have the biggest game of his career today, as Ohio State take on the University of Kentucky at 9:45. If Sullinger can have a dominating performance against the Wildcats, he will put his name right back into the mix.