Marco has a chance to prove himself

I slept in Tuesday. I was in no hurry to get up even though the All-Big Ten teams were being announced because I was almost sure what they would say. When I finally rose from bed and checked out the lists, I thought I might still be dreaming. I was shocked, puzzled, mystified and several other adjectives meaning confused. But most importantly, I was disappointed. Basically, I felt the same way I do after every episode of "Lost."\nSenior forward Marco Killingsworth was placed on the third team by the coaches and only made the media's second team. Obviously, Marco's 17.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and his 55 percent shooting from the field were not good enough to net him first team consideration, which is absolutely ridiculous.\nIf you disagree with me, answer me this -- was there a more feared player in the Big Ten this season? \nYes, he had a stretch of tough games where he was not as dominant as earlier in the season. But that was largely because of the constant pressure opposing defenses put on him, which forced the Hoosiers to rely on other scorers. \nEven conference Player of the Year, Ohio State forward Terence Dials (15.3 points, eight rebounds), didn't see as many double and triple teams as Killingsworth did. \nIowa's Greg Brunner (14.2 points, 9.7 rebounds), and Dials made both first teams and Illinois' James Augustine (13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds) made the coaches' first team. Brunner and Dials both had great years and although their numbers weren't as stout as Killingsworth's, they deserved to be chosen. But Augustine is another story.\nHe was picked simply because the Illini finished second in the Big Ten and that's not right. Killingsworth not only had a better season overall, he was better than Augustine in their head-to-head matchups this year. Compared to Marco, Augustine did less damage than a right hook from Frankie Muniz. \nOne thing the coaches and media forgot was that Killingsworth played his best against the best competition. He made the reigning National Defensive Player of the Year, Duke's Shelden Williams, look more like Serena Williams as he dropped 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. In his only matchup with Dials, Killingsworth netted 26 points, five rebounds and swatted away four shots, leading IU past the previously unbeaten Buckeyes. In a losing effort at Michigan State and matched up with All-Big Ten second team member Paul Davis, he scored 27 points. Then, when the Spartans traveled to Bloomington, Marco led the charge with 18 as the Hoosiers pulled the upset. And as his team needed a win last Saturday, Marco stepped up and poured in 19 points and wrestled away 13 rebounds and a key road win, likely securing the Hoosiers a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Those stats don't sound like they belong to a third or even second team player -- they sound like they belong to a Conference Player of the Year candidate. \nBut don't feel too bad for Marco; he'll have his chance to show off starting Friday in the Big Ten Tournament. The stands will be packed with the very people who snubbed him as the media and coaches will be in attendance. This is his chance to prove them all wrong -- his chance to carry the Hoosiers yet again, to prove he is one of the best in the Big Ten.\nAnd to wake up those who snubbed him.