My official All-Tournament Team ballot

Posted to Tourney Tracker by Ross Taylor at 8:48 p.m., March 14, 2009

While we wait for Missouri players and coaches to become available for interviews, here is what I turned in on my official ballot for All-Tournament Team:

-- Zaire Taylor, Missouri* (most outstanding player)
-- Curtis Jerrells, Baylor
-- DeMarre Carroll, Missouri*^
-- James Anderson, Oklahoma State
-- Mike Singletary, Texas Tech*
*indicates selection to official All-Tournament Team
^indicates selection as official Most Outstanding Player

The official All-Tournament Team is as follows:
-- DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (most outstanding player)
-- Kevin Rogers, Baylor
-- Zaire Taylor, Missouri
-- Dexter Pittman, Texas
-- Mike Singletary, Texas Tech

UPDATE: Here are some of my thought processes on my ballot:

-- I wrestled with deciding between Taylor and Carroll for Most Outstanding Player for a LONG time. I gave the nod to Taylor for his ability to pull Missouri along when the offense was stagnant, but I certainly have no issues with the award going to Carroll.

-- I'm stunned Jerrells didn't make the final team. Jerrells' composure and hot shooting at the point for Baylor flat out willed the Bears into the title game. I also was ready to make a case for LaceDarius Dunn, whose 3-point shooting was one of the big reasons Baylor beat Kansas in the quarterfinals.

-- There was no doubt about Singletary, who set a Big 12 Tournament record with 43 points against Texas A&M. This is perhaps the only case where one great game can carry you.

-- The biggest departure on my ballot was leaving off Texas' Pittman in favor of Oklahoma State's Anderson. Pittman was fantastic in the first two rounds, but I feel like Pittman's lack of stamina and ineffectiveness in the semifinal against Baylor cost his team the game. Anderson came off the Oklahoma State bench and was the Cowboys' most consistent offense for three games when he was on the floor. The Missouri/Oklahoma State game turned in Missouri's favor for good when Anderson picked up his fourth foul and was taken off the floor by OSU coach Travis Ford.