Vanderbilt’s Galvan and Blakes Deserve to Be in Every National Award Conversation
Why Not Galvan and Blakes?
Get you a coach like Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph. Every day, no matter the occasion, she goes to bat for her players. Regardless of what anyone says, she stands on what she believes. That confidence and backing speaks with conviction every time the chance arises.
At this point in the season, the debates over SEC and National Freshman of the Year along with SEC and National Player of the Year are hot. Fans from certain schools are chiming in hot and heavy anytime someone tabs Aubrey Galvan and Mikayla Blakes for any of those spots, and that is to be expected. That is what “fanatics” do. The real question to me is, why not these two?
When it comes to the debates on who the best players are this women’s basketball season, Aubrey Galvan and Mikayla Blakes should be right at the top of every discussion with seriousness. Any other time, a player from an SEC team would be getting some of the loudest praise and support. I believe it is because people still do not take Vanderbilt seriously, and it is quite foolish. I will leave that discussion for another day.
One of the most unbothered freshmen you will see with great confidence is Aubrey Galvan. She just runs the court and plays ball like she knows how to play. She never looks unsure or hesitant, and she never thinks about it. It is just basketball, and she is ready for whatever role she has.
“Whatever role you have, you just take the opportunities, and you do your best to get yourself in the best version that the team needs. Again, it’s just basketball that you’re playing. So I stay true to myself, simple as that,” said Aubrey Galvan.
Galvan came in and became the starting point guard of this team. In my conversation with her a few days ago, she did not put too much thought into it. A freshman point guard in the SEC that many said was undersized just came right in and got to work. Galvan is a huge key part in this Commodores’ engine, and her play speaks for itself. Just a few nights ago, she dropped 30 points on No. 10 Oklahoma and outplayed a highly touted freshman inside Memorial Gymnasium.
Averaging 12.8 points per game currently with just under six assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game, Aubrey never stops. Her demeanor and never-flinch trait as a freshman is quite remarkable. She was not a hyped recruit that came in with all of the talk around her, and that is what makes her story this season greater.
Then, who else in this country is more valuable to a team than Mikayla Blakes? Not only has she changed this program, but she is just a sophomore. She made her stamp last year as a freshman, and the legacy she is building only gets better with each week.
Mikayla Blakes has been the unguardable leader that excels at all three levels offensively. Blakes does not rely on shooting the three, even though she can, and I believe that getting to the rim is her best attribute. When Blakes decides to drive, there has been little stoppage of her plan. She is currently on a four-game run of 30-plus point games, and the last two were against the No. 10 and No. 4 teams in the nation. Mikayla is currently the leader in scoring at 26.2 points per game, and on the other end, she is snatching right under three steals a game.
Coach Shea Ralph believes there is no one more valuable to their team in the country than Blakes. She had this to say during media availability this week.
“Mikayla has always had a chip on her shoulder, and I don’t think she really cares what the outside world thinks or the amount of attention that she gets. She just wants to win. She wants to win, and she’s gonna do whatever it takes to win,” said Ralph. “I care because I think that there should be more attention around her. I think that the things that she’s done for our team this year and last year have been a little underappreciated, and that she is the best player in the country. There’s lots of arguments around it, but you can’t tell me that there’s a kid that’s more valuable to their team. There just is not.”
So when the debates come up and the names start flying around for these awards, do not skip past Aubrey Galvan and Mikayla Blakes. Galvan is running the show as a freshman in one of the toughest conferences in the country, and Blakes is flat out dominating everyone put in front of her. Texas spent a lot of time trying to prepare for Blakes, and nothing worked.
Their head coach just told you there is no one more valuable to their team in the nation, and the numbers back it up. At some point, people are going to have to stop acting like these two do not belong in the conversation. They are not knocking on the door anymore. They are already inside. Why not them? I still have not heard a good enough answer.
I have watched a number of the Vandy games this year and I have to agree with you. Both are remarkable (Blakes is a superstar) and quite deserving of post-season awards. They both are fiercely competitive (they may lead the nation in dives for balls on the floor) and they are remarkably efficient and mature.
They are definitely and exciting duo to watch. Coach Ralph lights up every time she speaks on them. Ready to see them in the postseason.