Wooden Award - Mid Season

[jonvi]

Creighton's Doug McDermott is the favorite heading into the final six weeks of the season, but the talk of the sport for the past two weeks has been Kansas big man Joel Embiid. And perhaps surprisingly, the freshman from Cameroon was not included among the 25 players on the midseason list.

Of course, that doesn't mean he can't make a run at the award or win it: Victor Oladipo finished second last season after not being on the midseason list. Trey Burke won the award.

Here's the complete list:

• Kyle Anderson, UCLA
• Keith Appling, Michigan State
• Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico
• Jordan Clarkson, Missouri
• Aaron Craft, Ohio State
• Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
• Cleanthony Early, Wichita State
• Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
• C.J. Fair, Syracuse
• Aaron Gordon, Arizona
• Rodney Hood, Duke
• Nick Johnson, Arizona
• DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
• Doug McDermott, Creighton
• Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
• Jabari Parker, Duke
• Adreian Payne, Michigan State
• Casey Prather, Florida
• Julius Randle, Kentucky
• Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
• Russ Smith, Louisville
• T.J. Warren, North Carolina State
• Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
• Chaz Williams, Massachusetts
• Joseph Young, Oregon

 

[TangoBlue]

Being a UK fan I'll go for Randle. Everything he does is with 2-3 players draped all over him. The offense definitely revolves around him, and he does all the hustle things that help the team succeed....rebounding, diving after loose ball, anything to help the team win. Now if his wingspan was 7'4" and he could shoot the 12-15 footer, we couldn't ask for anything more.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

Being a UK fan I'll go for Randle. Everything he does is with 2-3 players draped all over him. The offense definitely revolves around him, and he does all the hustle things that help the team succeed....rebounding, diving after loose ball, anything to help the team win. Now if his wingspan was 7'4" and he could shoot the 12-15 footer, we couldn't ask for anything more.

I don't think that wingspan is going to do much for him in college. That's more of a knock on him when he goes pro.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

Creighton's Doug McDermott is the favorite heading into the final six weeks of the season, but the talk of the sport for the past two weeks has been Kansas big man Joel Embiid. And perhaps surprisingly, the freshman from Cameroon was not included among the 25 players on the midseason list.

Of course, that doesn't mean he can't make a run at the award or win it: Victor Oladipo finished second last season after not being on the midseason list. Trey Burke won the award.

Here's the complete list:

• Kyle Anderson, UCLA
• Keith Appling, Michigan State
• Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico
• Jordan Clarkson, Missouri
• Aaron Craft, Ohio State
• Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
• Cleanthony Early, Wichita State
• Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
• C.J. Fair, Syracuse
• Aaron Gordon, Arizona
• Rodney Hood, Duke
• Nick Johnson, Arizona
• DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
• Doug McDermott, Creighton
• Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
• Jabari Parker, Duke
• Adreian Payne, Michigan State
• Casey Prather, Florida
• Julius Randle, Kentucky
• Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
• Russ Smith, Louisville
• T.J. Warren, North Carolina State
• Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
• Chaz Williams, Massachusetts
• Joseph Young, Oregon

I'm inclined to go with McDermott, but that's a helluva list. Hard to argue against most of 'em.

 

[dcZONAfan]

it's gotta be McDermott...he is one of the best college players we have ever seen

 

[jonvi]

I'm inclined to go with McDermott, but that's a helluva list. Hard to argue against most of 'em.

it's gotta be McDermott...he is one of the best college players we have ever seen

He has some off the chart stats. I didn't think that possible in the Big East. Yet here he is. I'm with tango....I like Randle. I think Randle would be all over McDermott one on one.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

I think it's McDermott and not even close. His stats are like KDs in the NBA right now.

 

[gordontrue]

Aaron Craft???

 

[jonvi]

Aaron Craft???

tOSU's recent decline aside, Aaron Craft is a fun kid to watch. But if I read you right, I agree, he doesn't have enough stats to win the Wooden Award.

 

[gordontrue]

tOSU's recent decline aside, Aaron Craft is a fun kid to watch. But if I read you right, I agree, he doesn't have enough stats to win the Wooden Award.

Yeah, if we were talking about a career achievement award, I could see him being one of 25 finalists, but for THIS YEAR's wooden award??? Makes no sense to me.

 

[rmilia1]

Interesting... The best 2 players in the big 10 more than halfway through the year have been devyn marble and nick stauskus and neither of them are on the list despite 4 other big 10 players being on it.

 

[jonvi]

Interesting... The best 2 players in the big 10 more than halfway through the year have been devyn marble and nick stauskus and neither of them are on the list despite 4 other big 10 players being on it.

And I like Gary Harris with MI St. The kid is averaging 18 points per game. And you don't lead your conference unless you have an outstanding guard. he's a player I could see on this list.

 

[dcZONAfan]

He has some off the chart stats. I didn't think that possible in the Big East. Yet here he is. I'm with tango....I like Randle. I think Randle would be all over McDermott one on one.

Here's what I think about Randle vs. McDermott one on one:

Whoever gets the ball first never gives it up

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Interesting... The best 2 players in the big 10 more than halfway through the year have been devyn marble and nick stauskus and neither of them are on the list despite 4 other big 10 players being on it.

I could see a case for Marble over The Big10 guys but idk outside of that.

He's got solid numbers but still shoots pretty poor.

I think this shows that Iowa is a well rounded team. No top 25 guy but a lot of really really quality players.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

And I like Gary Harris with MI St. The kid is averaging 18 points per game. And you don't lead your conference unless you have an outstanding guard. he's a player I could see on this list.

Gary Harris definitely the most talented of the bunch. He's a flat out stud.

 

[rmilia1]

And I like Gary Harris with MI St. The kid is averaging 18 points per game. And you don't lead your conference unless you have an outstanding guard. he's a player I could see on this list.

Harris is the only other b10 guy that belongs on the list

 

[TangoBlue]

And I like Gary Harris with MI St. The kid is averaging 18 points per game. And you don't lead your conference unless you have an outstanding guard. he's a player I could see on this list.

I like Gary Harris also jonvi. He's a heck of a player; I watched him in the Indiana game.....how he played the game...interacting with his team, and also his scoring.
He looked silky smooth in his shots, and actually I think he made his team look better just by playing the way he did.

But being a UK homer I'm still gonna stick with Julius Randle.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

I like Gary Harris also jonvi. He's a heck of a player; I watched him in the Indiana game.....how he played the game...interacting with his team, and also his scoring.
He looked silky smooth in his shots, and actually I think he made his team look better just by playing the way he did.

But being a UK homer I'm still gonna stick with Julius Randle.

Thing is right now. You may be a homer just having him in top 3.

Heck, there is a solid case that Randle has work to be top 5. Not a knock on him he's great but over McDermott right now is more extreme than just homer.

 

[Tomhusker]

I'm gonna go with Dougie. The kid can flat out ball.

 

[TangoBlue]

Thing is right now. You may be a homer just having him in top 3.

Heck, there is a solid case that Randle has work to be top 5. Not a knock on him he's great but over McDermott right now is more extreme than just homer.

I can't argue with extreme conviction on my part.....(because I'm not 1000% a basketball junkie) that Randle is the best choice for the award. A lot of the players listed I have only seen highlights on ESPN.

But from what I've seen in highlights and the teams I have watched...I feel certain that yes, Julius Randle does belong in the top 3. And I don't think I am being an extreme homer on that statement.

Being a homer doesn't make me blind to facts. It just means I am a homer. Maybe you can tell me who your top three are....and how they are all better choices than Randle. I anxiously await your "reasons".