The Wooden Award Mid-season Watch List: the Good and the Bad

Because of the long break between posts, I want to acknowledge some recent happenings in the college basketball world before I start my post.

1. Coach K Reaches One K
The best college basketball coach ever gets his 1000th win, but I was not overly impressed with how they played, nor how they played in upset losses vs NC State and Miami.

2. The Big 12 continues to beat up on each other
Oklahoma, a top 20 team, has lost 4 Big 12 games.  TCU, who went undefeated in non-conference, is 1-5 in conference play.  Texas Tech, who was previously 0-6 in conference, beat top 10 ranked Iowa State.  Kansas State, who was 7-6 out of conference, is 5-2 in conference play.  It is looking like Kansas will most likely win their 11th straight Big 12 title.

3. The Indiana Hoosiers announce themselves to the national scene
Indiana joined the rankings this week, and proceeded to beat #13 Maryland 89-70.  I have heard both Clark Kellogg and an NBC sports writer say that IU is the most exciting team in the country to watch, due to their incredible 3-point shooting (15 of 22 vs. Maryland).  The Hoosiers did lose to Ohio State on the road on Sunday, but Ohio State shot 62 %, and the Buckeyes looked very good.

4. Rico Gathers of Baylor scores 25 points, and grabs 28 rebounds!!!
Just wanted to mention this, incredible feat for anyone, especially a 6-8 forward.

Here is the Wooden Award Mid-season Watch List (came out a little over a week ago):

Name	School	Conference	Ht.	Yr.	Pos.
Justin Anderson	Virginia	ACC	6-6	JR	G
Ron Baker	Wichita State	Missouri Valley	6-4	JR	G
Ryan Boatright	Connecticut	The American	6-0	SR	G
Willie Cauley-Stein	Kentucky	SEC	7-0	JR	F
Yogi Ferrell	Indiana	Big Ten	6-0	JR	G
Jerian Grant	Notre Dame	ACC	6-5	SR	G
Montrezl Harrell	Louisville	ACC	6-8	JR	F
D’Angelo Harrison	St. John’s	Big East	6-4	SR	G
Tyler Haws	BYU	WCC	6-5	SR	G
Buddy Hield	Oklahoma	Big 12	6-4	JR	G
Stanley Johnson	Arizona	Pac-12	6-7	FR	F
Tyus Jones	Duke	ACC	6-1	FR	G
Frank Kaminsky	Wisconsin	Big Ten	7-0	SR	F
Jordan Mickey	LSU	SEC	6-8	SO	F
Georges Niang	Iowa State	Big 12	6-8	JR	F
Jahlil Okafor	Duke	ACC	6-11	FR	C
Kevin Pangos	Gonzaga	WCC	6-2	SR	G
Bobby Portis	Arkansas	SEC	6-11	SO	F
Chasson Randle	Stanford	Pac-12	6-2	SR	G
Terry Rozier	Louisville	ACC	6-1	SO	G
D’Angelo Russell	Ohio State	Big Ten	6-5	FR	G
Juwan Staten	West Virginia	Big 12	6-1	SR	G
Melo Trimble	Maryland	Big Ten	6-3	FR	G
Kyle Wiltjer	Gonzaga	WCC	6-10	JR	F
Delon Wright	Utah	Pac-12	6-5	SR	G

The Good: 

Most of the top candidates are on the list. Frank Kaminsky, Jahlil Okafor, Montrezl Harrell, Delon Wright, Stanley Johnson and even lesser known guys like Melo Trimble, D'Angelo Russell, Jerian Grant, Kyle Wiltjer, Ron Baker and Justin Anderson. I also was glad that fringe guys like Jordan Mickey, Juwan Staten, and Bobby Portis were on the list. Portis is having a great year for a good Arkansas team, Staten is carrying ranked West Virginia, and Jordan Mickey is a beast inside for LSU.  I also liked  the choices of Yogi Ferrell and Buddy Hield, and Chasson Randle, as they have been the best players on impressive teams.

The Bad: 

Many guys made the list that shouldn't have, and many shouldn't have that did...  

The guys that shouldn't have made it:

1. Tyus Jones, Duke

This is just sad.  I know Jones has looked good in a few big game, notably when scoring 22 vs. Wisconsin, but in their losses he is 4-14 FG while averaging 5 PPG and 3 APG.  Does that sound like a POY candidate???  Jones is barely scoring 10 PPG, and shoots just 42% from the field.  The biggest tragedy about this though is that Jones isn't even the best PG on his team.  Quinn Cook beats him in PPG, FG%, 3PFG%, RPG, MPG, and makes less turnovers.

2. Ryan Boatright, UConn

Personally, I don't really like guys who average 3 turnovers per game and struggle to shoot 40% from the field on non-tournament teams.

3. D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's 

See Boatright, Ryan.  Another guy who doesn't shoot 40% on a team that will be lucky to make the tourney.

4. Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga

I am totally a Kevin Pangos fan, as he is an incredible shooter, and has a great assist to turnover ratio.  But... the Zags haven't played any really tough games, so that assist to turnover ratio is not overly impressive, and also I think he will have trouble scoring against bigger guards and better teams (not that he scores even 12 PPG anyway).

The guys that should have made it:

1. Fred Van Vleet, Wichita State

Van Vleet stats may not look all that impressive, and I know this year he is another guy who struggles to shoot 40%, but the key to his game is his patience.  He is top 5 in the country in assist to turnover ratio, and has the best assist to turnover ratio of anyone with 100 assists.  A big reason why his percentages are so low is because he is forced to take tough shots at the end of the shot clock.  Van Vleet should be on this list because without Van Vleet, they wouldn't even be ranked, much less be a title contender.

2. Zach Auguste, Notre Dame

Despite missing time due to academic problems, my Mr. Efficiency is still a top 5 player in the country according to ESPN's Hollinger ratings, along with Delon Wright, Frank Kaminsky and Jahlil Okafor. Auguste averages 14 PPG and over 6 RPG, despite playing barely over 20 minutes per game.

3. Corey Hawkins, UC Davis

Hersey Hawkins' son, Corey shoots 51% from three, over 50% from the field and also averages 3.1 3s per game, 4 APG, almost 6 RPG, and 21 PPG.  Not to mention he plays on a 14-4 team who will probably make the tournament.  According to ESPN's Hollinger ratings, Hawkins is a top 20 player, and a top 3 guard in the country.

4. Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse

Christmas may not play on a great team, but Syracuse will probably make the tournament, and Christmas is averaging 18.3 PPG and 9 RPG, which is even more impressive considering that Syracuse is 155th in PPG. Another top 20 player on the Hollinger rankings, Christmas has been great throughout the year.