This topic contains 3 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by NorrinRaddNorrinRadd NorrinRadd 5 years, 3 months ago.

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  • Posted on: Wed, 03/10/2021 - 12:43am #1247685
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    mikeyvthedon
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    It seems that Iowa senior Luka Garza is destined to win the Wooden Award this year, which for the last long while, has also coincided with taking home the Naismith Award as well. This week on Viseland, Jason and I decided to rank the last 10 winners of the Wooden Award in terms of where they currently fit in the NBA. It was more an excuse to talk about 10 fantastic individual college seasons, what their outlook was as prospects and where they are currently in the league.

    https://youtu.be/23r4NBPnlFM

    The lowest pick among the Wooden Award winners since 2011 was Frank Mason at 34 (followed by Jalen Brunson going 33). Will be interesting to see where Luka Garza ends up, as it seems like he still is a long shot to go first round. First off, would everyone here vote for Luka Garza as the Wooden Award winner this year?

    The four major POY awards in college are the Wooden, the Naismith, the Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Nine of the past ten seasons, one single player has won all of the four awards in the same season. The one season in which a different player won the AP and NABC was 2015-16, with Denzel Valentine copping those awards, while Buddy Hield won the Wooden and Naismith. My guess is there will be a clean sweep for Luka Garza this season.

    Anyone have any favorites for next season in terms of early POY candidates? I think that while he has had a dominant season this year, Drew Timme may come back to Gonzaga for one more season to work some more on stretching his range. Also, Paolo Banchero has a chance to really crush college basketball next year. If Chet Holmgren does indeed decide to go to college, he could have a monster season as well. Chet and Timme in the front court would be quite unfair.

    Would appreciate anyone that watches, subscribes, likes or comments. Also, if you have any questions about the rankings or thoughts on who should be the Wooden Award winner this year or next year, definitely would like to hear thoughts.

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  • Posted on: Wed, 03/10/2021 - 8:06am #1247703
    festar35festar35
    festar35
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    Gonzaga kind of have too much talent for a single player to get the award, but my bias vote goes to Corey Kispert. He has been phenomenal this year for the undefeated Bulldogs.

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    • Posted on: Wed, 03/10/2021 - 9:00am #1247705
      HeroescantdieHeroescantdie
      Heroescantdie
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      Gonzaga has 5 starters projected to be drafted this year or next year in Suggs, Kispert, Nembhard, Ayayi, and Timeme, they are stacked, My vote goes to Garza, even though I’m a Cade Cunningham fan

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  • Posted on: Wed, 03/10/2021 - 10:46pm #1247715
    NorrinRaddNorrinRadd
    NorrinRadd
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    Luka Garza padded his stats enough to win the award. I feel like I kind of jinxed Dosunmu and Cunningham for getting close to the award this year. Dosunmu could have made a better case had he not hurt his face and Cunningham would have a better case had he not sprained his ankle and his team won without him the game he missed. But the way Garza punishes bad to average teams and gets crazy numbers because of that anoints him the Wooden Award. He should get awards this year in clean sweeping fashion as said. His impact in the NBA imo will be about as good as the 9th/10th man or even slightly more down the bench. He could have a role in the league though. If I am guessing, he does get drafted barely and is a fringe prospect at this point.
    As for next year, a big question to start the award prediction is where will Chet Holmgren go? If he ends up going to college, then I believe he goes #1 while getting all the awards. Gonzaga would be amazing again and would be up there as the favorite. But he might not be going to college. There could be other candidates to take the award, but probably some surprise player that doesn’t declare for some reason like Jared Butler or Luka Garza last year staying in school. That’s another good probability, but we will need a time machine for that. But I can vision the good list of possible prospects you listed.

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