Tag: Wooden Award

LSU’s Angel Reese named to Wooden Award All-American team

Angel Reese missed the cut of finalists for the Wooden Award, but she was still honored as an All-American.

LSU women’s basketball star [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] is moving on from her college career as she announced her decision to enter the WNBA draft — where she’s a projected top-10 pick — on Wednesday.

But Reese isn’t quite done earning collegiate accolades despite LSU’s Elite Eight loss in a rematch against Iowa on Monday night. On Tuesday, Reese was named to the Wooden Award All-American team.

The All-American team consists of the 10 top vote-getters for the Wooden Award, the most prestigious individual honor in the sport. She’s joined by Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Paige Bueckers (Connecticut), Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina), Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Aaliyah Edwards (Connecticut), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech) and JuJu Watkins (USC).

Reese ultimately did not make the list of five finalists for the award, which consists of Brink, Bueckers, Clark, Hidalgo and Watkins. Still, she finishes her career as the reigning SEC Player of the Year while ranking second in program history with 61 career double-doubles in just two seasons.

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Dalton Knecht named Wooden Award finalist

Tennessee basketball guard Dalton Knecht named Wooden Award finalist.

Tennessee basketball player Dalton Knecht is a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award.

Five finalists for the award were determined by the Los Angeles Athletic Club’s voting committee.

Finalists include Knecht, RJ Davis (North Carolina), Zach Edey (Purdue), Tristen Newton (UConn) and Jamal Shead (Houston).

Edey won the award last season.

The five finalists are also on the Wooden All-American Team. Other players on the Wooden All-American Team include Kyle Filipowski (Duke), Hunter Dickinson (Kansas), Tyler Kolek (Marquette), Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State) and Caleb Love (Arizona).

Knecht, the SEC Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Naismith Trophy, the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award and the Julius Erving Award.

He is one of  four consensus First-Team All-America players in Tennessee basketball history.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo named Wooden Award finalist

She had an incredible season, no?

[autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] racked up one record and honor after another during her freshman season at Notre Dame. Now, she’s going about as far as she can go as far as awards in women’s basketball. She has been announced as one of five finalists for the Wooden Award, which is given to the best player in the country.

Even though the winner will be announced Monday, merely being a finalist means Hidalgo will be invited to the ceremony April 12 in Los Angeles regardless if she wins the award or not. She also is one of 10 Wooden Award All-Americans.

In 35 games this season, Hidalgo became one of the country’s top scorers with 33.9 points a game. She also led the country in steals at 4.6 a game, and she averaged 5.5 assists a game. All that and more made her a First Team All-American and First Team All-ACC selection as well as the top rookie and defensive player in the ACC.

Hidalgo faces some incredibly stiff competition for this award. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is the clear favorite to win it for the second straight year, but Hidalgo also is up against 2021 winner Paige Bueckers of UConn, fellow freshman phenom JuJu Watkins of USC and Stanford’s Cameron Brink. Still, the fact that she can be in the conversation with these players is a good indicator that she’ll keep the South Bend faithful coming to Purcell Pavilion for the next few years.

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Former Tar Heel Caleb Love named Pac-12 Player of the Year

It was tough when the UNC basketball team lost Caleb Love to the transfer portal, but that move worked out for both sides.

Former five-star UNC basketball recruit Caleb Love found a new home in the offseason, transferring out of Chapel Hill and to Tuscon to play for Arizona.

And it’s a move that paid off for him.

With the regular season in the books, Love was named the 2024 Pac-12 men’s basketball player of the year on Tuesday.

That decision to play basketball in the desert paid off, as Love was named Pac-12 Player of the Year.

This award is in addition to recently being named a finalist for the Wooden Award, given annually to the top player in college basketball.

He’s averaging 18.7 points per game, which is fourth in the Pac-12 and 62nd nationally. The guard shot 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from the three-point line this season.  Love has scored in double-digits 29 times this year, with a career-high 36 in a Jan. 27 victory over Oregon.

The former 5-star recruit from St. Louis, Mo. spent his first three seasons of college basketball as a Tar Heel. He provided plenty of huge moments, most notably his shot in the 2022 Final Four against Duke, that eventually sent UNC to the National Championship game.

Last season was disappointing – not just for Love, but for North Carolina as a whole. It missed the NCAA Tournament after being the Preseason Number One, while there was rumored drama between Love and RJ Davis, which both quickly denied.

Love was one of seven outgoing transfers last offseason. He originally committed to Michigan, but then de-committed and ended up at Arizona.

Wouldn’t it be cool if Arizona and UNC met in the Big Dance?

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Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo named Wooden Award finalist

The freshman is part of an elite class of players this season.

While far from the most prolific women’s basketball player this season, Notre Dame’s [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] still has been incredible. From the moment she stepped on the court in the season opener against South Carolina in Paris, there have been few games in which she hasn’t had a real impact. Now, she’s been rewarded by being named one of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award, which is given to the national player of the year.

Hidalgo entered Sunday’s ACC Tournament championship game averaging with the nation’s third-best scoring average at 23.4 points a game and as the nations steals leader at 4.7 a game. She has reached double figures scoring in every game, and the only time she didn’t record at least one steal was in the Irish’s win over UConn, the highlight of their NCAA Tournament resume.

While it will be tough to make a case for anyone other than Iowa’s Caitlin Clark to win this award, Hidalgo becoming a finalist as a freshman in an achievement on its own. Hopefully, this is only the first time she has this honor.

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RJ Davis a finalist for best player in College Basketball

RJ Davis is the main reason UNC basketball is a National Championship contender this year. Will he win the coveted Wooden Award?

It’s Saturday, March 9 and all the focus on college basketball’s night games centers on UNC-Duke.

Tonight isn’t just any installation of the Tobacco Road Rivalry – first place is on the line. North Carolina (24-6, 16-3) can clinch its first outright, ACC Regular Season title with a win, while Duke can clinch a share by winning.

The 2023-2024 edition of Tar Heel Basketball is significantly better, with the leading cause being star guard RJ Davis. He’s averaging 21.5 points per game, which is good enough for 10th in the nation. Davis has scored in double-digits 29 times this year, including a career-high 42 points against Miami (FL) on Feb. 26.

To summarize, Davis has been playing like the best player in college basketball.

That statement could soon become a reality, as Davis was recently named one of 15 finalists for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4TNmn9gicm/?igsh=dGUxbjFwd2M1cDRl

Davis would be the fifth Tar Heel to win the Wooden Award, joining Tyler Hansbrough, Antawn Jamison, Michael Jordan and Phil Ford.

Joining Davis on the Wooden Award finalist list is Johni Broome (Auburn), Hunter Dickinson (Kansas), Zach Edey (Purdue), Kyle Filipowski (Duke), DaRon Holmes II (Dayton), Dalton Knecht (Tennessee), Tyler Kolek (Marquette), Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Tristen Newton (UConn), Antonio Reeves (Kentucky), Mark Sears (Alabama), Jamal Shead (Houston) and a former Tar Heel in Caleb Love (Arizona).

There’s no doubt that each of these players is deserving of the award, but Davis has the strongest case because he’s helped turn UNC from last year’s embarrassment to a National Championship contender. With the exception of Dayton, each of the other above listed programs made the NCAA Tournament last year.

Oh – and did we mention Davis is 10 made 3-pointers away from the all-time UNC record?

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LSU women’s basketball’s Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow named to Wooden Award late-season watchlist

The Wooden Award goes to the most outstanding player in both men’s and women’s college basketball.

A pair of LSU women’s basketball stars find themselves on the late-season watch list for the Wooden Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding player in both men’s and women’s college basketball.

[autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] grace the list, making LSU one of four programs with multiple players on the watch list. Morrow and Reese rank in the top 10 nationally in double-doubles with 13 and 13, respectively.

Morrow has been an impactful transfer addition this season, ranking in the top 10 in the SEC in scoring, rebounds, field-goal percentage and steals. Reese, meanwhile, leads the nation in 20-point double-doubles despite missing four games earlier in the season.

The Tigers have hit some turbulence in SEC play, dropping three of their last five, but they’ll look to get back on track as they hope to defend their national title come tournament time.

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Dalton Knecht named to Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list

Dalton Knecht named to Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list.

Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht has been named to the Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list.

Knecht is averaging 20.1 points per game, ranking first in the Southeastern Conference and No. 26 nationally. He has scored 25-plus points seven times during the 2023-24 regular-season, while recording 30-plus points five times and 35-plus points in three contests.

Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list

Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Johni Broome, Auburn
L.J. Cryer, Houston
Johnell Davis, Florida Atlantic
R.J. Davis, North Carolina
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Zach Edey, Purdue
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
P.J. Hall, Clemson
DaRon Holmes II, Dayton
David Jones, Memphis
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State
Caleb Love, Arizona
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Tristen Newton, Connecticut
Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
K.J. Simpson, Colorado

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Jacy Sheldon makes late season Wooden Award watchlist

Sheldon is having one whale of a year. #GoBucks

It’s been a pretty fun and exciting year for the Ohio State women’s basketball team thus far throughout the 2023-2024 season. One reason for that is senior guard Jacy Sheldon, who made the decision to come back for one more season in the Scarlet and Gray.

She’s been a difference-maker her entire career, but now she’s getting more recognition that she’s probably gotten so far. For more proof, look no further than the latest Wooden late season watchlist that was released on Tuesday. Sheldon is one of 20 names that made the cut and will still be in consideration for the award that goes to the best women’s college basketball player annually.

So far this season, Sheldon is averaging a team-leading 17.6 points per contest to go along with 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest in over 33 minutes per game.

The Wooden Award recipient will be announced on Tuesday, April 4 on ESPN. We’ll keep an eye on where Sheldon is in all of the shenanigans leading up to that date.

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Michigan State basketball star Tyson Walker named to Wooden Award midseason Top-25 watchlist

Tyson Walker named to Wooden Award midseason Top-25 watchlist

It hasn’t been the most consistent season for the Spartans, but if there is one constant for Michigan State basketball, it’s Tyson Walker. The Spartans’ star guard has been lighting it up again this year, averaging 20.6 points per game for Tom Izzo’s squad.

It wasn’t a huge surprise on Thursday when Walker was named to the Wooden Award midseason Top-25 watchlist, recognizing the top-25 players in the country.

You can see the full list below:

  • Max Abmas, Texas
  • Armando Bacot, North Carolina
  • L.J. Cryer, Houston
  • Johnell Davis, Florida Atlantic
  • RJ Davis, North Carolina
  • Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
  • Zach Edey, Purdue
  • Kyle Filipowski, Duke
  • PJ Hall, Clemson
  • David Jones, Memphis
  • Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
  • Tyler Kolek, Marquette
  • Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State
  • Caleb Love, Arizona
  • Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
  • Tristen Newton, UConn
  • Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
  • Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
  • Mark Sears, Alabama
  • Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
  • KJ Simpson, Colorado
  • Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
  • Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
  • Tyson Walker, Michigan State
  • Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor

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