Tag: Wooden Award

E.J. Liddell on Wooden Award national ballot

In case you missed it – E.J. Liddell is on the national ballot for the Wooden Award. #GoBucks

Ohio State basketball forward E.J. Liddell is one of 15 players to be named to the national Wooden Award ballot, given annually to the most outstanding player in college basketball.

Now at the tail-end of his junior season, Liddell is averaging 20.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per contest in 32.1 minutes of play this year. He has stepped up his per game average stats every season as he has developed at OSU and is considered one of the best forwards in the college game, and a likely first-round NBA draft pick.

The Other players on the ballot include Auburn’s Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin of Arizona, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme of Gonzaga, Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn, Keegan Murray of Iowa, Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji, Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, Johnny Juzang of UCLA, Villanova’s Collin Gillespie and Johnny Davis of Wisconsin.

The winner of the Wooden Award will then be announced after the completion of the NCAA Tournament in April. The list will be pared down to five finalists after a top-ten vote ends on March 21.

Ohio State has had just one winner of the Wooden Award, Evan Turner back in 2010.

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Johnny Davis named to Wooden Award midseason Top 25

The Badger star was named to the Wooden Award watch list

After leading Wisconsin to a surprise 2021 Maui Jim Maui Invitational Tournament win, having a career-night at Purdue, and helping the Badgers overachieve early in the season, Johnny Davis was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25.

The Badger star ranks third in the country, averaging 22.3 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds. His 37-point barrage at Purdue set a new career-high in points as he led Wisconsin to a shocking upset.

This is Davis’ first appearance on a Wooden Award list. In all, the Big Ten conference had nine players on the Midseason Top 25 list.

Frank Kaminsky was the last Badger to take home the Wooden Award, winning it after his phenomenal 2014-15 season.

The winner of the 2022 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.

 

E.J. Liddell named finalist for Wooden Award

Ohio State basketball sophomore forward E.J. Liddell was named one of fifteen finalists for the Wooden Award on Saturday.

After not appearing all season long, Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell has made it onto the Wooden Award list as one of fifteen finalists. The award goes out to college basketball’s top player annually.

Liddell, a sophomore, has had a breakout year for the Buckeyes. A two-time Illinois Mr. Basketball, his freshman campaign showed flashes of brilliance, but he’s made a significant step in development and consistency his sophomore season. He’s expanded his game with a mid-range and outside jumper, and has learned to be more physical in and around the blocks.

He leads Ohio State in points (15.9), rebounds (6.7), and blocks (1.1) per game. He is third on the team in minutes played. It’s not an easy argument to make that he’s been the team’s best player, and one of the best in the Big Ten.

The complete list of finalists are:

Charles Bassey, Center – Western Kentucky
Jared Butler, Guard – Baylor
Kofi Cockburn, Center – Illinois
Cade Cunningham, Guard – Oklahoma State
Hunter Dickinson, Center – Michigan
Ayo Dosunmu, Guard – Illinois
Luka Garza, Center – Michigan
Collin Gillespie, Guard – Villanova
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Forward – Indiana
Corey Kispert, Forward – Gonzaga
E.J. Liddell, Forward – Ohio State
Evan Mobley, Forward – USC
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Forward – Villanova
Jalen Suggs, Guard – Gonzaga
Drew Timme, Forward – Gonzaga

The Wooden Award winner will be announced during the Final Four in April. Evan Turner is the only Buckeye to have won the award in its 44-year history.

Ohio State basketball NCAA Tournament History

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Duke Freshman Jalen Johnson Out Indefinitely With Injured Foot

When Notre Dame faces No. 22 Duke on Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Blue Devils won’t be at full strength.

When Notre Dame faces No. 22 Duke on Wednesday, the Blue Devils won’t be at full strength. In fact, that will be the reality for Duke for the foreseeable future. Freshman forward Jalen Johnson, who has more talent than any other Blue Devil this season, has a foot injury and will be sidelined indefinitely. Duke, which recently announced that it is forgoing the remainder of its nonconference schedule, next plays Dec. 29 against Pittsburgh.

Johnson is projected to be a first-round selection in the 2021 NBA draft. He made the preseason watch lists for the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and Julius Erving Award, which goes to the top small forward in the country. He also was a first-team Preseason All-ACC selection. Through four games, he is averaging 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game on 54.3 percent shooting from the field.

The Irish could get a chance to face Johnson when the teams meet again Feb. 9 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Regardless, a win against Duke is what every team strives for. It doesn’t even matter if you’re a conference rival. That’s the team you definitely want to beat when the opportunity arrives.

Cassius Winston named John R. Wooden Award All-American

Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston has been named a Wooden Award All-American, placing in the top 10 in voting for the award.

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The Wooden Award is college basketball’s highest honor, and the Wooden Award All-American team is comprised of the top ten vote-getters for that award. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced the 2020 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s All-American Team during SportsCenter on ESPN. Cassius Winston was one of those players and received yet another All-American honor.

Winston has already become just the second player in Michigan State history to earn All-American honors in consecutive years, following only Mateen Cleaves.

Here is the entire team:

  • Udoka Azubuike (Kansas)
  • Devon Dotson (Kansas)
  • Malachi Flynn (San Diego State)
  • Luka Garza (Iowa)
  • Markus Howard (Marquette)
  • Filip Petrusev (Gonzaga)
  • Myles Powell (Seton Hall)
  • Payton Pritchard (Oregon)
  • Obi Toppin (Dayton)
  • Cassius Winston (Michigan State)

Azubuike, Garza, Howard, Powell, and Toppin made the top five in Wooden Award voting. Voting took place between March 16 and March 23.

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Michigan State Basketball PG Cassius Winston named to the Wooden Award National Ballot

Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston has been named to the Wooden Award National Ballot.

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Each year, the Wooden Award National Advisory Board puts together lists of 15 of the top Men’s and Women’s College Basketball players in the country for the Wooden Award National Ballot. These players are candidates for both the Wooden Award Trophy and the Wooden Award All-American Team. Michigan State Basketball point guard Cassius Winston has been named to the National Ballot for the second year in a row.

Winston was named to the Wooden Award All-American Team last year. He is the only player aside from Marquette’s Markus Howard to be on the Ballot this year after being named an All-American last season.

Voting for the Wooden Award will take place between March 16th and March 23rd. The All-American team will be revealed on April 1st after the Elite Eight. The Wooden Award Trophy will be presented during the ESPN College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s on ESPN2 on April 10.

Here is the full list of candidates, per the Wooden Award website:

Name School Conference Height Class Position
Udoka Azubuike Kansas Big 12 7-0 Sr. C
Saddiq Bey Villanova Big East 6-8 So. F
Jared Butler Baylor Big 12 6-3 So. G
Anthony Cowan Jr. Maryland Big Ten 6-0 Sr. G
Devon Dotson Kansas Big 12 6-2 So. G
Malachi Flynn San Diego State Mountain West 6-1 Jr. G
Luka Garza Iowa Big Ten 6-11 Jr. C
Markus Howard* Marquette Big East 5-11 Sr. G
Tre Jones Duke ACC 6-3 So. G
Jordan Nwora Louisville ACC 6-7 Jr. F
Filip Petrusev Gonzaga WCC 6-11 So. F
Myles Powell Seton Hall Big East 6-2 Sr. G
Payton Pritchard Oregon Pac-12 6-2 Sr. G
Obi Toppin Dayton A-10 6-9 So. F
Cassius Winston* Michigan State Big Ten 6-1 Sr. G

Kaleb Wesson selected to Midseason Top 25 for Wooden Award

Ohio State basketball forward Kaleb Wesson was selected to the Top 25 Midseason Wooden Award list Wednesday.

Ohio State big man Kaleb Wesson has not only transformed his body, but also his basketball game. It doesn’t take long to see the improvements in the 6-9, 270 lb. forward’s approach and skill set. His scoring average is about the same so far this year as last, but that doesn’t tell the full story.

He’s got better foot-work down low, better conditioning to stay further out of four trouble and move his feet on defense more, and his outside game is something teams have to guard against. Wesson’s steals, rebounds, assists, minutes played, and blocks per game have all improved suggesting he’s much more effective all-around.

And now, it’s not just the Big Ten or Ohio State coaching staff that has taken notice of the year he is having. Wesson was selected to the Midseason Top 25 for the Wooden Award Wednesday.

The players selected to the prestigious list are chosen by a panel of national college basketball experts. It recognizes those players that are front-runners for the Wooden Award — the sports most prestigious honor that goes to the best college basketball player annually.

The winner of the 2020 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s during the ESPN College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 10, 2020. And yes, there’s still plenty of work to do.