Predicting All of The National Awards
Defensive Player of The Year: Jamal Shead
This honestly comes down to the fact that Jamal Shead is the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the nation. There are other great defenders on the Houston Cougars, but Jamal Shead’s elite perimeter defense and turnover creation ability is what really turns Houston from a great defense to the best in the nation. Houston has the best steal rate in the nation and Shead is one of the best in the business at getting steals. He has a 4.6% steal rate which is good for 15th in the nation. Shead is the most impactful defender in the nation.
National Player of the year: Zach Edey.
To absolutely no one’s surprise Edey should win this award in back-to-back seasons. Zach Edey had an absolutely incredible season last season but has somehow improved this season. Zach Edey is averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks this season. All while being one of the most efficient scorers in the nation; Edey shoots 63% from the field. Purdue is currently second in the nation, and they have been in the top 3 of the AP polls all season. Edey is the driving force of arguably the best team in the nation on offense and defense. All while averaging some of the gaudiest raw numbers in the country.
National Coach of the year: Danny Sprinkle
He inherited basically a blank roster at Utah State when he got the job last off season. No one on his team that averages over one point per game this season had ever played in a game for Utah State and Sprinkle took basically a brand-new roster as a brand-new coach and won a loaded mountain west. There is no more impressive coaching job in the nation this season.
Freshman of the year: Myles Rice
While Rice is not a typical Freshman because of his extenuating circumstances he is still having an amazing year. He has helped Washington State turn into a tournament lock after a season where they were .500 and then lost their top 4 scorers. Myles Rice and Isacc Jones are essentially tied for being the leading scorer at 15.3 and 15.4 points a game. Myles Rice also averages just about 4 assists a game. To come into a team that much turnover in your freshman year and lead them to a projected 6 seed in the tournament is incredibly impressive. Myles Rice has a bright future ahead of him.
Bob Cousy (Best Point Guard): Jamal Shead
Jamal Shead is the best player on the best team in the nation. He is one of the best perimeter defenders and playmakers in the nation. He is averaging 13 points and 6 assists. While these aren’t the most insane numbers Shead’s impact goes way beyond what shows up in the stat sheet. He always shows up when Houston needs him. He impacts winning more than any point guard in the nation and he deserves this award.
Jerry West (Best Shooting Guard): RJ Davis
North Carolina has had a massive bounce back year after missing the tournament last season and RJ Davis has a lot to do with that. He has taken his game from a great player to one of the best players in the nation. He averaged 16 points a game last season but jumped to 21 points a game this season. RJ Davis is one of the premier perimeter creators in the nation and it’s a big reason why the Tar Heels are succeeding this year.
Julius Erving Award (Best Small Foward): Dalton Knecht
If Zach Edey wasn’t having a historic year Dalton Knecht would be the national player of the year. In just his first year at Tennesse after transferring from Northern Colorado Knecht has transformed the Volunteers from a good team to one of the best teams in the nation. He is averaging 21 points and 5 rebounds a game. Just three years removed from playing at a community college Knecht completed the best shooting guard season in the nation.
Best Power Forward: Kyle Filipkowski
Kyle Filipkowski easily could have gone to the NBA, but he decided to come back for his sophomore year, and it has paid off. He is averaging 17 points, 8 rebounds 3 assists and 2 blocks per game. Duke has consistently been one of the best teams in the nation all season and Filipkowski has a lot to do with that. As long as there isn’t any court storms Kyle Filipkowski is the best power forward in the nation.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Best Center): Zach Edey
Edey has been the best player in the nation for the last 2 seasons. This season he is averaging 24 points,12 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. He is the best offensive player on the best offensive team in the nation. While also being a much-improved rim protector. He has been the best center this season.
