Early College Basketball Awards

We’re about a quarter of the way through the college basketball season already, so it’s time to give some early awards out, as if the season ended today. This includes players, teams, and coaches that have been good, bad, surprising, and disappointing. Remember that this is an early look, and things will change dramatically as the season progresses and conference play takes over.

Best Team: Arizona

I’ve been extremely impressed with Arizona this season. They are big enough to beat teams up inside. Quick enough to get anywhere they want on the court. Athletic enough to match any opponent and give them trouble in return. Aaron Gordon gets the headlines as an elite freshman, but Nick Johnson has been their best player, and TJ McConnell might be their most important. Wins away from home against Duke and San Diego State provide proof for this claim.

Also considered: Syracuse, Louisville

Best Resume: Wisconsin

Wisconsin is 10-0 already this year, with wins over St. John’s, Florida, St. Louis, West Virginia, Marquette, and Virginia. Those wins are good now, but my guess is many will look even better by the end of the year. By the early numbers, they are 3-0 on the road, 5-0 vs. the Top 50 RPI, and 8-0 against the Top 100 RPI. Their other two wins were against teams ranked between 100–150. They scheduled well and have played even better.

Also considered: Syracuse, Massachusetts, Connecticut

Surprise Team: Massachusetts

Of all the teams that have been hot to start the year, I simply didn’t see UMASS coming. This is a team that wasn’t particularly noticeable last year, didn’t get any big time recruits, yet they have raced out to wins this year over Boston College, LSU, Nebraska, New Mexico, Clemson, and BYU. It’s actually a very impressive resume, and they deserve their ranking in the Top 25.

Also considered: San Diego State, Iowa State, Villanova, Dayton, Syracuse

Most Disappointing Team: Michigan Wolverines

In my “early poll” back in April, I had Michigan as a Top 5 team, and I still had them as a Top 10 team in my official poll last month. But three losses later, and they are struggling to stay ranked at all. While losing at Duke was understandable, losses to Iowa State and Charlotte were unexpected. They just aren’t clicking without Trey Burke, and Glenn Robinson III/Mitch McGary are falling short of expectations.

Also considered: Marquette

Player of the Year: Shabazz Napier

Napier has been truly special this season in so many ways. For starters, he’s lighting up the stat sheet: 15.3 points, 7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Second, his team is now a Top 10 team thanks to him, with some great wins on their resume. Third, he’s been Mr. Clutch, hitting game winners most notably against IU and Florida. It’s early, but right now it’s his to lose.

Also considered: Marcus Smart, Jabari Parker, Doug McDermott, Kyle Anderson

Freshman of the Year: Jabari Parker

Andrew Wiggins got all the hype entering the year, but Parker is the best freshman in the country to this point… by far. He’s been way more athletic than anticipated, and he’s a much better shooter than I thought he was. He’s scoring just over 22 points a game, grabbing nearly 8 boards also, and adding 1-2 assists, blocks, and steals each game too.

Also considered: Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, Zach LaVine, Tyler Ennis

Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Obekpa

While he doesn’t do much else, Obekpa is a force in the paint, averaging a ridiculous 5.5 blocks per game. If he keeps that up, St. John’s could make some noise in the newly formed Big East.

Also considered: Briante Weber, Aaron Craft, Khem Birch

Most Improved Player: Trevor Cooney

When Syracuse lost their two best guards last year, many (including myself) thought they might take a small step backwards in terms of offensive production and defense at the top of the zone. They were wrong. In stepped Cooney, a bench warmer last year that averaged about three points a game. He’s currently averaging over 15 points a game and is a threat to shoot it when he walks in the gym. He and freshman guard Ennis have also been terrific defensively at the top of the zone. That’s why Syracuse might be even better than they were last year.

Also considered: Frank Kaminsky, Yogi Ferrell, Kyle Anderson, Nick Johnson, Perry Ellis

Most Disappointing Player: Rasheed Sulaimon

Sulaimon was a key starter last year on a Duke team that was ranked #1 for parts of the year and ended up being a 2-seed in the tourney. Yet this year he’s in Coach K’s doghouse and he’s suffering because of it. His minutes dropped by 7, his points by nearly 5, rebounds and assists too, and he didn’t even play in their showdown last week vs. Michigan. Ouch!

Also considered: AJ Hammons, Glenn Robinson III, Andrew Wiggins, James McAdoo

Coach of the Year: Sean Miller

Everyone expected Arizona to be good, but Miller has gotten his team to play at an exceptional level, fully deserving of a #1 ranking. He has a young team too, which makes this even more impressive.

Also considered: Jim Boeheim, Bo Ryan, Fred Hoiberg, Dana Altman, Jay Wright

Coach Now on the Hotseat: Nobody

Although there have been disappointing teams, no coach is on the hotseat yet. We’ll see what happens in the next few months.

Also considered: None

Best Conference: The Big Ten

I know the Big Ten and ACC tied in their annual challenge, but the Big Ten is simply better. If Illinois didn’t choke, or Michigan State had played normal, the Big Ten would have won outright.  MSU, OSU, and Wisconsin are all legit Top 10 teams. Syracuse is the only ACC team I’d claim is one at this point. Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan have been ranked in the Top 25 most of the year too (depending on the poll). Duke has been in the ACC, along with UNC off and on, but that’s way fewer teams. And when you consider the depth of the Big Ten (Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota, Penn State, etc), there is no question. The Big 12 should be mentioned also due to great teams at the top (Kansas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa State), but they have no depth really after them.

Also considered: ACC, Big 12

Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Voice your opinion in our comment section below. Later!

By: The Sports Guys