Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, January 22, 2014
The midseason John Wooden Award watch Top 25 list is out. This is a big deal, as the Wooden often is considered to be the premier national player of the year honor.
Here's the full list. Four Big Ten players made the cut:
- Michigan State?s Keith Appling
- Ohio State?s Aaron Craft
- Wisconsin?s Sam Dekker
- Michigan State?s Adreian Payne
Some interesting choices there, to say the least. Craft hasn't played like one of the nation's best players. Does he deserve to be on here? Nope. Payne has missed four games with a foot injury. And MSU hasn't lost without him. Dekker is 16th in the Big Ten in scoring and 12th in rebounding. Appling is a no-doubter on this list.
But there are several worthy Big Ten names missing here. Where is Michigan?s Nik Stauskas, the Big Ten?s No. 2 scorer and best shooter? What about Gary Harris, the top player on what may be the Big Ten?s best team? He also paces the league in scoring. No doubt, Iowa?s Devyn Marble needs to be included. He?s the driving force behind the Hawkeyes? rise to national prominence.
The good news: This is only a midseason list and any player can play his way onto future lists. Remember, one year ago, Indiana's Victor Oladipo didn't make the midseason cut. He finished as a first-team All-America.
No Nik Stauskas? No Gary Harris? No Roy Devyn Marble? What's up with Wooden Midseason Top 25 list?
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) January 22, 2014
Really, I'm not sure how Nik Stauskas isn't on midseason Wooden Award list. Big name? Check. Big school? Check. Big year? Check. #weird
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) January 22, 2014
Get your shots in now on Aaron Craft..and most of you have..lotta season left.. Any coach would take he and Yogi Ferrell
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) January 22, 2014
Nik Stauskas not on the Wooden Midseason Top 25 … that qualifies as a snub.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) January 22, 2014
Wooden Watch list. Payne, Appling on it. No Gary Harris. No Embiid or Stauskas, either. Aaron Craft? Yes. http://t.co/m8TtHUlf9D
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) January 22, 2014
Also omitted from the Wooden list … current Big Ten scoring leader Gary Harris of Michigan State
— Jason King (@JasonKingBR) January 22, 2014
| About Tom Dienhart | BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section. |
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