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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 08-19-2014, 08:55 AM:

I would think with the depth we have it's going to be hard for us to win any of these individual awards with the limited playing time our players will get. I would be very surprised if any player will average 30 minutes a game.

My top Wooden Award contenders (returning players)

1.Frank Kaminsky -- Wisconsin star is one of the toughest players to defend due to his size and range, and he’s back for another run.

2.Montrezl Harrell -- Louisville center is bigger, stronger and faster even though he was bigger, stronger and faster than everyone last season.

3.Marcus Paige -- Averaged 17.5 points per game and 4.2 assists per game for North Carolina last season, but he’ll have more help and the potential for a more productive year.

4.Fred Van Vleet (or Ron Baker) -- Wichita State’s point guard finished fourth nationally with a 4.02 assist-to-turnover ratio, and he’ll take on a bigger scoring role this year. But Baker, a future pro wing, could ultimately represent Wichita State in the Wooden Award mix.

5.Branden Dawson -- Tom Izzo’s team will be built around the sturdy, skilled 6-foot-6 forward who was a McDonald’s All-American before injuries interrupted his progress.

6.Georges Niang -- Iowa State power forward excels with an IQ and arsenal few bigs can match, and he’s healthy again after suffering a foot injury during last season’s NCAA tournament.

7.Andrew Harrison -- Kentucky point guard will lead the deepest frontcourt in the country and most talented roster in America.

8.Ryan Boatright -- Had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in win over Kentucky in national title game, and now UConn is his squad.

9.Chasson Randle -- The Stanford guard averaged 18.7 PPG and shot 39 percent from the 3-point line for a Cardinal team that reached the Sweet 16 last season.

10.Juwan Staten -- If you haven’t heard of Staten (18.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 40 percent from the 3-point line for West Virginia last season), you will. Soon.
My top Wooden Award contenders (freshmen)

1.Jahlil Okafor -- Duke big man has great hands and mobility.

2.Cliff Alexander -- Kansas freshman is trapped in a grown man’s body.

3.Karl Towns/Tyler Ulis -- Kentucky first-year players turned heads during recent Bahamas tour.

4.Stanley Johnson -- Linebacker who decided to play basketball at Arizona.

5.Kevon Looney -- Perhaps the next great UCLA freshman.
My top Wooden Award contenders (sleepers)

1.Wayne Selden Jr. -- KU star averaged 10.2 PPG next to Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, but now he’s the man in Lawrence.

2.Marcus Foster -- The sophomore could be one of America’s breakout stars after leading Kansas State to the tourney last season.

3.Kentucky -- Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, Aaron Harrison … take your pick. The whole team is a contender.

4.Brandon Ashley -- Arizona forward is healthy now after missing a chunk of last season with a foot injury.

5.Caris LeVert -- The 6-6 standout will be the next Michigan wing to turn pro and carry the Wolverines to Big Ten title contention.

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Posted by rlt4uk (Member # 3194) on 08-19-2014, 03:10 PM:

I think van vleet, has a real good chance to win it. I would love to see a cat win it, but like you said catmandoo, they just won't get enough minutes to win it.

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 08-19-2014, 05:13 PM:

If UK wins the championship and Ulis gets any better he has a good chance to win it. I really think by the end of the season, if Cal scraps the 2 platoon system, Ulis will be the starter at PG with maybe the Harrisons playing wings. It's hard to say all three would be starting with all the other bigs we have but it is a good possibility. Add Cauley and Towns and you would have some kind of lineup. Then you could have Hawkins, Booker, Poythress, Lee or Johnson and Lyles coming off the bench. Wow! Just too many combos to figure out.