One and not done
By: Owen noland
It's no secret that college basketball is king for the one and done. It's also no secret the key to going deep in the tournament is to be led by upperclassmen. Just look at the team that won it all last year, the Villanova Wildcats. The Villanova Wildcats where led by seniors Daniel Ochefu and Ryan Arcidiacono. Today we will take a look at some of the seniors that could lead their respective teams to a national title.
The first player is junior big man Bonzie Colson. In his sophomore season last year Colson averaged 11.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 1.0 BPG. Although being in and out of the starting lineup last year he looks to be the primary big man for the Irish this year especially after there star forward Zach Auguste graduated.
The next two are a pair of North Carolina Tar Heels. The first is Justin Jackson a junior who has played both guard and forward with the Tar Heels. Although he only averaged 12.2 PPG in his sophomore season he could be the primary scorer this year especially without Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson no longer on the roster. The other Tar Heel is Joel Barry II. As far as point guards go he could turn into one of the elite point guards this year in college basketball. Last year he averaged 12.8 PPG and 3.8 APG.
The next player that could lead their team to a national title is Oregon junior Dillon Brooks. Brooks lead the Ducks to there first ever No. 1 national seed I. The tournament while averaging 16.7 PPG. He emerged as the leader of a very good Oregon team and big things will be expected of him and Oregon this year.
The final player to watch for is Grayson Allen of Duke. As a freshman he won it all with Duke so he knows what it is like to win it all. On a Duke team that could be as talented as the Kentucky team that went 38-1 in 2014-15 Allen will be the leader of the Blue Devils. As a sophomore Allen averaged 21.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 SPG. Big things will be expected of Grayson Allen and the entire Blue Devil team in the 2016-17 season.
The first player is junior big man Bonzie Colson. In his sophomore season last year Colson averaged 11.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 1.0 BPG. Although being in and out of the starting lineup last year he looks to be the primary big man for the Irish this year especially after there star forward Zach Auguste graduated.
The next two are a pair of North Carolina Tar Heels. The first is Justin Jackson a junior who has played both guard and forward with the Tar Heels. Although he only averaged 12.2 PPG in his sophomore season he could be the primary scorer this year especially without Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson no longer on the roster. The other Tar Heel is Joel Barry II. As far as point guards go he could turn into one of the elite point guards this year in college basketball. Last year he averaged 12.8 PPG and 3.8 APG.
The next player that could lead their team to a national title is Oregon junior Dillon Brooks. Brooks lead the Ducks to there first ever No. 1 national seed I. The tournament while averaging 16.7 PPG. He emerged as the leader of a very good Oregon team and big things will be expected of him and Oregon this year.
The final player to watch for is Grayson Allen of Duke. As a freshman he won it all with Duke so he knows what it is like to win it all. On a Duke team that could be as talented as the Kentucky team that went 38-1 in 2014-15 Allen will be the leader of the Blue Devils. As a sophomore Allen averaged 21.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 SPG. Big things will be expected of Grayson Allen and the entire Blue Devil team in the 2016-17 season.
National poY odds
by:Ethan Gunther
Caption:
From left to right: Jayson Tatum (Duke), Harry Giles (Duke), Josh Jackson (Kansas), Marques Bolden (Duke), are all players that will contend for NPOY
From left to right: Jayson Tatum (Duke), Harry Giles (Duke), Josh Jackson (Kansas), Marques Bolden (Duke), are all players that will contend for NPOY
Markelle Fultz: 8-1
Josh Jackson: 10-1
Harry Giles: 10-1
Lonzo Ball: 15-1
Jayson Tatum: 15-1
Ivan Rabb: 15-1
Tyler Lydon: 20-1
Grayson Allen: 20-1
Josh Hart: 30-1
Bam Adebayo: 35-1
Behind the numbers: It's always a tough thing to do when you try to predict an award that won't be given for another 9 months, but I think that this season will be dominated by lowerclassmen (Freshmen and Sophomores). First, you have to start with Duke's incredible pool of talent that they have upcoming this year. Star Guard Grayson Allen is back in Cameron Indoor for at least one more year, Amile Jefferson will try to put together a full year of dominance. Luke Kennard and Matt Jones are also back, adding depth to the roster. But man, their freshman class is something else. It includes 5-star prospects Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, Frank Jackson, and Marques Bolden, as well as a 4-star prospect. That could possibly go down as one of the best recruiting classes ever, not just by Mike Krzyzewski. I think Allen, Giles and Tatum are are stron candidates for POY. Then, you've got to go to Markelle Fultz, a 6'4" combo guard out of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Fultz is a freak athlete that can get to the rim in a hurry, can shoot it from distance, and is a fierce competitor. I think Fultz has a great chance of leading Washington to the NCAA Tournament, as well as POY. Some other underclassmen I think that have a shot to win the POY award are Josh Jackson (Kansas), Lonzo Ball (UCLA), Ivan Rabb (Cal), Tyler Lydon (Syracuse), Thomas Bryant (Indiana), and Bam Adebayo (Kentucky). Now, last year was dubbed as "The Year of the Senior". Well, this year there are no Denzel Valentine's. No Buddy Hield's. No Malcolm Brogdon's. No Brice Johnson's. There definitely aren't as many great seniors as there was last year, but there are a few that I expect to have big years, and the list has to start with Josh Hart. Out of Villanova, Hart led the Wildcats to an NCAA Championship (with a little help from Kris Jenkins). Although floor general Ryan Arcidiacono is gone, Hart is ready to take control of this team, and I think that he can win the NPOY. Other seniors that will have great years for their schools are Jordan Woodard (Oklahoma), and Monte' Morris (Iowa State). The countdown to opening day begins!
Josh Jackson: 10-1
Harry Giles: 10-1
Lonzo Ball: 15-1
Jayson Tatum: 15-1
Ivan Rabb: 15-1
Tyler Lydon: 20-1
Grayson Allen: 20-1
Josh Hart: 30-1
Bam Adebayo: 35-1
Behind the numbers: It's always a tough thing to do when you try to predict an award that won't be given for another 9 months, but I think that this season will be dominated by lowerclassmen (Freshmen and Sophomores). First, you have to start with Duke's incredible pool of talent that they have upcoming this year. Star Guard Grayson Allen is back in Cameron Indoor for at least one more year, Amile Jefferson will try to put together a full year of dominance. Luke Kennard and Matt Jones are also back, adding depth to the roster. But man, their freshman class is something else. It includes 5-star prospects Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, Frank Jackson, and Marques Bolden, as well as a 4-star prospect. That could possibly go down as one of the best recruiting classes ever, not just by Mike Krzyzewski. I think Allen, Giles and Tatum are are stron candidates for POY. Then, you've got to go to Markelle Fultz, a 6'4" combo guard out of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Fultz is a freak athlete that can get to the rim in a hurry, can shoot it from distance, and is a fierce competitor. I think Fultz has a great chance of leading Washington to the NCAA Tournament, as well as POY. Some other underclassmen I think that have a shot to win the POY award are Josh Jackson (Kansas), Lonzo Ball (UCLA), Ivan Rabb (Cal), Tyler Lydon (Syracuse), Thomas Bryant (Indiana), and Bam Adebayo (Kentucky). Now, last year was dubbed as "The Year of the Senior". Well, this year there are no Denzel Valentine's. No Buddy Hield's. No Malcolm Brogdon's. No Brice Johnson's. There definitely aren't as many great seniors as there was last year, but there are a few that I expect to have big years, and the list has to start with Josh Hart. Out of Villanova, Hart led the Wildcats to an NCAA Championship (with a little help from Kris Jenkins). Although floor general Ryan Arcidiacono is gone, Hart is ready to take control of this team, and I think that he can win the NPOY. Other seniors that will have great years for their schools are Jordan Woodard (Oklahoma), and Monte' Morris (Iowa State). The countdown to opening day begins!