Wooden Watch: Week 1
With 19 weeks in the college basketball regular season, there can be many players that seem like the best player in the country at different points in the season. But in the first week of action, a few Wooden Award favorites have proven why they should be considered candidates for the award all season.
Jalen Wilson
As a sophomore, forward Jalen Wilson was a key piece to Kansas’ title run. But he didn’t have to take on the role as the star player, as Ochai Agbaji was the main weapon on that team.
But with Agbaji being drafted this past summer, Wilson is going to have to lead this team in his junior year.
Wilson so far has stood up to that task as he has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first two games.
Whether it’s driving to the basket or hitting the three, Wilson has shown he can be a threat from anywhere on the court. If he can also control the boards then he’ll remain one of the top players in the country and the Jayhawks should be able to compete again come March.
Drew Timme
Ever since he entered the Gonzaga starting lineup, Drew Timme has been a player the Bulldogs can rely on. He’s averaged at least 18 points per game in his last two seasons and had a good start this season with 22 points against North Florida.
The senior forward was only able to get two rebounds Monday night but that won’t be a trend in his play. At 6-foot-10, Timme will be able to flirt with 10 rebounds in most games simply because of his size.
With Gonzaga’s strong out of conference schedule, Timme will have plenty of opportunities to shine against tough opponents and raise his Wooden Award stock.
Marcus Sasser
Marcus Sasser was Houston’s leading scorer through 12 games last season with a 17.7 point per game average. But a toe injury suffered in December ended his season and was a big factor in why the Cougars couldn’t return to the Final Four.
Houston was able to make it to the Elite Eight but fell to Villanova in a low scoring game. Sasser’s scoring ability alone could’ve changed the outcome of that game.
But in the Cougars’ first game against North Colorado, Sasser proved he didn’t miss a beat. The senior guard put up 21 points and had a three-point percentage of 50%.
Houston doesn’t have some key members from last season’s team, but with their best player in Sasser returning they deserve to be ranked as a top team in the country. He might be able to lead this team to the Final Four again and earn himself the Wooden Award.
Trayce Jackson-Davis
In all three of his seasons at Indiana, Trayce Jackson-Davis has been one of the most productive players on the roster.
Despite a poor performance in conference matchups, the Hoosiers were a trendy upset pick in their first-round matchup against Saint Mary’s because of Jackson-Davis’s ability to control the game.
But he was held to only 12 points and the Gaels were able to rout Indiana.
The now senior forward has started off the season strong as he’s averaging 18 points and 6.5 rebounds over two games.
Jackson-Davis will dominate all season. It’s just a matter of if the rest of the team can get the Hoosiers some quality wins and boost Jackson-Davis’s Wooden Award resume.
Jayson O’Connell is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jbo5216@psu.edu.
