Wooden Watch: Mar. 6
The Wooden Award list has been cut down to fifteen players as we head into March Madness and the regular season comes to an end.
With the regular season wrapping up, here are four players who have had the most impressive regular season for their Wooden Award dreams.
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats were led this season by Oscar Tshiebwe who was a monster on both sides of the rebounding glasses. Tshiebwe lead the country in rebounds this year with 15.3 rebounds per game. Tshiebwe also had 17.3 points per game this season to lead the Wildcats to a second-place finish in the regular season.
Tshiebwe transferred in from West Virginia during the midseason of last year. He has managed to become the leader of the Wildcats team this year but what makes Tshiebwe different from anyone else in college basketball is that he gets the job done everywhere on the floor scoring and rebounding.
But, Tshiebwe also averages almost two steals a game and a block and a half per game. That shows his energy and hustle set him apart from the rest of the pack this year.
Keegan Murray, Iowa Hawkeyes
The only power five-player within the top five scoring for division one basketball is Keegan Murray. Murray has had four 30 point scoring games this year so far, but in an even more impressive accomplishment, only has one single-digit scoring game this year.
Murray has led the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 22-8 record on the season which stacks them up at fourth in the Big Ten conference. Murray has had 20 or more points in his last nine out of ten games.
Murray’s terrific scoring run to end the season that kept him in the top five for scoring should give him the upper hand over others for the Wooden Award.
Ochai Agbaji, Kansas Jayhawks
Tied for 25th in the country for scoring this year, Ochai Agbaji for the Kansas Jayhawks has been a dominant scorer at all three levels this year. Leading the Jayhawks to first place in the Big 12 in the regular season.
Agbaji has improved all of his stats from last year for the Jayhawks which has elevated him to their top scorer. Agbaji isn’t without help for the Jayhawks, but they will look to everyone to help Agbaji get them another Big 12 championship.
Walker Kessler, Auburn Tigers
A new name to the Wooden Award list is Walker Kessler from the Auburn Tigers. Kessler has not been on the list until the final 15 finalists were announced. His teammate Jabari Smith was also on the list as well, but Kessler has been the backline of defense for this Auburn team and now his name is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Kessler is averaging an astounding 4.5 blocks per game this year for the Tigers. Along with 11.5 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game this season. Kessler’s dominance in the paint has led the Tigers to a first-place finish in the regular season of the SEC this year.
His late-season performance against Texas A&M where he had a triple-double with 12 points 12 blocks and 11 rebounds, has lifted him towards the top of the Wooden Watch conversation this year.
Dale Ostrander is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email dko5097@psu.edu.
