The non-conference portion of the college basketball season has wrapped up (save for a handful of late January games in the Big 12/SEC Challenge) and each Division I men’s basketball team is preparing for conference play.
With that, it’s also time to start paying attention to the Player of the Year races in each conference.
Players are judged by their total output throughout the college basketball season, but for most players, the bulk of their statistical resumes are completed in conference play.
One glance at many of these conferences provides the opportunity for some tremendous storylines as the months of January and February continue. In the Big Ten, the Player of the Year award feels like Purdue’s Zach Edey’s to lose. But Penn State guard Jalen Pickett and Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis are among the best players in the nation as well and could fight their way into the discussion. Over in the SEC, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe is looking to defend his SEC and national Player of the Year honors, but Alabama freshman Brandon Miller could lead the Crimson Tide to the top of the standings while putting up monster numbers in the process.
And in the mid-major conferences, UAB’s Jordan Walker, Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis, and Penn’s Jordan Dingle are all among the top scorers in the country. But will scoring be the only criteria that their respective conferences look toward when evaluating who the best player was?
Lots of questions. Not a lot of answers yet. But that’s why they play the games. These predictions may be spot on in March or they could be totally off, but looking at each conference should at least provide a preview of what may happen when each race is all said and done.
Conferences are listed in alphabetical order. All statistics are listed on Sports-Reference.com/cbb and are current as of Jan. 5.
America East: G Sherif Gross-Bullock, Bryant
A long, versatile guard at 6”4, Gross-Bullock currently leads the America East in scoring at 17.0 points per game, while also dishing out 3.4 assists per game and ranking in the top ten in steals per game. New Hampshire forward Clarence Daniels is another strong candidate, averaging over 16 points and 10 rebounds.
American: G Marcus Sasser, Houston
Memphis’ Deandre Williams and Kendric Davis will make a case for themselves throughout the regular season, but this award feels like Sasser’s to lose. The 6”1 point guard is the best player on a Houston team that figures to win a lot of games in the American and potentially earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Sasser’s 15.9 points per game is top ten in the AAC.
Atlantic-10: F Daron Holmes II, Dayton
George Washington’s James Bishop is among the nation’s leading scorers, but his scoring may decrease as the Colonials face stiffer competition in conference play. Holmes should see his numbers remain steady and possibly even increase as the Flyers make a run for the A-10 title. Dayton’s best player averages 18.9 points and 8.2 boards per game.
ACC: F Armando Bacot, North Carolina
The Tar Heels have not met the lofty, preseason No. 1 expectations that were hoisted on them at the beginning of the year, but Bacot has remained one of the best players in the country. The 6”10 forward is averaging a career-high 18.5 points per game and ranks in the top ten in the country in rebounds.
Atlantic Sun: G Darius McGhee, Liberty
McGhee, one of 2021-22’s leading scorers, could have transferred from Liberty last season but instead chose to return to the Flames for another season and has picked up where he left off last year. Averaging 22.0 points per game, McGhee is a huge reason why the Flames are one of the best shooting teams in the country and a mid-major threat to watch in March.
Big 12: F Jalen Wilson, Kansas
A solid contributor for the Jayhawks’ 2021-22 national title-winning team, Wilson has blossomed into one of the premier players in the nation this season. The senior has bumped his scoring average from 11.1 to 20.6 points per game, while also increasing his rebound, assist and steal numbers. Wilson could be a sneaky candidate for national Player of the Year recognition.
Big East: F Adama Sanogo, UConn
Xavier has a trio of players in Colby Jones, Souley Boum and Jack Nunge that could compete for recognition in the Big East, but the award should ultimately end up with Sanogo. The 6”9 junior is a dominant inside force for the Huskies, who seem to be on their way to a high finish in the Big East and a potential No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Big Sky: F Dillon Jones, Weber State
A wide-open Big Sky race in the standings could have implications on the Player of the Year race. Jones, the best player on one of the conference’s strongest teams, is a solid bet to be a beneficiary of that race, averaging 14.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. A team to keep an eye on? Idaho. The Vandals are 6-9 and a struggling defensive team but have two of the best offensive players in the league in forward Isaac Jones and guard Divant’e Moffitt.
Big South: F Drew Pember, UNC Asheville
The reigning 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, Pember has taken steps forward on offense this season as well. The 6”10 big man has UNC Asheville among the Big South’s best squads by averaging 18.1 points and 9.0 rebounds while blocking nearly three shots per game on the defensive end.
Big Ten: F Zach Edey, Purdue
Coming into the year, questions surrounded the 7”4 Edey’s ability to stay on the court for a full game and continue posting impressive offensive numbers in the process. Through 13 games, Edey has quelled every concern with ease, averaging an absurd 21.7 points and 13.4 rebounds per game, while perhaps most importantly, playing over 30 minutes per game. If this is who Edey is going to be in Big Ten play, the National Player of the Year race just might be over.
Big West: G Ajay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara
The leader of one of the most underrated mid-major teams in the country, Mitchell leads the Gauchos in scoring with 16.6 points per game, while also leading the league in assists per game. Mitchell has a great opportunity to lead a dangerous UC Santa Barbara team back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2020-21.
CAA: G Jameer Nelson Jr., Delaware
The son of former NBA All-Star guard Jameer Nelson, the younger Nelson has become one of the best scorers in the country for the Blue Hens. Averaging nearly 20 points per contest, Nelson Jr. has added more balance to his game in 2022-23, getting to the free throw line more and increasing his steals per game number significantly.
C-USA: G Jordan “Jelly” Walker, UAB
Remember the name. Walker leads the nation in scoring with 25.2 points per game and is the heart and soul of a UAB team that could make serious noise in March. Rated No. 51 in Kenpom’s adjusted efficiency rankings, the Blazers may be able to garner at-large consideration with a dominant run through the C-USA.
Horizon: G Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
One of the all-time scoring leaders in college basketball history, Davis is projected by many to be the No. 2 all-time scorer by the time his illustrious college career wraps up in March. Averaging just under 25 points per game, Davis currently sits seventh in NCAA history with 3,103 points, chasing down the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer Pete Maravich who had 3,667 total points.
Ivy League: G Jordan Dingle, Penn
Averaging nearly 24 points per game, Dingle forms one-half of a dynamic Penn backcourt that has the Quakers primed to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017-18. The other part of the duo, guard Clark Slajchert averages 18.0 points per game for a Penn offense that sits inside the top 100 in Kenpom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metric.
MAAC: F Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona
Take your pick of Iona stars for this honor in 2022-23. Rick Pitino has guided the Gaels on the road to becoming a premier mid-major team and Junior Joseph has been a central reason why with 15.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. But the third-year frontcourt star is not the only Iona player with impressive numbers. Guards Walter Clayton and Daniss Jenkins rank among the league’s leaders with 16.1 and 15.9 points respectively, while Jenkins paces the MAAC in assists.
MAC: G Xavier Castaneda, Akron
College basketball diehards should be tuned into the race for MAC Player of the Year. Castaneda has put together an impressive resume with 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, while 10 other players average at least 15 points per night. Tops among them? Memphis transfer and former top recruit Emoni Bates, who averages 20.3 and 5.7 respectively for Eastern Michigan.
MEAC: G Sam Sessoms, Coppin State
Sessoms is among the nation’s leading scorers with 22.2 points per game, while also dishing out 5.1 assists per game. However, a seemingly open and shut case for Sessoms is complicated by Coppin State’s porous 5-12 record and No. 303 Kenpom rating. An alternative to Sessoms could be Norfolk State guard Joe Bryant, who averages over 16 points and three assists per game for a Spartans team with NCAA Tournament hopes.
Missouri Valley: F Marcus Domask, Southern Illinois
Former Northern Iowa guard A.J. Green has left the conference after winning two of the previous three MVC Player of the Year honors, opening the door for Domask to earn the hardware. The two-time All-MVC honoree is a complete player in many different facets, averaging 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Salukis.
Mountain West: G Jaelen House, New Mexico
Before losing on Tuesday to Fresno State, the Lobos were the last unbeaten team remaining in the country, led by a trio of stars in House, guard Jamal Mashburn Jr. and forward Morris Udeze. Any of the three could ultimately take home the award, but House could end up with most diversified stat line. The 6”1 guard pours in 17 points per game with 3.7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Northeast: F Jordan Minor, Merrimack
In just their fourth season of Division I, Merrimack is not yet eligible for the NCAA Tournament, but Minor has the capability to lead them as far as they can possibly go in the NEC. The junior forward is a force in the paint, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds.
Ohio Valley: G Parker Stewart, UT Martin
With the departure of Murray State and Belmont to the Missouri Valley, the OVC race has become wide open along with the Player of the Year competition. Stewart, who averaged 19.2 points per game for UT Martin in 2019-20 before transferring to Indiana, is back with the Skyhawks for his senior season. Stewart’s 16.5 points per game is second in the OVC.
Pac-12: F Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona
Tubelis is aiming to make it back-to-back Pac-12 Player of the Year honors for Arizona after Bennedict Mathurin took home the award last season. Tubelis will need to hold off several challengers from UCLA in Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jaylen Clark, but his 20.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game have him off to a tremendous start.
Patriot: G Tucker Richardson, Colgate
A two-time All-Patriot League member, Richardson has been a key cog in each of Colgate’s last two NCAA Tournament teams. Now a go-to guy for the Raiders, Richardson is second in the league in scoring and is tied for the league lead in assists per game. Expect the Raiders to be right back in the mix for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
SEC: F Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Tshiebwe certainly has more competition for the national honors this year, but the 6”9 big man is simply too dominant in the post to not repeat as SEC Player of the Year. Through 12 games this season, Tshiebwe has poured in 16.8 points and grabbed 13.8 rebounds per game, logging a double-double in all but three contests.
Southern: F Jake Stephens, Chattanooga
An overpowering post presence in the Southern Conference, Stephens has reached new statistical heights in his fifth season overall and first at Chattanooga. The VMI transfer averages 20.6 points and 10.1 rebounds, and perhaps most impressively, shoots over 40 percent from beyond the arc on more than five attempts per game. An all-around star for the Mocs, Stephens is among the underrated gems in college basketball.
Southland: G Latrell Jones, Nicholls State
An athletic, versatile guard at 6”5, Jones has steadily improved during each of his three college seasons, culminating in his best season yet in 2022-23. Jones is fourth in the league in scoring at 15.7 points per game, shoots 36 percent from three and grabs over five rebounds per game, an impressive number for a guard.
SWAC: G William Douglas, Prairie View A&M
A sixth-year senior, courtesy of a redshirt year in 2019-20 and the additional Covid year afforded to each student-athlete, Douglas has hit his stride in 2022-23. Douglas has improved his efficiency numbers shooting the ball and has poured in career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Prairie View A&M may need to make a run in the SWAC standings for Douglas to get consideration over Cam Christon and Carte’are Gordon of Grambling State.
Summit: G Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
One of the most accomplished players in Summit League history, Abmas won Summit League Player of the Year in 2020-21 while leading the team to the Sweet 16. Now in his fourth college season with the Golden Eagles, Abmas averages just under 20 points per game and remains one of the best shooters in the country, connecting on 35 percent of his threes.
Sun Belt: G Taevion Kinsey, Marshall
A look at Kinsey’s stat line reveals one of the most complete players in all of college basketball: 20.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 54.5 FG%, 35.0 3P%. Regardless of competition, those are highly impressive figures that place Kinsey among the best at the mid-major level. Kinsey leads a Marshall squad that ranks No. 87 in Kenpom’s ratings with one of the fastest offenses in the country.
WCC: F Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Timme could have chosen to try his hand in the NBA after each of the last several seasons with Gonzaga, but has returned to Spokane each time, thrilling college basketball fans and the Gonzaga faithful alike. Timme, one of the most consistently excellent players in college basketball, is once again among the nation’s best, averaging 22.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for a Gonzaga squad destined for another high seed in March.
WAC: G Cameron Tyson, Seattle
Three players in the Western Athletic Conference average over 20 points per night, headlined by Tyson, whose 20.5 points per game has led Seattle to a 10-4 overall record. Two factors may work against Tyson however. One, Tyson has just eight assists this season and two, Grand Canyon and Sam Houston State figure to finish higher in the standings, boosting the chances of either Ray Harrison or Qua Grant. Regardless, Tyson could buck the odds and win the award with a strong conference showing and by leading the Redhawks through a surprise run in the WAC.
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