Garza one of 10 semifinalists for Naismith Award

[paladinhawk]

Naismith Trophy Semifinalists


Udoka Azubuike Sr. C Kansas


Vernon Carey Fr. C Duke


Devon Dotson So. G Kansas


Malachi Flynn Jr. G San Diego State


Luka Garza Jr. C Iowa


Markus Howard Sr. G Marquette


Myles Powell Sr. G Seton Hall


Payton Pritchard Sr. G Oregon


Jalen Smith So. F Maryland

Obi Toppin So. F Dayton

Finalists for the trophy will be revealed on March 17, while the winner will be announced April 5, at the Naismith Awards Brunch in Atlanta.

Azubuike or Toppin would be my guess. Hope I'm wrong

 

[SDHawkDoc]

I can see Toppin given his dominant presence for a top 5 team.

Not very likely to go to a guy on a team that finishes in the 20s in polls, unfortunately for Luka.

 

[David1979]

I would put my top 5 in no specific order: Garza, Dotson, Azubuike, Toppin and Pritchard. On that top ten list I would probably have Tre Jones instead of Carey for Duke.

 

[TCOOL]

4 finalists were named last year.

My 4 would be Azubuike, Garza, Pritchard and Toppin.

 

[jhawkinaz]

I have come to terms with the fact that Luka will not win the National player of the year (although he should).

but if he somehow has the Big Ten POY stolen from him the way Woolridge did, I might lose it

 

[Ronman]

You would think that the award would be based on individual achievement, but the more I read the "expert's" opinions, it seems to be more of a reward for a team's overall success, and by that standard, Luka is dropping down the list in their eyes.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Luka should be among the finalists, but it does seem like the team would have to finish strong for him to win national POY. I haven't watched Toppin play, but he seems to be the favorite.

 

[Hammer93]

I have not been impressed in watching Azubiuka. He's just big. Not really that skilled at all in my opinion.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

He might not be that skilled, but Azubiuke is a beast.

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Just like the Heisman... Kind of silly for the team success to be a huge factor in who wins the BEST INDIVIDUAL PLAYER award.

Garza is doing things to the B1G that haven't been done in a long time, if ever.

Against Purdue, he's just smothered with double teams ALL GAME and puts up 26

 

[kceasthawk]

He might not be that skilled, but Azubiuke is a beast.

Yep, and like Cockburn, Luka would probably have him in foul trouble early. These bigs in other leagues, (no matter how good they are) just don't see anyone with the variety of moves and skill set that Luka has.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Luka should be among the finalists, but it does seem like the team would have to finish strong for him to win national POY. I haven't watched Toppin play, but he seems to be the favorite.

I saw a limited sample of Toppin awhile back and I wasn't overly impressed. He does get a lot of help from the others.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Luka should on a finalist list. A list of one.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

He might not be that skilled, but Azubiuke is a beast.

Greg Oden.....

 

[Hammer93]

Greg Oden.....

That is a very good comparison.

 

[Ronman]

He might not be that skilled, but Azubiuke is a beast.

And he's got that "Kansas" thing going for him. Sure they bend the rules a bit, but hey, they're Kansas. They have that special blue blood dispensation from the NCAA.