2013 NCAA Basketball Picks: Wooden Award Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013 NCAA Basketball Picks: Wooden Award Dark Horses and Sleepers: The Wooden Award is handed out yearly to the college basketball player deemed to be the most outstanding in the country during the regular season. Last year, Michigan point guard Trey Burke took home the honor, and while he was an example of a player with an established reputation of being a star winning the award, there have also been plenty of surprise winners. Even in recent years, Jameer Nelson, Andrew Bogut, Evan Turner and Jimmer Fredette are just a few examples of players that either burst on to the scene or played for non-traditional basketball powers that have won the Wooden Award. With that in mind, here is a closer look at a few players that could end up beating out the preseason favorites for the 2013-14 Wooden Award.

The Dark Horses

Thanks to some injuries during his freshman year, Isaiah Austin went from a sure-fire one-and-done college player to a potentially unstoppable sophomore in Baylor’s frontcourt. The versatile center averaged 13.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last year while knocking down nearly a 3-pointer per game. If anything, Austin was too willing to step away from the hoop as a freshman. If he uses his 7-foot frame to dominate in the post a bit more often, he could be 20-point, 10-rebound guy on a regular basis and end up winning the Wooden Award.

In his first year as the go-to scorer for North Carolina, forward James Michael McAdoo went through bouts of inconsistency on his way to averaging 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. At his best, McAdoo is a 20-point scorer that has the athleticism to get to the rim and the touch to knock down mid-range jumpers. If he can just bring maximum effort and an attacking style on nightly basis, he could end up being one of the top scorers in the country and a serious contender for the Wooden Award.

He is already one of the most versatile players in the country, and with Syracuse losing a bulk of its other scoring options from last year, forward C.J. Fair will be asked to do even more in 2013-14. Last season, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 46.9 percent from beyond the arc. Fair makes an impact at both ends of the court, and when called upon, he was a go-to scorer for the Orange last year. He will be the top option on the offensive end all year, and a sizeable boost in his scoring average to go along with his all-around game could be what he needs to net the Wooden Award.

The Sleepers

Throughout his collegiate career, Michigan State center Adreian Payne has improved and expanded his game each and every year. After averaging career highs in points, rebounding and blocks and adding a 3-point shot to his repertoire last year, Payne could be set for a huge senior season. It isn’t out of the question that Payne averages a double-double this year for a Spartans’ team expected to compete for a national title. Throw in his toughness on the defensive end, and he could have the special combination of numbers and intangibles needed to win the Wooden Award.

Although t is tough to judge a player has yet to player a collegiate game, Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins has enough upside to make NBA franchises throw away the season in the hopes of landing him. The freshman has the type of rare athleticism that allows him to create his own shot and get to the rim seemingly at will. Meanwhile, major roster turnover will make Wiggins the go-to scorer for the Jayhawks right out of the gate. Freshman like Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis have nabbed the Wooden Award in recent years, and Wiggins has the talent to be the next young player to take the country by storm.

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