The College Basketball Awards aired on Friday night. After winning the Men’s National Championship Game, Villanova was heavily involved in the awards show. Awards handed out included the John R. Wooden Award for the nation’s top player in both men’s and women’s college basketball. Last year’s winners of that award were Frank Mason III of Kansas and Kelsey Plum of Washington.
Here are those that went home from the awards show with some hardware and how those individuals fared over the course of the season.
Bob Cousy Award - Nation’s top point guard
- Jalen Brunson, Villanova (Jr.)
This isn’t the only award Brunson came away with, so more on his accomplishments later.
Jerry West Award - Nation’s top shooting guard
- Carsen Edwards, Purdue (So.)
Purdue went 30-7 on the season, an excellent mark spearheaded by their shooting guard. For the season, Edwards posted per game averages of 18.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. He shot an impressive 40.6 percent on threes and 82.4 percent from the charity stripe. He scored at least 20 points in 14 outings including a season-high 40 on February 22 against Illinois.
Julius Erving Award - Nation’s top small forward
- Mikal Bridges, Villanova (Jr.)
A National Champion for the second time, Bridges was named the nation’s top small forward at the College Basketball Awards.
In 40 games, he finished with per game averages of 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks. He shot 51.4 percent from the field and showed a deft touch from long-range making 43.5 percent of his three-point tries.
Karl Malone Award - Nation’s top power forward
- DeAndre Ayton, Arizona (Fr.)
Ayton was a force for Arizona all season and one of the nation’s top players as a freshman.
He averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.9 blocks in 35 outings. Opposing defenses couldn’t find a way to corral him as he finished the year shooting 61.2 percent from the field. He dominated in the PAC-12 Conference Tournament Semifinals and Finals putting up 64 points and grabbing 32 rebounds in the two games.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award - Nation’s top center
- Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (Sr.)
A force on the glass throughout his collegiate career, Delgado took home honors as the nation’s top center. In 34 games, he averaged 13.6 points, 11.8 rebounds. 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He shot over 50 percent from the field and was a double-double machine finishing with 22 of them. While Seton Hall lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Kansas, Delgado wasn’t to blame as evidenced by his 24 points, 23 rebounds, and five assists.
John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award
- Jay Wright, Villanova
Villanova ended the season 36-4 and won the National Championship with Wright at the helm. He has now been the head coach for the Wildcats 17 seasons and has an overall record of 422-165 with them.
John R. Wooden Award - Nation’s top player
- Men’s - Jalen Brunson, Villanova (Jr.)
Brunson helped lead Villanova to their second National Championship in the past three years. His season saw him appear in 40 games and average 18.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 0.9 steals. He shot an excellent 52.1 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from deep, and 80.2 percent from the foul line. He reached double figures in scoring every game until the National Championship against Michigan where he put up nine points.
- Women’s - A’ja Wilson, South Carolina (Sr.)
Wilson was the driving force on a South Carolina team that went 29-7. She ended the year with averages of 22.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 3.3 blocks. While the Gamecocks lost to Connecticut in the Elite Eight, she wasn’t held in check finishing with 27 points and eight rebounds.
