Wooden Award

[Huskerpapa]

With the angst and hand wringing going on, it is time for some good news.  James Palmer, Jr. has made the top 25 list for the John Wooden Award that is presented to best college player each year.  Think about it...James is considered one of the top 25 players in the country.

 

CONGRATULATIONS James!!!!

[49r]

I mean, that's great and all, and really exciting for JPJ...but let's be clear here.  They might as well carve Zion's name on the plaque or trophy or whatever it is right now because that's who's winning it this year.

 

But still...pretty decent company to be keeping:

 

John R. Wooden Award Presented By Wendy’s

2018-19 Midseason Top 25 Watch List

 

Name	School	Conference	Height	Class	Position
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Virginia Tech	ACC	6-5	So.	G
RJ Barrett	Duke	ACC	6-7	Fr.	F
Ignas Brazdeikis	Michigan	Big Ten	6-7	Fr.	F
Jordan Caroline	Nevada	Mountain West	6-7	Sr.	G/F
Jarrett Culver	Texas Tech	Big 12	6-6	So.	G
Mike Daum	South Dakota State	Summit League	6-9	Sr.	F
Carsen Edwards	Purdue	Big Ten	6-1	Jr.	G
Rui Hachimura	Gonzaga	WCC	6-8	Jr.	F
Ethan Happ	Wisconsin	Big Ten	6-10	Sr.	F
Markus Howard	Marquette	Big East	5-11	Jr.	G
De'Andre Hunter	Virginia	ACC	6-7	So.	G
Keldon Johnson	Kentucky	SEC	6-6	Fr.	G
Romeo Langford	Indiana	Big Ten	6-6	Fr.	G
Dedric Lawson	Kansas	Big 12	6-9	Jr.	F
Caleb Martin	Nevada	Mountain West	6-7	Sr.	F
Luke Maye	North Carolina	ACC	6-8	Sr.	F
Ja Morant	Murray State	Ohio Valley	6-3	So.	G
Jordan Murphy	Minnesota	Big Ten	6-7	Sr.	F
James Palmer Jr.	Nebraska	Big Ten	6-6	Sr.	G
Shamorie Ponds	St. John's	Big East	6-1	Jr.	G
Myles Powell	Seton Hall	Big East	6-2	Jr.	G
Admiral Schofield	Tennessee	SEC	6-6	Sr.	G
Grant Williams	Tennessee	SEC	6-7	Jr.	F
Zion Williamson	Duke	ACC	6-7	Fr.	F
Cassius Winston	Michigan State	Big Ten	6-1	Jr.	G

 

[49r]

...and WOW, 7 guys from the B1G on that list.

[Silverbacked1]

and a Nebraska native

[Huskerone]

Woot, woot!  Congrats JPJ!

[Handy Johnson]

After that 360 dunk Zion threw down last Saturday night in Prime Time, like 49r said, it’s his to lose...

[hhcmatt]

Quote

Palmer is believed to be the first Husker men’s player to make the Midseason Top 25 for the John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year presented by Wendy’s.

 

This is a pretty big deal

[HuskerFever]

7 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

Quote

Palmer is believed to be the first Husker men’s player to make the Midseason Top 25 for the John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year presented by Wendy’s.

 

This is a pretty big deal

 

Some might argue that Wendy's All Americans > McDonald's All Americans.

[AuroranHusker]

19 hours ago, 49r said:

...and WOW, 7 guys from the B1G on that list.

 

Nebraska's never had anyone on the Wooden Award list prior to now. That's pretty cool in and of itself.

 

 

[AuroranHusker]

18 hours ago, Silverbacked1 said:

and a Nebraska native

 

I'm going to watch Daum play UNO once again, I've seen him every year he's been in Omaha. He's pretty good.

 

 

[49r]

2 hours ago, AuroranHusker said:

 

Nebraska's never had anyone on the Wooden Award list prior to now. That's pretty cool in and of itself.

 

 

Pike was on the preseason watchlist his senior year, I believe.

[AuroranHusker]

7 hours ago, 49r said:

 

Pike was on the preseason watchlist his senior year, I believe.

 

Not in-season, but I hear ya: Pike was a beast.

 

[Huskerpapa]

9 hours ago, AuroranHusker said:

 

Not in-season, but I hear ya: Pike was a beast.

 

Pike was always good; but it was at this point of his senior year that the light went on and he went from very good, to great.  I remember he struggled at times when he put the ball on floor to penetrate.  He would often take one dribble too far and would be called for a charge.  All of a sudden, he stopped doing that.  Again, it seemed a light went on for him and he simply elevated his game.  

 

My hope is that our current group of seniors will soon find that enlightenment and elevate their collective games as well.

 

[HB]

10 hours ago, AuroranHusker said:

 

Not in-season, but I hear ya: Pike was a beast.

 

 

Pike also had a nice showing last night at Gate 25 after the game!  

[49r]

6 minutes ago, Huskerpapa said:

Pike was always good; but it was at this point of his senior year that the light went on and he went from very good, to great.  I remember he struggled at times when he put the ball on floor to penetrate.  He would often take one dribble too far and would be called for a charge.  All of a sudden, he stopped doing that.  Again, it seemed a light went on for him and he simply elevated his game.  

 

My hope is that our current group of seniors will soon find that enlightenment and elevate their collective games as well.

 

 

That reminds me of a play Glynn made last night in the first half.  He had the ball in the right corner and an open lane along the baseline to the hoop so he started driving.

 

Usually that's a play where he just drives all the way to the hole and gets blown up by the other team's post player or maybe a charge.  But when he got about to the lane you could see him make a hitch and and he hesitated for just a fraction of a second then pulled up and took the 5 foot jump shot.

 

He missed, but I could see in just that play a light went off in his head where he was thinking "not this time" but that little hitch betrayed him.  Hopefully though in the future he'll do it more instinctively.

[AuroranHusker]

35 minutes ago, HB said:

 

Pike also had a nice showing last night at Gate 25 after the game!  

 

He's an All-Time Great!

 

[tcp]

wonder how much this list release has effected Palmer's play of late. 

sort of the tyranny of expectations, when you get on the Wooden list. 

 

anyone following that at all? 

[Huskerpapa]

I didn't see James stressed against Penn State.  I saw a team (Penn State) that played good defense on him and restricted his drives to the hoop.  If anything, being on the list(s) likely reinforces the desire of the opposing teams to design their defensive strategy to stop him.