NCAA Basketball: Threats to Zion in National Player of the Year race

NCAA Basketball: Threats to Zion emerge in National Player of the Year race

By Brian Rauf | Jan 19, 2019

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 14: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a dunk against the Syracuse Orange during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 14, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 15, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

7) Rui Hachimura, PF, Gonzaga

Stats: 20.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg
LW: 2

Hachimura was the star of the first month of the season as Gonzaga rose to No. 1 in the country following their Maui Invitational title. He has been good, not great, since then and hasn’t resonated nationally.

Part of that is the nature of playing at Gonzaga. A tough non-conference schedule has been followed by West Coast Conference play, where the Zags are the heavy favorite in every game and they aren’t really challenged (with the exception of a game or two). Casual college basketball fans usually only see them in highlights at that point, causing them to mostly fade into the background until March rolls around.

The Japan native will be a first-round pick in the draft, yet his recent drop off in production has sunk his Player of the Year hopes. After scoring at least 17 points in each of Gonzaga’s first 13 games of the year, Hachimura has failed to score 15 in three of their last six games.

The Bulldogs don’t need Hachimura to be a superstar every night in WCC play and have a roster full of players who are capable of taking over a game. That’s great for Gonzaga but isn’t conducive to Hachimura getting back into the race.

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