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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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 09: Dedric Lawson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates after making a three-pointer during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Allen Fieldhouse on January 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

4) Dedric Lawson, PF, Kansas

Stats: 19.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg
LW: 7

Many – including myself – wrote Kansas off for (relative) dead after news broke that Udoka Azubuike would miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury.

That hasn’t happened. At all.

The Jayhawks are currently tied for first place in the Big 12 and Dedric Lawson’s play is the biggest reason they’ve managed to stay at this high level.

Lawson leads Kansas in both points and rebounds, but more importantly has come up big when KU has needed him the most. Against TCU, he came up with a stellar 31-point, 14-rebound performance to hold off a comeback from the Horned Frogs. He had a 13-point, 15-rebound double-double in KU’s close win over Oklahoma, was the only player who played well in their loss to Arizona State, and has 28 and 12 in their three-point win over Villanova.

Lawson’s dominance can be inconsistent throughout the course of a game but he is always KU’s most valuable player. As long as Kansas keeps winning, he’ll be a contender.

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