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NCAA Basketball: Examining title contenders, Texas Tech’s return & more takeaways

By Brian Rauf

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes in to dunk the basketball during the first half of the game Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes in to dunk the basketball during the first half of the game Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 26: PJ Washington #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks at Rupp Arena on January 26, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – JANUARY 26: PJ Washington #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks at Rupp Arena on January 26, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3) P.J. Washington is the SEC Player of the Year

Tennessee’s Grant Williams was the clear favorite to win SEC Player of the Year a few weeks ago, but with him and the Vols struggling, Kentucky’s P.J. Washington has emerged and is the odds-on favorite to win the award now. Criticized early in the year for his inconsistency, Washington has found something that works and has made him a likely lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-8 forward has scored at least 15 points in 10 consecutive games, crossing the 20-point plateau in eight of those contests. He has also thrown in three double-doubles for good measure.

Yet the most impressive part of Washington’s recent surge is his versatility and the different ways he has been able to produce. He made five 3-pointers in Kentucky’s 27-point win over Auburn on Saturday. He has dominated the block against Kansas, Florida, and Tennessee. He has also gone 3-for-3 from long-range twice during this run.

Oh yeah, he has been arguably Kentucky’s best defensive player during this stretch, too.

Washington has always had this kind of potential and is now realizing it, giving this Kentucky team a true leader and go-to star. His emergence has also taken the Wildcats to a new level, making them one of the select favorites to win the national championship.

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