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NCAA Basketball: Zion still leads Player of the Year race despite injury

By Brian Rauf

SOUTH BEND, IN - JANUARY 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after scoring a basket and drawing a foul against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half of the game at Purcell Pavilion on January 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Duke won 83-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - JANUARY 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after scoring a basket and drawing a foul against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half of the game at Purcell Pavilion on January 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Duke won 83-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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VILLANOVA, PA – FEBRUARY 27: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles shoots the ball against Saddiq Bey #15 of the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at Finneran Pavilion on February 27, 2019 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Marquette Golden Eagles 67-61. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA – FEBRUARY 27: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles shoots the ball against Saddiq Bey #15 of the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at Finneran Pavilion on February 27, 2019 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Marquette Golden Eagles 67-61. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

2) Markus Howard, PG, Marquette

Stats: 25.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.0 apg
LW: 3

Howard isn’t even six feet tall but his explosive scoring prowess, while leading Marquette to a likely Big East title, has him right in the thick of the National Player of the Year race.

Two 45-point games against quality teams in Kansas State and Buffalo (including 40 in the second half against the Bulls) during the non-conference helped launch him into this conversation, and a 53-point showing against Creighton allowed him to move to the forefront.

Howard hasn’t hit the 40-point mark since then, but is still putting up eye-popping scoring numbers. He has eight games this season in which he has at least 30 points, and he has scored 25 or more in four of Marquette’s last five contests.

His best performance of late was a 38-point showing in a home win over Villanova, which is the victory that has spearheaded the Golden Eagles towards a potential conference title. A return loss to the Wildcats in Philadelphia this week has lessened some of the excitement and hype surrounding his candidacy, but he’s still the clear No. 2 option in my mind.

Can he overtake Zion? Of the three contenders, he’s in the best position to. The opportunity for a final big win slipped by him yet has three tough games remaining (Creighton, at Seton Hall, Georgetown). If he’s able to put up insane scoring numbers in wins in those games – which is a very real possibility – Howard will close the season with momentum.

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