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Big Ten Basketball: Best bets outside of Cassius Winston to win 2020 POY

By Adam Childs

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Joe Wieskamp #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives to the basket while defended by Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Joe Wieskamp #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives to the basket while defended by Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Iowa – Joe Wieskamp

Chances of winning POY – Slim

Wieskamp is a really good basketball player and so is Luke Garza for Iowa. The problem is they don’t have anyone else on the roster that looks ready to really help them out. That is not saying they won’t step up come the season, but at first look, it looks bare.

That is going to hurt Wieskamp’s chances of even being mentioned as a POY candidate or all-Big Ten honors. He has the talent to do it, but the lack of success for Iowa will hurt him this year.

As a freshman last year he averaged 11.1 points per game and shot 42% from the outside. Those numbers should improve this year and he could be one of the best shooters in the conference. He should be helped by still having Garza inside, but the two of them will struggle to get Iowa wins unless other players step up.

Garza did average more points than Wieskamp last year and could be considered the best chance for the Hawkeyes to have a POY but I think with Wieskamp’s shooting ability it will vault him over Garza.

Wieskamp is the guy that you will have to stop if you are an opposing defense this year and the guy who could single-handily win some games this year.

The only chance, though, for him to win POY is for the Hawkeyes to shock everyone and get into the top five of the conference. If that happens then he would have a very real shot at the top honor. But unfortunately for him and Hawkeye nation that just doesn’t look like something that will happen this year. Maybe they prove us all wrong, but from early indications, it looks like a far-fetched idea.

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