NCAA Basketball: Myles Powell leads early 2019-20 National Player of the Year race

Nwora was one of the preseason favorites for the award given his role as the unquestioned leader for a Louisville team that entered the year with sky-high expectations of their own.

The 6-7 junior has done his part through the Cardinals’ first seven games, averaging 21.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg while shooting over 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. He has also shown off his athleticism and finishing ability, highlighted by this authoritative slam in their season opener against Miami.

Louisville is a perfect 7-0, yet Nwora’s Player of the Year stock has dipped (or, at the very least, remained stagnant) because of the soft schedule the Cardinals have played to this point in the season. Miami and Western Kentucky aren’t thought to be that great this year and those are the only two teams of note Louisville has faced.

The lack of elite competition hasn’t allowed Nwora to have a moment or a performance that solidifies his candidacy. He has essentially been just doing what he’s supposed to do.

Nwora will get his first chance on Tuesday when the Cardinals host Michigan as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. If he performs well in that game, he’ll shoot right back into the top five.