Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: New leaders emerge in 2019-20 National Player of the Year race

By Brian Rauf

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 15: Myles Powell #13 of the Seton Hall Pirates posts up against the Butler Bulldogs in the first half of the game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 15, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 15: Myles Powell #13 of the Seton Hall Pirates posts up against the Butler Bulldogs in the first half of the game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 15, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Both Gach #11 of the Utah Utes guards Malachi Flynn #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Both Gach #11 of the Utah Utes guards Malachi Flynn #22 of the San Diego State Aztecs (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

508. . . Previous: 8th. Malachi Flynn. 6. player

Stats: 16.6 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.5 rpg

No one expected San Diego State to be a top 25 team this season, let alone be the nation’s final undefeated team. Yet here the Aztecs are at 18-0, and the play of Malachi Flynn is the biggest reason for that success.

It took no time for Flynn to assert himself as this team’s best player after transferring from Washington State and continues to lead them on a nightly basis. He carries so much of their offense and did so again this week, scoring 19 points while dishing out six assists against Boise State before scoring 22 points with five rebounds on the road against Fresno State.

Flynn doesn’t need San Diego State to remain undefeated for him to stay on this list but, the longer they go without a loss, the more viable of a candidate he becomes.

. Previous: 1st. Vernon Carey Jr.. 5. player. 434.

Stats: 17.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg

Carey led our list last week and has been playing at an extremely high level for most of the season – but there’s no denying he had a rough week.

Against Wake Forest, the big man was limited to just eight points on 3/6 shooting and six rebounds. The Demon Deacons game-planned to take him away and Duke has other talented players that picked up the slack in the win, but it doesn’t help his Player of the Year candidacy.

Then, on Tuesday, the Blue Devils fell to a bad Clemson team on the road. Carey played well and dominated the offensive end in stretches (20 points, seven rebounds), yet he was limited by foul trouble. And, of course, he couldn’t carry his team to a win.

Like Nwora, Carey has a great chance to make a national statement and move back up this list if he has a huge game against Louisville on Saturday.

Home/NCAA Basketball News