NCAA Basketball: 3 remain in tight 2019-20 National Player of the Year race

Stats: 20.2 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.3 rpg, 1.5 spg

Payton Pritchard continues to dominate for the Pac-12 leading Ducks, scoring 20 points while dishing out nine assists in a 90-56 win over Cal on Thursday night.

It was another smooth outing for a player that has produced quality numbers all season long, and hit a number of big shots

And that’s the case for Pritchard. He’s the heart-and-soul of the best team in the Pac-12, leads the conference in points and assists, and has those signature moments you need. Whether it was his outstanding performance down the stretch at Michigan, his overtime-forcing shots against Arizona and Washington (both victories), or his 38-point outburst at Arizona, the senior has shown us his greatness time and time again.

There isn’t a strong case against Pritchard, but detractors will point to a stretch in early February when both he and Oregon struggled. Plus, there’s also the fact that the Pac-12 isn’t as strong as many were expecting it to be and – quite frankly – he doesn’t have as big of a national spotlight because some on the East Coast don’t stay up to watch him play.

Pritchard has put himself in position to potentially win the award with a really strong Pac-12 Tournament if the man at the top of the list leaves an opening.