NCAA Basketball: 10 best bets to win 2021-22 Naismith Player of the Year
By Tommy Farmer
Whether it’s because of the new NIL rules, uncertainty with COVID, or whatever other reasons, one thing is clear about the 2021-22 NCAA Basketball season. There is a ridiculous amount of talent. An argument could be made that this is the most talent at the college ranks since the start of the one-and-done era.
On top of the obvious excitement, this abundance of talent will bring to the games, it feels like almost every team in the Top 25 could make a solid case as to why their team has a player who could win the National Player of the Year award. That level of parity is awesome for the sport and has the potential to make this an unbelievable season.
Of course, only one player can be the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year when the season is all wrapped up, and only one player can cash a winning ticket for you on the WynnBET Sportsbook. Now, I’m not smart enough to tell you which one player that will be, or else I’d be a millionaire, but I can give you ten players who I believe are worth taking a stab at.
With so much realignment, it’s important to analyze how player movement that has affected almost every team will impact roles and potential production. I think it’s also always important when looking at individual awards to consider the extent to which media narratives and storylines will dominate the airwaves. Individual voters are human beings who can be unintentionally swayed by media biases. For this reason, I’ll provide a potential April headline for each of my ten candidates so you can visualize the scenario (and because it’s fun for me).
Injuries also will inevitably hinder some potential candidates’ campaigns to win the award, but if the injury has not already happened, it does not factor into my list of players.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at how you’re going to make some money this season…