2012-2013 College Basketball Predictions: Player of the Year Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2012-2013 College Basketball Predictions: Player of the Year Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: As wide open as the NCAA tournament has been in recent years, college basketball’s Player of the Year Award has been equally unpredictable. The last nine winners of the award have come from nine different schools from six different conferences. Not to mention the fact that the last four winners have all played different positions, and during the stretch, a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior have all taken home the honor. Needless to say, no player is at a disadvantage when it comes to winning the 2012-13 Player of the Year Award. Voters have shown time and time again that if a player produces on the court, they will recognize their accomplishments regardless of their team, position or class. With that in mind, here is a look at the frontrunners to take home college basketball’s top individual honor for the upcoming season.

2012-2013 College Basketball Predictions: Player of the Year Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

The Favorites

As a true freshman, Indiana center Cody Zeller averaged 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the foul line. Thanks to his 7’0” frame, he is a terror in the post, and he has a soft touch for a big man. Zeller also runs the floor, leading to plenty of quick buckets in transition as well as excellent position in the paint. A year of experience should help even out his up and down play on the road and boost his rebounding totals. Throw in an even better supporting cast around him, and Zeller’s sophomore campaign promises to be something special. The Hoosiers are going to open the year as the No.1 team in the country, and as the team’s best player, Zeller has the inside track on Player of the Year honors.

Junior Doug McDermott might just be the best scorer in the country. The Creighton power forward averaged 22.9 points and 8.2 rebounds last year and was a nightly double-double threat. If you think he piled up those numbers by being the big fish on a mid-major team and taking all of the shots, think again. McDermott shot 60.1 percent from the field last season, including an impressive 48.6 percent form 3-point land and 79.6 percent from the foul line. He is an efficient scoring machine and one of the few players that goes out almost every night and scores 20-plus points and grabs 10 rebounds. After being named a First-Team All-American last year, McDermott could claim Player of the Year honors in 2012-13.

The Dark Horses

Playing behind the likes of Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Harrison Barnes made it tough for James Michael McAdoo to get a lot of minutes for North Carolina last season. That will change this year when the former top-10 recruit becomes the center of the Tarheels’ offense. Even in his limited playing time, McAdoo flashed some incredible athleticism, along with a well-rounded game that features a mid-range jumper and the ability to get to the rim. In fact, he was arguably the best player on the court for UNC in its Elite Eight loss to Kansas last year. Look for McAdoo to make a huge leap in terms of production and instantly become North Carolina’s leading scorer. The guy is a projected top-10 pick by NBA scouts for a reason, and he will get to unleash his potential in 2012-13.

While freshmen were once an afterthought when it comes to the Player of the Year Award, that trend has changed in recent years. Kevin Durant took home the award as a freshman in 2007, and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis did the same last year. Now, Nerlens Noel will try to become the second Wildcat in as many years to accomplish the feat. Like Davis, Noel is an incredible athlete for his size and a skilled shot blocker. If he can carve out enough of an offensive role to go with his dominating presence on the defensive end, Noel could follow the same path to the Player of the Year Award that Davis did last year.

The Sleeper

Last year, point guard Isaiah Canaan led Murray State to a 31-2 record and helped the Racers finish the season ranked No. 12 in the country. He is a speedy, score-first point guard, and he averaged more than 19 points as a junior last year. Canaan will be leaned on even more heavily as a senior with three other starters from the 2011-12 squad departing, and he could end up leading the country in scoring. Canaan has limitless range from beyond the arc, and he can slash into the lane and get to the foul line, as well. If he can lead Murray State back into the top 25 and back into the NCAA tournament, he has a chance to the follow in the footsteps of Jimmer Fredette and score his way to the Player of the Year Award despite not playing for a traditional power program.

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