Final Four 2014: Ranking Likeliest Candidates for Most Outstanding Player
Basketball may be a team game, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate a great individual performance when we see one.
The field for the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player award is beginning to narrow after the Big Dance sent home two more teams on Saturday night.
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Between No. 7 seed Connecticut and eighth-seeded Kentucky, there are plenty of stars vying for the individual prize. Neither team is lacking in talent.
Looking at the rosters for the Huskies and Wildcats, these four players have built the strongest resume to be considered most outstanding.
1. Aaron Harrison, Kentucky
Less is more for Aaron Harrison. The freshman guard scored all of eight points in the Final Four victory over Wisconsin, but he only needed three to win the game. His three-pointer with 5.7 seconds to go put Kentucky on top 74-73, which is how the game finished.
Harrison has managed to put himself in the right place at the right time in the tournament, delivering late three-pointers in each of Kentucky's last three wins.
He may not finish as the leading scorer in the national championship tilt, but if the Wildcats prevail, his late-game heroics won't be forgotten.
2. Julius Randle, Kentucky
It's a shame that college basketball fans will only get one year of Julius Randle. As CBSSports.com's Matt Norlander tweeted on Saturday night, watching him play has been a pleasure:
Randle has recorded four double-doubles in the NCAA tournament, with the Final Four being the lone exception. He's averaging 15.8 points and 10.6 boards so far in the Big Dance.
Wisconsin's Sam Dekker put it perfectly after the Badgers' loss, per ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman:
If you simply read the title "Most Outstanding Player" in its denotative form, Randle has been the most outstanding player for Kentucky in the tourney. In a connotative form, the Most Outstanding Player award could go to a player who's been outstanding and more valuable to his team.
That's why Harrison gets the slight edge.
3. Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
By taking a look at the top two options, it's easy to guess whom I'm taking in the national championship.
Shabazz Napier, though, has a legitimate chance to at least threaten Hakeem Olajuwon's place as the last player to win the Most Outstanding Player award in a losing effort, should the Huskies go down on Monday.
The senior star is averaging 21.0 points and 4.8 assists a game in the NCAA tournament.
Coming into the tournament, UConn looked like a team destined for a second-round upset. Since Napier's taken over, though, the Huskies have turned away all their opposition, including the top overall seed, the Florida Gators.
He deserves all the superlatives he's been given in the buildup to the Final Four.
4. DeAndre Daniels, Connecticut
UConn certainly isn't a one-man show. DeAndre Daniels proved as much on Saturday, as he led the Huskies with 20 points in that win over the Gators.
Florida had no answer for Daniels in the paint, per ESPN Stats and Info:
The Sweet 16 was kind of a coming-out party for the junior forward, as his 27 points propelled UConn past third-seeded Iowa State. Those who follow the AAC knew of Daniels' talent, but that game made him a household name on the national stage.
Should the Huskies win, it will be hard for Daniels to overcome Napier in terms of individual recognition. If he can outperform the guard in the national championship, though, he will be recognized appropriately for his performance.
And yes, everybody will still be talking about Daniels after Saturday, per SportsCenter's Twitter account:
Note: All stats are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.
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