2015-16 Oscar Robertson Trophy, Wayman Tisdale Award Finalists Revealed

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced the 11 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and five finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award on Monday.  

Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield remains the top contender for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, handed out to the most outstanding player in the country, while LSU forward Ben Simmons will be the man to beat for the Wayman Tisdale Award, which honors the country's top freshman.

Here's a look at the full list of finalists:

Player	School
Grayson Allen	Duke
Malcolm Brogdon	Virginia
Kris Dunn	Providence
Buddy Hield	Oklahoma
Brice Johnson	North Carolina
Georges Niang	Iowa State
Jakob Poeltl	Utah
Ben Simmons	LSU
Tyler Ulis	Kentucky
Jarrod Uthoff	Iowa
Denzel Valentine	Michigan State

Player	School
Jaylen Brown	California
Henry Ellenson	Marquette
Brandon Ingram	Duke
Jamal Murray	Kentucky
Ben Simmons	LSU

Simmons is the only player still in the running for both awards. LSU's 4-4 record in the month of February likely ended any chance the Tigers star had of winning those awards reserved for the best players in college basketball.

Still, he's averaging 19.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and five assists a game. According to ESPN College Basketball, his 20 double-doubles are also the most among players in major conferences. Simmons already has one hand on the Tisdale Award.

Hield, on the other hand, will have stiff competition from Providence's Kris Dunn, Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon, Iowa's Jarrod Uthoff and Michigan State's Denzel Valentine, who might give the Oklahoma star the toughest challenge.

In an interview with Big Ten Network's Taylor Rooks, the Spartans point guard downplayed his Player of the Year candidacy:

Valentine is the better playmaker on the floor, but Hield owns a decided advantage in terms of scoring:

Player	PPG	FG%	3P%	REB	AST	STL
Hield	25.4	.496	.481	5.5	2.1	1.3
Valentine	19.6	.468	.450	7.6	7.2	1.0

Valentine's overall team success could help him overtake the odds-on favorite, though. The Spartans sit second in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 Poll, four spots ahead of the Sooners.

Both players will have a few more chances this year to make their case to take home college basketball's top prizes.