Power ranking the Naismith Player of the Year finalists
By Chris Stone
1. Frank Mason, Kansas
Kansas point guard Frank Mason is a former three-star recruit turned National Player of the Year candidate. As a senior, he’s averaged 20.8 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4 percent from 3-point range. Mason is the heart and soul of a Kansas team that finished the regular season 28-3, won the country’s toughest league (based on KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin) by four games and earned No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Those facts alone are enough to put Mason in the Naismith Trophy conversation.
There’s more, though. Without Mason on the floor, the Jayhawks’ offense — which ranks fifth nationally in adjusted efficiency — is 19 points per 100 possessions worse than with him on the court, per Hoop Lens. That’s a bigger gap than any of the other three finalists. On/off numbers aren’t perfect, especially given that some number of the off-court minutes would come in garbage time, but even when fellow point guard Devonte’ Graham is on the floor while Mason is on the bench, the Kansas offense only score1.00 points per possession (PPP). With Mason on the court, it hums to the tune of 1.17 PPP.
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There are obviously strong arguments for all four of these candidates, but the role that Mason has played in turning Kansas into one of the best teams in the country can’t be understated. He’s integral to their offensive success and sets the tone on the court. That’s why he’s the favorite to be named the National Player of the Year.