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National Player of the Year rankings: Can RJ Barrett overtake Zion Williamson?

By Jacob Lane

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 12: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils warm up before the game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Duke came from behind to win 71-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 12: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils warm up before the game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Duke came from behind to win 71-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 03: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles drives around Ty-Shon Alexander #5 of the Creighton Bluejays during the first half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 03, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 03: Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles drives around Ty-Shon Alexander #5 of the Creighton Bluejays during the first half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 03, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

3. Markus Howard – Marquette

This week:

  • Villanova: 25 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 7 turnovers (L)
  • Creighton: 33 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 turnovers (L)

Season Stats: 25.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg

No team in the top 25 had a worse week than Marquette, who dropped two very winnable games against non-ranked opponents. Howard did set the single-season points record at Marquette and joined Steve Novak as the only players in school history with more than 300 3’s, but his resume for the National Player of the Year took a hit.

Though Howard was stellar in both games, minus the combined 13 turnovers, he wasn’t able to do enough to get his team over the hump. It’s hard to push him down the list for losing, but part of the conversation here is winning.

Howard is still averaging nearly 26 points per game and is likely going to finish the season as the Big East Player of the Year, but going 0-2 in a crucial week is enough to be pushed down the rankings one spot.