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Wooden Watch: Obi Toppin the front-runner but don’t sleep on Malachi Flynn

By Patrick Schmidt

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Malachi Flynn #22 dribbles the ball in the second half against the UNLV Runnin Rebels at Viejas Arena on February 22, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Malachi Flynn #22 dribbles the ball in the second half against the UNLV Runnin Rebels at Viejas Arena on February 22, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /
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The Wooden Watch list is loaded with stars and Dayton’s Obi Toppin is the front-runner but don’t sleep on San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn winning the POY.

While there may not be a slam dunk candidate to win the Wooden Award this year like last year when Zion Williamson took home the honors, there is a quintet of candidates vying for the honor.

The Wooden Award released a late-season watch list that included 20 names, but that’s like listing 20 candidates for the Heisman Trophy in mid-November. At this point in the season, the top candidates have separated themselves from the rest of the pack so there aren’t 20 players with a legit chance to win, but it’s an honor to be nominated, right?

After a year of top-ranked teams losing their grip on the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll and several preseason darlings falling short of expectations for myriad reasons (Cole Anthony, Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, Cassius Winston), the favorite is likely someone who wasn’t on many people’s radar to begin the year. That player is Dayton’s Obi Toppin who should be viewed as the one to beat down the stretch.

Toppin, Dayton, sophomore – The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 19.8 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and makes 63.2 percent of his attempts. Because of Toppin, Dayton has a chance to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and is a threat to win the national championship.

Luka Garza, Iowa, junior – The 6-foot-11 center has been the most consistent player in the loaded Big Ten this year. While other studs in the conference like Cassius Winston, Anthony Cowan and Lamar Stevens have had their moments, it’s Garza who has the best Wooden case. The big man averages 23,7 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 1.7 blocks per game for the Hawkeyes.

Myles Powell, Seton Hall, senior – This has been a special year for Seton Hall and the senior guard is a big reason for the success of the Pirates. Powell averages 21.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 2.6 assists per game for the best team in the Big East. He may not win the Wooden, but without him, Seton Hall is not in a position to get the 2-3 seed they are because of him.

Malachi Flynn, San Diego State, junior – The 6-foot-1 Flynn lacks in size but has one of the best all-around games in the nation. Flynn averages 17.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 5.1 apg for the Aztecs who have one loss on the year and are in line to contend for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He’s coming off one of his best performances of his career with 36 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win vs. Nevada.

Payton Pritchard, Oregon, senior – Pritchard may have flown under the radar a bit as the Pac-12 has been a bit chaotic but he’s making a big statement as the season nears an end. The Oregon guard is averaging 20.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 5.4 apg for the Ducks who trail UCLA by a half-game in the Pac-12. Pritchard is on fire of late, averaging 26 points per game over the last four games, including a 38-point outburst in the win vs. Arizona on Feb. 22.

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