Ochai Agbaji and Oscar Tshiebwe Enter Naismith Player of the Year Conversation
By Matt De Saro
We are around a third of the way through the college basketball season and there has been some significant movement in some futures odds.
Specifically, the odds to win the Naismith Player of the Year award. Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell remains atop the odds board but a few new names have joined him in the upper echelon of college players this year. This is a great time to reevaluate players and place some mid-season futures bets based on what we know about these players now.
Here are the current odds at WynnBET Sportsbook for the 2021-22 Naismith College Player of the Year award:
Odds to Win Naismith College Player of the Year Award
- E.J. Liddell (Ohio State)| +250
- Ochai Agbaji (Kansas) | +800
- Drew Timme (Gonzaga) | +800
- Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) | +800
- Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga) | +1000
- Paolo Banchero (Duke) | +1200
- Trevion Williams (Purdue) | +1200
Ochai Agbaji +800
Agbaji has been the major contributing factor towards the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks' early-season success. Kansas is currently 9-1 overall and riding a five-game winning streak thanks to its senior guard.
Agbaji is averaging 22 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 56.1 percent from the field. Agbaji is an above-average shooter, knows how to pass, and is getting better and better on the defensive end each passing game. The entire offense runs through Agbaji and the Jayhawks’ success is tied closely to his own.
With a strong supporting cast around him, Agbaji is worthy of a bet at 8/1 to win the Naismith Award this season.
Oscar Tshiebwe +800
While Tshiebwe’s scoring numbers aren’t quite on the level as some other guys on this list, his rebounding stats are off the charts. The junior forward for the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats is averaging 16.3 points per game and an impressive 14.2 rebounds.
He has a legit shot to finish the year with a 15 and 15 average as a part of John Calipari’s rotation. He is a major reason why the Wildcats are currently 8-2 and played a big role in their recent win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. Tshiebwe scored 16 points and added 12 boards in the win and his continued success will pave the Wildcats' path to SEC dominance.