The Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men’s college basketball player.
Zach Edey won the honors the last two seasons, but now that he has taken his talents to the NBA, who’s next?
The betting odds usually help identify some contenders.
Let’s check out the odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of Nov. 18.
2023-24 JOHN WOODEN AWARD ODDS:
Cooper Flagg, Duke: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Mark Sears, Alabama: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
RJ Davis, North Carolina: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
Kam Jones, Marquette: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
We’re just a few weeks into the season, but already, Duke’s star freshman Flagg is favored to win the nation’s top individual honor at season’s end.
As of Nov. 18, he’s averaging 16.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and four rebounds for the 3-1 Blue Devils. However, he is struggling a bit from the field, shooting just 22.2% from distance and 44.2% overall.
Second on the board is Alabama’s Mark Sears, who happens to be FOX Sports college basketball analyst John Fanta’s pick to win the award.
Pick via John Fanta (at time of pick):
I’ll go with Mark Sears of Alabama at +1400 to win the Wooden Award.
My rule of thumb is to avoid the top two picks and I really think Alabama could be an appetizing pick to win the national championship this upcoming season.
He averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game last year for a Final Four team. Sears’ return combined with Grant Nelson, the additions of Aden Holloway (Auburn) and Cliff Omoruyi (Rutgers) and the elite coaching of Nate Oats makes me believe the Tide will be very successful. Sears could be the best guard in the country.
PICK: Mark Sears (+1400 — at time of pick) to win Wooden Award
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