Nice Wigginton mention
- Thread starter CaliforniaCy
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Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State: This was relatively easy to predict, and coach Steve Prohm even tried to lower expectations at Big 12 media day. But Wigginton, a Canada native who played at Oak Hill Academy (Virginia), is quickly becoming Iowa State's most dangerous offensive player. He has hit at least 14 points in five straight games and has made 15 of 27 3-pointers in his past four games. Wigginton is going to be a Big 12 star for the Cyclones.
Cam Lard should be getting similar attention, though I suppose as a redshirt you fall between the cracks a bit on some lists.
Specific to Big 12, assuming Trae Young is named Player of the Year, who is most closely in contention with Wiggi for Freshman of the Year? Maybe Bamba?
Newcomer of the Year might go to a transfer/juco, if not a freshman, and I can't remember all players who fit that off the top of my head.
Newcomer of the Year might go to a transfer/juco, if not a freshman, and I can't remember all players who fit that off the top of my head.
The Big 12 all freshman team will be pretty impressive this year between Wigginton, Young, Bamba and the TT kids.
I was thinking about this the other day too, I think there's 6 that are head and shoulders above the rest. Matt Coleman from Texas has been good, so he'd be my #7. Young, Wigginton, and Bamba are no brainers and I don't see how you can leave off the 2 TT Fr. Since Lard was a redshirt and a year older, I'd probably snub him, which is crazy.
Young
Wigginton
Bamba
Smith
Culver
Lard
Young
Wigginton
Bamba
Smith
Culver
Lard
Lard also didn't start really coming on until about 3 weeks ago. We all knew his potential and he started to show flashes. However, he took the next step a few weeks ago. Most of the other guys have done it all season.
If Lard finishes out the season playing close to the level he has the last 4 games, he's gotta be ahead of the TT freshmen. I'd put Zhaire Smith ahead of Culver.
Here is how the top Freshmen rank in the conference, according to Big 12 stats (through Feb 12)
Looks to me like Brady Manek from OU needs some more recognition:
Scoring
#1 Young
#6 Wigginton
#14 Bamba
#18 Lard
#27 Manek (OU)
#30 Culver (TTU)
Rebounding
#1 Bamba
#4 Lard
#15 Vital (Baylor)
#16 Manek (OU)
#20 Clark (Baylor)
FG%
#2 Lard
#3 Clark (Baylor)
#6 Smith (TT)
#10 Bamba
#11 Noi (TCU)
Assists
#1 Young
#6 Coleman
*No other Freshman listed in top 15
Free Throw %
#6 Young
*only Freshman listed in top 15
Steals
#4 Young
#11 Culver
#15t Smith (TT) & Garrett (KU)
3-pt %
#2 Noi (TCU)
#6 Wigginton
#11 Manek
#15 Culver
3 pt made
#1 Young
#7 Wigginton
#8 Manek
#14 Noi
Blocked Shots
#1 Bamba
#4 Lard
#10 Smith (TT)
#12 Clark (Baylor)
A/T Ratio
#7 Coleman (Texas)
#11 Young
Looks to me like Brady Manek from OU needs some more recognition:
Scoring
#1 Young
#6 Wigginton
#14 Bamba
#18 Lard
#27 Manek (OU)
#30 Culver (TTU)
Rebounding
#1 Bamba
#4 Lard
#15 Vital (Baylor)
#16 Manek (OU)
#20 Clark (Baylor)
FG%
#2 Lard
#3 Clark (Baylor)
#6 Smith (TT)
#10 Bamba
#11 Noi (TCU)
Assists
#1 Young
#6 Coleman
*No other Freshman listed in top 15
Free Throw %
#6 Young
*only Freshman listed in top 15
Steals
#4 Young
#11 Culver
#15t Smith (TT) & Garrett (KU)
3-pt %
#2 Noi (TCU)
#6 Wigginton
#11 Manek
#15 Culver
3 pt made
#1 Young
#7 Wigginton
#8 Manek
#14 Noi
Blocked Shots
#1 Bamba
#4 Lard
#10 Smith (TT)
#12 Clark (Baylor)
A/T Ratio
#7 Coleman (Texas)
#11 Young
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A bit of water under the bridge, but we maybe should have taken him...
McKinley Wright IV, Colorado: The first player on the list not ranked in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school, Wright was originally committed to Dayton. When Archie Miller left for Indiana, Wright didn't follow him to Bloomington, instead choosing to play at Colorado. Tad Boyle is certainly happy about that decision. Wright is averaging 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Buffaloes, including a 21-point, nine-assist effort earlier this season.
McKinley Wright IV, Colorado: The first player on the list not ranked in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school, Wright was originally committed to Dayton. When Archie Miller left for Indiana, Wright didn't follow him to Bloomington, instead choosing to play at Colorado. Tad Boyle is certainly happy about that decision. Wright is averaging 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Buffaloes, including a 21-point, nine-assist effort earlier this season.
Look how Lard jumps up when it's conference games only though:
#10 Scoring (Bamba 11th)
#2 Rebounding (Bamba 1st)
#2 FG% (Bamba 3rd)
#3 Blocks (Bamba 1st)
That's in the discussion for overall top 5 player, that's a lock for top 5 freshman. He's producing at just a tiny sliver less than lottery pick Bamba and has become the better offensive player of the two.
LW currently ranks #11 among all D1 Freshmen in avg PPG. He has a really great chance to crack the top 10 by the end of the season. Lard currently ranks 47th among all Freshmen in PPG.
Over the last 10 games:
LW ranks 8th among Freshmen in avg PPG
Lard ranks 35th in avg PPG in that span (and is 5th in Rebounds & 10th in FG%)
https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/stats/2018/Averages/Qualified/Fr/Season/All/points/desc/1/
Over the last 10 games:
LW ranks 8th among Freshmen in avg PPG
Lard ranks 35th in avg PPG in that span (and is 5th in Rebounds & 10th in FG%)
https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/stats/2018/Averages/Qualified/Fr/Season/All/points/desc/1/
