Michigan State University Athletics
Winston Named to Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List
2/13/2019 6:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men's basketball Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) was one of 30 players included on the midseason team for the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
This is one of several honors for Winston, who was selected to the John R. Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, was named one of 10 candidates for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and was one of 12 players selected to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Final Midseason Watch List by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
The junior guard is averaging 18.8 points, 7.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor and 45.1 percent from 3-point land. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten Conference in scoring and leads the Teague, and is No. 5 in the country, in assists per game.
Winston, who scored 23 points and had six assists in MSU's 67-59 win at No. 20 Wisconsin Tuesday night, has scored at least 20 points 13 times this year, including 10 times in the last 14 games. He has handed out at least six assists 21 times this year.
Since 1992-93, Winston is one of only 18 Division I college basketball players to average at least 18.0 points and 7.0 assists per game, including one of three players this year (Ja Morant of Murray State and Colbey Ross of Pepperdine). Among that group of 18 players, which includes Denzel Valentine during the 2015-16 season, Winston is one of just six from a Power Six Conference. He is the only player in the country averaging at least 18.0 points per game, 7.0 assists per game and connecting on at least 45.0 percent of his 3-point attempts this season.
Winston has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season (Nov. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 21). He was also named the Most Valuable Player at the Las Vegas Invitational, averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in wins over UCLA and Texas.
On March 4, 2019, the list will narrow even further to 10 national semifinalists. The four finalists will be announced on March 19, 2019, and fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player leading up to the final announcement. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7, 2019, during the Final Four in Minneapolis. Only players on the midseason team are eligible to advance to the next round. Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest player of the year award and the only one named after a former player.
This is one of several honors for Winston, who was selected to the John R. Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, was named one of 10 candidates for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and was one of 12 players selected to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Final Midseason Watch List by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
The junior guard is averaging 18.8 points, 7.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor and 45.1 percent from 3-point land. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten Conference in scoring and leads the Teague, and is No. 5 in the country, in assists per game.
Winston, who scored 23 points and had six assists in MSU's 67-59 win at No. 20 Wisconsin Tuesday night, has scored at least 20 points 13 times this year, including 10 times in the last 14 games. He has handed out at least six assists 21 times this year.
Since 1992-93, Winston is one of only 18 Division I college basketball players to average at least 18.0 points and 7.0 assists per game, including one of three players this year (Ja Morant of Murray State and Colbey Ross of Pepperdine). Among that group of 18 players, which includes Denzel Valentine during the 2015-16 season, Winston is one of just six from a Power Six Conference. He is the only player in the country averaging at least 18.0 points per game, 7.0 assists per game and connecting on at least 45.0 percent of his 3-point attempts this season.
Winston has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season (Nov. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 21). He was also named the Most Valuable Player at the Las Vegas Invitational, averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in wins over UCLA and Texas.
On March 4, 2019, the list will narrow even further to 10 national semifinalists. The four finalists will be announced on March 19, 2019, and fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player leading up to the final announcement. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7, 2019, during the Final Four in Minneapolis. Only players on the midseason team are eligible to advance to the next round. Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest player of the year award and the only one named after a former player.
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, September 22
Monday, March 23
Monday, March 23