Michigan State University Athletics
Winston Selected to Wooden Award National Ballot
3/9/2019 11:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men's basketball junior guard Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) was named to the 2019 National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the National Ballot consists of 15 student-athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All American Team® and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States.
The junior guard is averaging 18.8 points, 7.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 42.2 percent from 3-point land. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten Conference in scoring and leads the league, and is No. 3 in the country, in assists per game. Winston has scored at least 20 points 16 times this year, has six double-doubles in points and assists, has handed out at least 10 assists seven times and has handed out at least six in 24 games.
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 40.0 percent of his 3-point attempts this season.
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.
Winston has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week a school record five times this season (Nov. 26, Dec. 31, Jan. 21, Jan. 28 and Feb. 25). 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.
All balloted players have been certified by their university to meet or exceed the qualifications for the Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden when the Award was established. The qualifications include: candidates must exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court; candidates must be full-time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; candidates must be making progress toward graduation and have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school; candidates must contribute to team effort; candidates must excel in both offense and defense; and candidates should be considered on their performance over the course of the entire season.
Voting will take place from March 18 to March 25, and voters, consisting of nearly 1,000 members of the national college basketball media, take into consideration a player's entire season of play, as well as the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Fans may vote through a fan voting site, sponsored by Wendy's, at www.woodenawardvote.com.
The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation's top ten players, and the five finalists for the Wooden Award, which is widely considered the most prestigious honor in college basketball, will be announced following the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament and will be the focus of a 30-minute show on April 3rd on ESPNU at 6:30pm ET.
The junior guard is averaging 18.8 points, 7.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 42.2 percent from 3-point land. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten Conference in scoring and leads the league, and is No. 3 in the country, in assists per game. Winston has scored at least 20 points 16 times this year, has six double-doubles in points and assists, has handed out at least 10 assists seven times and has handed out at least six in 24 games.
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 40.0 percent of his 3-point attempts this season.
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.
Winston has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week a school record five times this season (Nov. 26, Dec. 31, Jan. 21, Jan. 28 and Feb. 25). 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.
All balloted players have been certified by their university to meet or exceed the qualifications for the Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden when the Award was established. The qualifications include: candidates must exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court; candidates must be full-time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; candidates must be making progress toward graduation and have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school; candidates must contribute to team effort; candidates must excel in both offense and defense; and candidates should be considered on their performance over the course of the entire season.
Voting will take place from March 18 to March 25, and voters, consisting of nearly 1,000 members of the national college basketball media, take into consideration a player's entire season of play, as well as the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Fans may vote through a fan voting site, sponsored by Wendy's, at www.woodenawardvote.com.
The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation's top ten players, and the five finalists for the Wooden Award, which is widely considered the most prestigious honor in college basketball, will be announced following the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament and will be the focus of a 30-minute show on April 3rd on ESPNU at 6:30pm ET.
Players Mentioned
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