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Wooden watchlist updated, along with a prediction

COLLEGE PARK, MD - JANUARY 04: Megan Gustafson #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes plays against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 4, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - JANUARY 04: Megan Gustafson #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes plays against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 4, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)

Making sense of the last 20 players on the list.

The John R. Wooden Award Watch List is down to 20 candidates. In other words, the country has its eyes on 20 of the most dominant forces in women’s hoops right now, more than halfway through the 2018-19 campaign.

Two months ago, the preseason watch list was comprised of 30 players. The 20 still in serious contention as of Wednesdayinclude:

  • Kristine Anigwe (California)
  • Kalani Brown (Baylor)
  • Bridget Carleton (Iowa State)
  • Chennedy Carter (Texas A&M)
  • Kaila Charles (Maryland)
  • Napheesa Collier (Connecticut)
  • Lauren Cox (Baylor)
  • Sophie Cunningham (Missouri)
  • Crystal Dangerfield (Connecticut)
  • Asia Durr (Louisville)
  • Megan Gustafson (Iowa)
  • Ruthy Hebard (Oregon)
  • Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon)
  • Tiana Mangakahia (Syracuse)
  • Teaira McCowan (Mississippi State)
  • Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame)
  • Katie Lou Samuelson (Connecticut)
  • Jessica Shepard (Notre Dame)
  • Destiny Slocum (Oregon State)
  • Alanna Smith (Stanford)

This list leaves off Rennia Davis (Tennessee), Anriel Howard (Mississippi State), Paris Kea (North Carolina), Kitija Laska (South Florida), Marina Mabrey (Notre Dame), Leaonna Odom (Duke), Caliya Robinson (Georgia), Brianna Turner (Notre Dame), Kiana Williams (Stanford) and Jackie Young (Notre Dame) from two months ago, although they are still eligible for the national ballot.

The Pac-12 may lead all conferences with the most selections (five), and Connecticut may be the team with the most players on the list (three), but my way-too-early prediction for John R. Wooden Player of the Year is Iowa’s Megan Gustafson.

She was just named the B1G Player of the Week for a record-breaking 20th time (yes, 20th) in her career and now holds the conference record for career weekly awards. This topped Jantel Lavender’s (Ohio State) previous record of 19. Equally impressive, though, is where she ranks statistically in the NCAA this season.

Are you ready?

Gustafson leads the nation in points per game (26.6), total points (585) and field goals made (245). She is second in double-doubles (20) and field goal percentage (70.4), third in defensive rebounds per game (10), fourth in rebounds (277) and sixth in rebounding (12.6).

But wait—there’s more!

According to Her Hoop Stats, she’s also first in field goals made per game (11.1), second in points per play (1.35), third in points per scoring attempt (1.44) and fourth in effective field goal percentage (70.5%).

She also connected on her first triple of the season in thrilling fashion a few weeks ago. That’s worth something, too.

If Gustafson doesn’t win it, there are a few other bigs chasing her down from merely a statistical point of view and would be just as deserving.

Above her in field goal percentage is Oregon’s Hebard, shooting a nation-best 71.0 percent. Cal’s Anigwe has one more double-double (21) than Gustafson this year, leads the country in rebounds per game (15.6) and ranks sixth in scoring (22.4). On the double-double front, McCowan is just three away (18) from the most this season.

The winner of the award will be presented during the ESPN College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 12.

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