College basketball kicked off Monday night with a handful of matchups. While the season is just starting, it's never too soon for some predictions. Covers.com takes a look at some of the frontrunners for this year's hardware – including Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year and Player of the Year awards.
Freshman of the Year
DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky Wildcats) +350
The 6-foot-10 banger will get a lot of room to operate with Patrick Patterson drawing double teams on the other side of the key. But with a lot of talented players around him, touches could be hard to come by. Cousins will have to earn his buckets by rebounding and filling the lanes on the fast break.
Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets) +250
The Jackets are putting last season's troubles behind them, starting with the addition of 6-foot-9 forward Derrick Favors. The freshman is the ultimate glue guy for Georgia Tech, bringing great interior defense, shot blocking and rebounding to the program. As the season progresses, so will Favors' touch around the basket.
John Wall (Kentucky Wildcats) +150
Lexington breathed a sigh of relief when the NCAA gave Wall the thumbs up. The 6-foot-4 North Carolina product shunned the ACC, bringing his scoring prowess to UK for what is likely a brief stop in college before going pro. Wall is cut from a similar cloth as coach John Calipari's past prized recruits Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans – a scoring point guard that will drive the Wildcats offense.
Dark-horse pick: Avery Bradley (Texas Longhorns) +400
While Wall steals the spotlight, Bradley is considered by many to be the best player coming out of high school this year. The 6-foot-3 two guard will fill the big shoes left by scorer A.J. Abrams but also steps in as the Longhorns' perimeter defender. He will play an important role in what looks to be the best Texas team of the decade.
Coach of the Year
John Calipari (Kentucky Wildcats) +350
Calipari abandoned ship in Memphis and set sail for greener pastures in Lexington. His move also allowed the Tigers top recruiting class to slink out of their commitments and follow Coach Cal to UK. He has a ton of talent but now has the most insane fan base in college basketball breathing down his neck.
Tom Izzo (Michigan State Spartans) +250
While the Spartans bring back a ton of perimeter talent, they lack the experience inside. Izzo will have to play to his team's strengths. Michigan State has a terrific floor general in Kalin Lucas, who must become Izzo's voice on the floor like Travis Walton and Drew Neitzel before him.
Bill Self (Kansas Jayhawks) +200
Self earned this award last year, getting his young team to grow up faster than expected. It seems the Jayhawks still have maturing to do. Offseason scuffles with the football team and run-ins with the law have a dark cloud over the national title favorites before the season even began. If Self can get his talented team focused, he should earn his second straight Coach of the Year award.
Dark-horse pick: Matt Painter (Purdue Boilermakers) +350
Painter should have got some Coach of the Year consideration last season with the number of injuries and illnesses that plagued his roster. The Boilermakers return all their major cogs and are among the sleeper teams considered for the Final Four. If Painter can lead Purdue to a conference title in a very tough year in the Big Ten, he shouldn't be overlooked again.
Player of the Year
Sherron Collins (Kansas Jayhawks) +350
Collins is the spark that makes the Jayhawks go. He proved his leadership last season, leading KU to a surprise Big 12 regular season title. But while Collins will play a big part in the team's success this year, the Jayhawks have a lot of options around him, like Cole Aldrich and freshman Xavier Henry, that may steal his thunder.
Luke Harangody (Notre Dame Fighting Irish) +300
The best big in the Big East has Player of the Year numbers but hasn't had the overall team success to garner any consideration. The Irish lost some perimeter muscle but do have some outside threats that will work inside-outside with Harangody. Also, this is a weak year for the conference which could open the door for a so-so Notre Dame squad.
John Wall (Kentucky Wildcats) +150
Wall can follow in the footsteps of Kevin Durant, who was the first freshman to win Player of the Year honors. He dropped 27 points in an exhibition game last week and has already got the preseason PoY nod from many renowned college basketball columnist. The biggest shot against Wall is that there is ton of talent at UK and only one basketball. If everyone can live in harmony, this one-and-done should be among the nation's finest.
Dark-horse pick: Craig Brackins (Iowa State Cyclones) +400
Brackins should be trading blows with NBA players on a bi-nightly basis. But he's not. He's back in Ames for his sophomore season and ready to emerge among the country's elite. The versatile 6-foot-10 forward dropped 14 points in 25 minutes in the Cyclones' exhibition last week, netting the first 10 points of the game – nine of which came on 3-point shots. If ISU even smells the NCAA, Brackins is the reason why.
Odds provided by BetPhoenix.com.
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