🏀 Azubuike and Dotson Named to USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List
INDIANAPOLIS – Kansas senior Udoka Azubuike and sophomore Devon Dotson have been named to the 2020 Oscar Robertson Watch List by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), the organization announced Thursday. A total of 44 student-athletes comprise the watch list.
Azubuike or Dotson are looking to become the second player in Kansas history to earn the Oscar Robertson Trophy which is the USBWA’s national player of the year award. KU’s Frank Mason III was the 2017 recipient.
Azubuike and Dotson were named co-Most Valuable Player at the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational Nov. 27 in leading Kansas to the tourney title. Dotson led KU in scoring at the event averaging 21.0 points in the three victories. He scored a career-high 31 points in the title game overtime win against Dayton and was named the Big 12 Player of the Week Dec. 2 for his efforts in Maui. Azubuike averaged 18.3 points and 6.7 rebounds at the Maui Invitational and had a career-high 29 points against Dayton.
Azubuike leads the nation in field goal percentage at 79.7 percent. He also ranks among the Big 12 leaders in rebounds (seventh at 7.6) and blocked shots (fifth at 1.9). As a sophomore in 2017-18, Azubuike led the NCAA in field goal percentage at 77.0 percent. The Delta, Nigeria, center has two double-doubles this season.
Dotson leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.7 points per game. The Charlotte, N.C., guard also ranks among the Big 12 leaders in steals (fourth at 2.1), field goal percentage (fifth at 50.0), free throw percentage (fifth at 87.0) and assists (sixth at 4.3).
Azubuike and Dotson have received numerous honors in the 2019-20 season. Both were named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 and the Naismith Trophy and NABC Player of the Year watch lists. On Oct. 22, the Associated Press listed the KU duo as receiving votes when it announced its preseason All-America men’s basketball team. A total of 21 players were recognized, voted on by a 65-member media panel. Kansas was the only school with two players listed.
Earlier in October, Azubuike was named the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and Preseason All-Big 12 by the conference coaches. He was also named one of 20 on the Kareen Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list. Dotson joined Azubuike on the Preseason All-Big 12 team and was one of 20 on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year watch list.
2019-20 OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY WATCH LIST (listed alphabetical)
Ty-Shon Alexander, Creighton, G, 6-4, 195, Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.)
Cole Anthony, North Carolina, G, 6-3, 190, Fr. (New York, N.Y.)
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas, C, 7-0, 270, Sr. (Delta, Nigeria)
Desmond Bane, TCU, G, 6-6, 215, Sr. (Richmond, Ind.)
Charles Bassey, WKU, C, 6-11, 230, So. (Lagos, Nigeria)
Kerry Blackshear Jr., Florida, F, 6-10, 241, Gr. (Orlando, Fla.)
Jared Butler, Baylor, G, 6-3, 190, So. (Reserve, La.)
Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati, G, 6-3, 185, Gr. (Wilmington, Ohio)
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy, G, 6-1, 160, So. (Birmingham, Ala.)
Mamadi Diakite, Virginia, F, 6-9, 224, Sr. (Conakry, Guinea)
Devon Dotson, Kansas, G, 6-2, 185, So. (Charlotte, N.C.)
Anthony Edwards, Georgia, F, 6-5, 225, Fr. (Atlanta, Ga.)
Jordan Ford, Saint Mary’s, G, 6-1, 175, Sr. (Folsom, Calif.)
Luka Garza, Iowa, C, 6-11, 260, Jr. (Washington, D.C.)
Jon Axel Gudmundsson, Davidson, G, 6-5, 200, Sr. (Grindavik, Iceland)
TJ Holyfield, Texas Tech, F, 6-8, 225, Sr. (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Markus Howard, Marquette, G, 5-11, 180, Sr. (Chandler, Ariz.)
Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA, G, 6-0, 170, Jr. (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
Tre Jones, Duke, G, 6-3, 185, So. (Apple Valley, Minn.)
Nathan Knight, William & Mary, F/C, 6-10, 253, Sr. (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Anthony Lamb, Vermont, F, 6-6, 227, Sr. (Rochester, N.Y.)
Jermaine Marrow, Hampton, G, 6-0, 182, Sr. (Newport News, Va.)
Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky, G, 6-3, 198, Fr. (Garland, Texas)
Skylar Mays, LSU, G, 6-4, 205, Sr. (Baton Rouge, La.)Sam Merrill, Utah State, G, 6-5, 205, Sr. (Bountiful, Utah)
John Mooney, Notre Dame, F, 6-9, 245, Sr. (Orlando, Fla.)
Aaron Nesmith, Vanderbilt, F, 6-6, 213, So. (Charleston, S.C.)
Zeke Nnaji, Arizona, F, 6-11, 240, Fr. (Hopkins, Minn.)
Jordan Nwora, Louisville, F, 6-7, 225, Jr. (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Reggie Perry, Mississippi State, F, 6-10, 250, So. (Thomasville, Ga.)
Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga, F, 6-11, 235, So. (Belgrade, Serbia)
Myles Powell, Seton Hall, G, 6-2, 195, Sr. (Trenton, N.J.)
Payton Pritchard, Oregon, G, 6-2, 190, Sr. (West Linn, Ore.)
Nick Rakocevic, USC, F, 6-11, 225, Sr. (Chicago, Ill.)
Jordan Roland, Northeastern, G, 6-1, 171, Sr. (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Marcus Santos-Silva, VCU, F, 6-7, 250, Jr. (Taunton, Mass.)
Lamar Stevens, Penn State, F, 6-8, 225, Sr. (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Tres Tinkle, Oregon State, F, 6-7, 225, Sr. (Missoula, Mont.)
Obi Toppin, Dayton, F, 6-9, 220, So. (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State, F, 6-9, 270, Jr. (Westerville, Ohio)
Cassius Winston, Michigan State, G, 6-1, 185, Sr. (Detroit, Mich.)
James Wiseman, Memphis, C, 7-1, 240, Fr. (Nashville, Tenn.)
McKinley Wright IV, Colorado, G, 6-0, 196, Jr. (North Robbinsdale, Minn.)
Omer Yurtseven, Georgetown, C, 7-0, 264, Sr. (Istanbul, Turkey)
