Where Duke’s Boozer, UNC’s Wilson rank among men’s Freshman of the Year contenders

In a season marked by amazing freshman performances on a nightly basis, head-to-head matchups between the suitable of the suitable gain been uncommon.

Darius Acuff Jr. went against Kingston Flemings reduction in December. And AJ Dybantsa confronted Darryn Peterson supreme weekend (even though Dybantsa guarded Peterson, now no longer so indispensable the choice direction around, and Peterson performed entirely 20 minutes). Nevertheless we are going to rep a premier head-to-head matchup on Saturday, when Duke visits North Carolina and Cameron Boozer goes to fight with Caleb Wilson.

We search recordsdata from both gamers to shield one yet another (or now no longer now no longer as a lot as we’re hoping to be in contact that into existence), which might perhaps perhaps perhaps also honest unexcited create for an engrossing subplot to the rivalry sport. Can Wilson beat Boozer down the floor in transition? Can Wilson cope with Boozer when he gets into the publish? They’ve confronted one yet another sooner than: at the McDonald’s All American Game supreme spring, commencing entrance for opposite teams. Boozer tallied 16 parts and 12 rebounds and obtained co-MVP honors, whereas Wilson struggled with three turnovers and 0 discipline dreams. Nevertheless that would no longer truly feel predictive of what we are going to peek in Chapel Hill.

It need to be a massive sport for both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels, featuring one in all the suitable particular person matchups we are going to have the selection to peek all season.

1. Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke

Outdated vulgar: 1

Supreme performance to this level: 35 parts, 9 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Arkansas in Chicago on Nov. 27

Despite the contemporary rise of Peterson, and the consistent efforts of gamers treasure Wilson and Dybantsa, there is unexcited a gap between Boozer and the discipline. For perspective: Last season, Cooper Flagg had one in all the suitable freshman campaigns in contemporary men’s college basketball historical previous. This season, Boozer is averaging more parts (23.3 parts per sport), rebounds (9.9 rebounds per sport) and steals (1.9 steals per sport) than Flagg did. He also has a elevated player efficiency ranking and offensive ranking.

The underside line is that Boozer has made the case that his freshman campaign exceeds the freshman campaign of the player who’s appreciated to pick out up NBA Rookie of the one year. — Myron Medcalf

2. Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Outdated vulgar: 4

Supreme performance to this level: 26 parts, 3 assists, 11-of-13 FG in 23 minutes vs. Baylor on Jan. 16

Peterson has performed in barely 12 of Kansas’ 22 video games, leaving diverse video games early and playing more than half-hour in proper 5 contests all season. Nevertheless when he’s on the floor, it be laborious to search out a bigger player within the game. He performed proper 20 minutes in his ultrahyped Jan. 31 matchup against Dybantsa and BYU yet unexcited done with 18 parts and performed treasure the certain favourite to be the No. 1 NBA draft pick. Two days later, he struggled for long stretches against Texas Tech however made the game-tying 3 and the trek-ahead 3 on consecutive possessions within the final 90 seconds. Had he performed ample video games to qualify, he might perhaps perhaps perhaps be fourth among all freshmen in scoring. — Jeff Borzello

3. AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU

Outdated vulgar: 2

Supreme performance to this level: 43 parts, 6 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Utah on Jan. 24

Even the absolute most realistic freshmen gain their flaws. We’ve witnessed a pair of of Dybantsa’s in contemporary weeks. His ambition perceived to rep the suitable of him when he insisted on guarding Peterson within the key half of BYU’s loss at Kansas whereas also struggling from the discipline. The 6-foot-9 massive name is unexcited one in all the brightest expertise in college basketball, even though it be rate noting he anchors a crew that’s within the guts of its worst stretch of the season — he scored 36 parts in BYU’s loss to Oklahoma Teach, the Cougars’ fourth loss in 5 video games — with contests against Houston, Arizona, Iowa Teach and Texas Tech ahead. — Medcalf

4. Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina

Outdated vulgar: 3

Supreme performance to this level: 24 parts, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Kansas on Nov. 7

Wilson shedding one space since our supreme update has nothing to plot with his gain performances; he has been as productive as any player within the nation over the last couple of weeks, scoring now no longer now no longer as a lot as twenty parts in each of his previous four video games and taking pictures 60% or better in 5 of his previous seven contests. He ranks fifth among all freshmen in scoring and rebounding, posting 11 double-doubles and eight 20-10 stat traces. Wilson and frontcourt mate Henri Veesaar make one in all the game’s elite publish duos, and they’ll search to carry the Tar Heels come March. — Borzello

5. Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois

Outdated vulgar: 8

Supreme performance to this level: 46 parts, 9-for-11 from 3 at Purdue on Jan. 24

Kansas fans gain had to circulate trying the made of Shawnee, Kansas — about forty five minutes from Lawrence — massive name for an Illinois crew six hours from his hometown. Nevertheless as a four-massive name recruit, Wagler got minimal hobby from top teams after highschool. At Illinois, he has became the most perfect-trying breakout freshman in The united states and the chief of the suitable offensive crew within the nation. Over the Combating Illini’s present 12-sport winning trudge, Wagler has scored now no longer now no longer as a lot as 19 parts in six of them. The 6-foot-6 guard has also performed his finest basketball with standout Kylan Boswell sidelined by a hand damage, scoring 46 parts in a road pick up against Purdue. — Medcalf

6. Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

Outdated vulgar: 6

Supreme performance to this level: 42 parts, 6 assists at Texas Tech on Jan. 24

Flemings had one in all the suitable particular person performances of any player — now no longer to mention a freshman — this season, finishing with 42 parts on 15-of-26 taking pictures (4-of-9 from 3) and 6 assists in a road loss to Texas Tech. That effort came within the guts of a 3-sport urge whereby he scored now no longer now no longer as a lot as twenty parts in each, following up his 42-level performance with 27 parts and 5 assists against TCU. As Houston rounds into top make heading down the stretch, Flemings has emerged because the certain No. 1 possibility in a lineup featuring three gamers who started the nationwide championship sport a yr ago. That says all the things. — Borzello

7. Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

Outdated vulgar: 5

Supreme performance to this level: 31 parts, 4-for-7 from 3, 6 assists vs. LSU on Jan. 24

Acuff’s utilization price tells the fable of his impact with Arkansas. Within the NBA, Atlanta Hawks All-Star Jalen Johnson has a utilization price of 26.4; Acuff’s is 27.2. Despite the amount of weight he carries for the Razorbacks, he’s unexcited one in all The united states’s most productive gamers. He is taking pictures 40.8% from 3 and averaging 6.2 assists to utterly 2.0 turnovers. In a customary season, Acuff would gain a worthy case for Freshman of the one year. His biggest barrier is he’s a huge freshman in a season burly of them. — Medcalf

8. Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

Outdated vulgar: Unranked

Supreme performance to this level: 29 parts, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals at BYU on Jan. 26

After a pair of down video games in mid-January, Burries has returned to top make as one in all the trek-to guys for the nation’s finest crew. He used to be inconceivable in Arizona’s road pick up at BYU, finishing with 29 parts and getting to the free throw line 14 instances. That performance used to be sandwiched by 22 parts and seven assists against West Virginia, then 17 parts, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in a road pick up over rival Arizona Teach. Burries’ overall numbers don’t seem to be as spy-popping as these of different gamers on this list, largely as a outcomes of Arizona’s stability, however he’s now no longer some distance within the aid of. — Borzello

9. Nate Ament, F, Tennessee

Outdated vulgar: Unranked

Supreme performance to this level: 29 parts, 7 rebounds, 3 assists at Alabama on Jan. 24

The early criticism about Ament used to be warranted. Whereas his friends on this list were having a seek for treasure younger stars, he — too veritably — perceived to shrink in Tennessee’s biggest video games. That’s no longer the case. All the procedure thru the Vols’ present four-sport winning trudge against Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Ole Recede out, Ament has averaged 24.5 parts and made 44% of his shots from 3. The 6-foot-10 ahead is hitting his trail at the honest time for the Vols, who gain been twenty sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency all thru the four-sport trudge, in accordance with BartTorvik. He is shaping actual into a matchup difficulty for any crew Tennessee faces within the NCAA tournament. — Medcalf

10. Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn

Outdated Infamous: 10

Supreme performance to this level: 24 parts, 3 assists, 6 3-pointers vs. Windfall on Jan. 7

Mullins regarded on the verge of an actual eruption sport against Xavier, scoring 10 parts sooner than the key media timeout. Nevertheless he picked up an early 2d atrocious and went to the bench, within the end finishing with 13 parts. Quiet, it make certain he will became an more and more key facet of UConn’s offense, given his elite taking pictures ability and the persevered flashes he has proven as an efficient transition player. He has made diverse 3s in 10 of his previous 12 video games and is averaging 11.8 parts on 38% taking pictures from 3. — Borzello