By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Previous Words: Tues. | Mon. | Feb. 14-18

ESPN.com will announce its player of the year and all-American teams next week,
but the Wooden Award needs our ballot Wednesday.
The Wooden Award, which is one of the three major player of the year awards with
the USBWA Oscar Robertson and Naismith Award, seems to get the most national
play because of its television deal with CBS.
As a member of the national advisory board, here is my ballot that will be
forwarded to the committee.

1. Andrew Bogut, So., Utah -- Averaging 20.4 points, 11.9 rebounds a game.
Without him, the Utes wouldn't be 23-4, 11-1 in the Mountain West -- they would
be somewhere near the bottom of the league. That's from Utah coach Ray
Giacoletti. No player has been as dominant as Bogut nor meant as much.

2. J.J. Redick, Jr., Duke -- Few players have changed their game as much as
Redick. He's averaging 23 points a game and shooting 42.4 percent on 3s.

3. Salim Stoudamire, Sr., Arizona -- Coach Lute Olson keeps talking about how
proficient a shooter Stoudamire has become for the Wildcats. Stoudamire leads
the team in scoring (18.6 ppg) and 3-point shooting (56 percent). There is no
more need to politic.

4. Jared Dudley, So., Boston College -- Could end up being the Big East player
of the year. He's the most versatile player in the league, averaging 16.5
points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

5. Chris Paul, So., Wake Forest -- Paul is the best playmaking guard in the
country and the one who most coaches would pick to have the ball on the last
possession. He's averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 assists and 2.4 steals a game.

6. Sean May, Jr., North Carolina -- May has been the most consistent player for
the Tar Heels. He's averaging 15.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and gives the Tar Heels
the necessary balance they need to compete for a national title. Raymond Felton,
Rashad McCants have all had solid seasons but no one seems to be as important as
May.

7. Dee Brown, Jr., Illinois -- Brown is the catalyst for this team, the one
player who seems to make the big plays when their needed most. Brown is
averaging 13.6 points, 4.8 assists and 2 steals a game.

8. Deron Williams, Jr., Illinois -- Williams has been the constant presence,
keeping this team grounded in the backcourt with his 12.5 points and
team-leading 6.8 assists a game.

9. Luther Head, Sr., Illinois -- Head gets his shots because of Brown and
Williams and it's hard to leave out the team's leading scorer (16.5 points) on
the country's only undefeated team.

10. Ike Diogu, Jr., Arizona State -- Few players have been as dominant at their
position than Diogu, who is averaging 22.2 points and 9.7 rebounds. The problem
is his team has been wildly inconsistent.

11. Craig Smith, Jr., Boston College -- BC coach Al Skinner is getting behind
Smith's candidacy for player of the year and it's hard to argue with his 17.9
points and 8.7 rebounds a game. But opposing coaches may give the nod to Dudley.

12. Hakim Warrick, Sr., Syracuse -- Warrick had an off night against BC but
otherwise he's been a rock with 20 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. The Orange
still think he's the best player in the country.

13. Wayne Simien, Sr., Kansas -- The Jayhawks are in the midst of a three-game
slide but Simien has still been their most stable performer with 18.6 points and
10.8 rebounds a game.

14. Francisco Garcia, Jr., Louisville -- Garcia makes big shots every time the
Cardinals need one (see: recent Marquette game). He's been a solid contributor
in every facet of the game with 16 points, 4 assists and 2 steals a game.

15. Joey Graham, Oklahoma State -- If the Cowboys beat Kansas and win the Big 12
then Graham will likely be the Big 12 player of the year. Graham is averaging
17.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and shooting 51.3 percent on 3s.

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I think with the pending age limit you will see some nice polished college players falling very late in the draft. If Isiah wants to spend the cash to buy a couple late #1's he could really solidify the rotation with some of these guys, especially the end of the bench. Think about how solid guys like Jameer Nelson, Duhon and Tony Allen have been. Many more in recent years also