Colorado University Athletics
Simpson Named To Wooden Award Midseason Top 25
January 10, 2024 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER – University of Colorado junior guard KJ Simpson is one of 25 midseason watch-list members for the 2023-24 John R. Wooden Award the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced on Wednesday.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor, the Wooden Award All America Team and Most Outstanding Player Award.
Simpson leads Colorado at 20.5 points, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He is shooting 53.1 percent from the field, 45.0 percent from 3-point range and 86. 7 percent from the free throw line. Simpson is one of four players in the country shooting at least 50-45-85 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game.).
On the Pac-12 Conference charts, Simpson is second in scoring and free throw percentage, fourth in assists, fifth in steals, seventh in 3-point shooting, eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), 13th in overall shooting and 15th in defensive boards (4.2 drpg).
In his last outing against Arizona State on Jan. 7, Simpson scored 23 points and, in the process, became the 40th member of Colorado's 1,000-point club (finishing at 1,003). He has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season including six of the last seven contests. Simpson has scored in double-figures in 22 straight games that he has appeared in dating back to last season.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Principal. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Colorado, at 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12, continues league play at California on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 9 p.m. MT (ESPNU & KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM).
For more information, visit www.woodenaward.com
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor, the Wooden Award All America Team and Most Outstanding Player Award.
Simpson leads Colorado at 20.5 points, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He is shooting 53.1 percent from the field, 45.0 percent from 3-point range and 86. 7 percent from the free throw line. Simpson is one of four players in the country shooting at least 50-45-85 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game.).
On the Pac-12 Conference charts, Simpson is second in scoring and free throw percentage, fourth in assists, fifth in steals, seventh in 3-point shooting, eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), 13th in overall shooting and 15th in defensive boards (4.2 drpg).
In his last outing against Arizona State on Jan. 7, Simpson scored 23 points and, in the process, became the 40th member of Colorado's 1,000-point club (finishing at 1,003). He has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season including six of the last seven contests. Simpson has scored in double-figures in 22 straight games that he has appeared in dating back to last season.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Principal. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Colorado, at 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12, continues league play at California on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 9 p.m. MT (ESPNU & KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM).
For more information, visit www.woodenaward.com
Players Mentioned
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