Men's Basketball

CINCINNATI’S CLARK, WICHITA STATE’S SHAMET AMONG OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY WATCH LIST CANDIDATES

 
ST. LOUIS – Cincinnati senior forward Gary Clark and Wichita State sophomore guard Landry Shamet were named among the 32 candidates named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy preseason watch list.
 
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) selects the list, with the award to be presented to the national player of the year by its namesake at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio.
 
Clark, a preseason second team all-conference pick in The American, averaged 10.8 points and 7.9 rebounds during the 2016-17 season while earning selection to the American Championship All-Tournament team. He ranked among the league leaders in field goal percentage (fourth at .529), rebounds (fourth at 7.9), blocks (tied for ninth at 1.2) and scoring (26th at 10.8).
 
The senior enters the 2017-18 campaign ranked third in the nation among returning players with 819 career rebounds. He needs two points to join UC's 1,000-point club and is on pace to finish his career ranked among the top five players in school history for rebounds and blocks.
 
Shamet helped guide Wichita State to a 31-win season as a freshman and a spot in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Shifting to the point guard spot in January of 2017, Shamet averaged 11.4 points and led the Shockers in assists (3.3) and minutes (26.7).
 
Cincinnati was narrowly selected ahead of Wichita State in The American’s preseason poll. The Bearcats open the season ranked 12th and 13th in national polls, while the Shockers begin their initial season in The American ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.
 
All NCAA Division I players are eligible for postseason honors from the USBWA. For the ninth straight season, the USBWA will present an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week each Tuesday beginning Dec. 12.
 
In mid-March, the USBWA will announce its 2017-18 All-America Team, and, at that time, finalists will also be chosen for the player of the year. Once finalists are announced, the entire USBWA membership will vote for the winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy.