On Friday night Villanova put the final touches on the 2017-18 college basketball season in fitting fashion. After spending Thursday celebrating their second national championship in three years, the Wildcats cleaned up at “The College Basketball Awards” show.
Jalen Brunson led the way, starting with winning the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard and capping the evening by winning the John R. Wooden Award as the National Player of the Year. Brunson becomes the first Wildcat to take home the honor and completed the sweep of the Player of the Year awards after also winning the Naismith and AP honors. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 52.1% from the field and 40.8% from three while leading the Wildcats to the national championship. For those of you into advanced statistics, Brunson posted a player efficiency rating of 26.1 and a win shares of 7.7 (tied for third in the country, with teammate Mikal Bridges).
It is expected that Brunson, who will graduate in May, will declare for June’s NBA Draft. If that proves to be true, he will end his college career as not only one of the most accomplished and decorated Villanova players of all-time, but of all of college basketball players. In addition to the National Player of the Year Sweep and two national championships, Brunson was an AP All-American, was All-Big East Freshmen and two-time All-Big East honoree and was 2017-18 Big East Player of the Year.
While Brunson continued his deserved domination of the postseason awards and cemented his place among the great college basketball players of all-time, he wasn’t the only Wildcat to be honored Friday night.
Teammate Mikal Bridges took home the Julius Erving Award for top small forward. Bridges continued his impressive development, blossoming into a full-blown star in his junior campaign. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in 2017-18. He shot 52.5% from the floor and 40% from three, continuing to make an impact all over the court for the Wildcats and playing his way into a likely lottery pick in June.
In addition, head coach Jay Wright was honored with the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.
It was a banner night for the Wildcats and the perfect way to end another incredible season.