Mason Passes Hart for POY; Final 4 AZ, UNC, Nova, Zags

Kansas Frank Mason torched the 6th best defense in the country to pass Villanova’s Josh Hart in the two way race for Player of the Year, according to www.valueaddbasketball.com. However, the Value Add team rankings place Hart’s Villanova in the Final Four along with Gonzaga, UNC and Arizona.

Value Add measures each players’ performance, including mistakes like missed shots and turnovers, as well as how tough a defense the player had to overcome. Mason scored 23 points while missing only five shots and having eight assists to just one turnover against Baylor tough defense to improve to 13.14 additional points per game. Hart scored 19 points, but missed eight shots and had only one assist and two turnovers against Seton Hall to stay steady at 12.74 additional points per game.

The Value Add team rankings account for injured players as well as players who have returned, and that helps Arizona break into the Top 4, trailing only UNC, Villanova and Gonzaga as the teams with the best chance at the Final Four.

Selection Sunday promises at least one team from each conference, and we recognize the current pick for Player of the Year and if there is a player very close in the Value Add rankings.After 138 games Saturday:

· Jaylen Adams is worth an additional 10.04 points to St. Bonaventure for best in the A10 , nationally ranked 9

· Luke Kennard is worth an additional 11.49 points to Duke for best in the ACC , nationally ranked 4

· Lucas Woodhouse is worth an additional 8.81 points to Stony Brook for best in the AE , nationally ranked 27

· Damyean Dotson is worth an additional 9.32 points to Houston for best in the Amer , nationally ranked 20 – but this is a three-way with Dedrich Lawson of Memphis (8.85, 26th) and Semi Ojeleye of SMU (8.72, 28th)

· Dallas Moore is worth an additional 8.73 points to North Florida for best in the ASun , nationally ranked 30

· Ethan Happ is worth an additional 10.20 points to Wisconsin for best in the B10 , nationally ranked 7 – so far edging out National Player of the Year Caleb Swanigan of Purdue (10.02, 10th)

· Frank Mason is worth an additional 13.14 points to Kansas for best in the B12 , nationally ranked 1 – but we have to mention the Big 12 also has the third best player in Monte Morris of Iowa State (11.58)

· Josh Hart is worth an additional 12.74 points to Villanova for best in the BE , nationally ranked 2 – and his teammate Jalen Brunson (10.14, 8th) gives Nova an unreal duo.

· Jacob Wiley is worth an additional 7.21 points to Eastern Washington for best in the BSky , nationally ranked 93 – chased by Quinton Hooker (6.87 points, North Dakota, 110th)

· MaCio Teague is worth an additional 7.36 points to UNC Asheville for best in the BSth , nationally ranked 78 – but this is a four way race with Keon Johnson of Winthop, Teague’s teammate Ahmad Thomas and Liberty’s Ryan Kemrite

· Jaron Martin is worth an additional 5.05 points to UC Irvine for best in the BW , nationally ranked 292, chase UC Davis’ Brynton Lemar

· Joe Chealey is worth an additional 8.92 points to College of Charleston for best in the CAA , nationally ranked 25 – chased by Northeastern’s TJ Williams

· Jacobi Boykins is worth an additional 7.24 points to Louisiana Tech for best in the CUSA , nationally ranked 87 – leading the tightest race with five players all within a point of the top in Giddy Potts, Reggie Upshaw and Jacorey Williams of Middle Tennessee, Egor Koulechov of Rice.

· Alec Peters is worth an additional 8.70 points to Valparaiso for best in the Horz , nationally ranked 31

· Steven Cook is worth an additional 6.79 points to Princeton for best in the Ivy , nationally ranked 117

· Justin Robinson is worth an additional 8.14 points to Monmouth for best in the MAAC , nationally ranked 53

· Thomas Wilder is worth an additional 7.10 points to Western Michigan for best in the MAC , nationally ranked 97 – in a close four-way race with Central Michigan’s Marcus Keene, Jordan Dartis of Ohio and Isaiah Johnson of Akron

· Patrick Cole is worth an additional 4.56 points to North Carolina Central for best in the MEAC , nationally ranked 374 – chased closely by his teammate Dajuan Graf

· Paris Lee is worth an additional 8.39 points to Illinois St. for best in the MVC , nationally ranked 40

· Marcus Marshall is worth an additional 8.51 points to Nevada for best in the MWC , nationally ranked 35 – followed closely by Brandon Clarke of San Jose State

· Keith Braxton is worth an additional 4.05 points to St. Francis PA for best in the NEC , nationally ranked 476

· Evan Bradds is worth an additional 7.15 points to Belmont for best in the OVC , nationally ranked 96 – followed by Xavier Moon of Morehead St. Lauri Markkanen is worth an additional 9.73 points to Arizona for best in the P12 , nationally ranked 15

· Lonzo Ball is worth an additional 9.25 points to UCLA for best in the P12 , nationally ranked 21 – but Colorado’s Derrick White is right behind him

· Zach Thomas is worth an additional 6.34 points to Bucknell for best in the Pat , nationally ranked 149 – but Bucknell’s Nana Foulland and Lehigh’s Tim Kempton are close

· Kevin Hervey is worth an additional 7.34 points to UT Arlington for best in the SB , nationally ranked 80

· Justin Tuoyo is worth an additional 7.71 points to Chattanooga for best in the SC , nationally ranked 70 – but Wofford’s Eric Garcia and Mercer’s Ria’n Holland are close

· Sindarius Thornwell is worth an additional 10.62 points to South Carolina for best in the SEC , nationally ranked 5 – with teammates JJ Frazier and Yante Maten both in the top 20 nationally

· Erik Thomas is worth an additional 7.26 points to New Orleans for best in the Slnd , nationally ranked 86

· Mike Daum is worth an additional 8.07 points to South Dakota St. for best in the Sum , nationally ranked 55 – with Fort Wayne’s John Konchar and North Dakota State’s Dexter Werner close

· Reginal Johnson is worth an additional 4.33 points to Alcorn St. for best in the SWAC , nationally ranked 429 – chased by Jackson State’s Yettra Specks and Texas Southern’s Zach Lofton

· Ian Baker is worth an additional 6.16 points to New Mexico St. for best in the WAC , nationally ranked 166 – followed closely by UT Rio Grande’s Nick Dixon

· Nigel Williams-Goss is worth an additional 10.23 points to Gonzaga for best in the WCC , nationally ranked 6