Jump ball: Player of the year award up for grabs

For nine years running, the purveyors of the two most prestigious national player of the year honors have been in agreement. The Naismith and Wooden awards have gone to the same player every season since Marcus Camby of Massachusetts swept both in 1996, all the way through double-winner Jameer Nelson of Saint Joseph's last year.

This year?

This year, it's a mess.

It's a good mess, with multiple impressive candidates. But it's a mess nonetheless.

Utah center Andrew Bogut averages 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. (AP)

SportsLine.com is here to tidy up the situation. We've narrowed it to two candidates, Duke center Shelden Williams and Utah center Andrew Bogut, based on their awesome individual stats and leadership on overachieving teams.

For different reasons, both have the potential to be overlooked. Duke teammate J.J. Redick attracts more player of the year buzz than Williams, while the Mountain West Conference doesn't afford Bogut the exposure of other leading candidates.

More than anyone in the country, Williams dominates both ends of the court. At 16.3 points per game and 60.6 percent from the floor, he's as offensively unstoppable as Blue Devils ancestor Elton Brand. With 11.9 rebounds and 3.8 blocks -- second nationally in both -- Williams has the defensive presence of former UConn All-American Emeka Okafor.

Bogut has been fabulous for Utah, which is ranked No. 14. He averages 20.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and even 2.6 assists. By the smallest of fractions, he leads the country in rebounding over Williams, and he's third in field-goal accuracy at 64.7 percent.

Utah coach Ray Giacoletti doesn't doubt his star center belongs in the conversation for national player of the year. And he senses others are getting the picture, too.

"I think the world knew about Andrew, but until recently the United States was not as aware," Giacoletti said. "The world knew about him because of the job he did in the junior championships a couple years ago as the MVP, and how he played in the Olympics last year. I think the United States is starting to realize just how good he is, too."

Alas, other players are awfully good, too.

This is how we'd rank them, behind Williams and Bogut.

Deron Williams, Illinois PG: How do you pick among him and fellow Illini guards Luther Head and Dee Brown? Williams isn't dazzling in any statistical area but assists (6.8 per game) and win-loss record (Illinois 25-0). That's enough, especially in conjunction with his selfless direction of the offense, physical defense, timely shooting and overall aura that says, Your team will not beat my team.

Chris Paul, Wake Forest PG: Here's a secret: Paul's numbers (14.7 points, 6.7 assists, 2.4 steals, 51.5 percent on 3-pointers) are similar to a year ago. That doesn't mean he's not an All-American candidate. It means he should have been one last season, too, when he made the All-ACC third team.

Nick Fazekas, Nevada C: After losing four starters to graduation and their coach to Stanford, the Wolf Pack (18-5, 11-2) had no business being this good. Nevada is running away with the WAC, and it's all because of Fazekas. A 6-foot-11 sophomore, he averages 21 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, shoots 53.4 percent from the floor and 79.2 percent from the line, and leads the team in 3-pointers with 23. America, get to know this young man.

Jared Dudley, Boston College SF: One of BC's starting forwards made the Naismith's final 30 -- but not this one. Which shows the Naismith committee needs some help. Craig Smith (18.3 points, 8.4 rebounds) has better overall numbers, but Dudley (16.4, 7.7) is the confident, charismatic engine that makes the Eagles go. Plus, his numbers in league play exceed Smith's. And can you name another star forward with a 2.2-to-1 assist-turnover ratio?

Wayne Simien, Kansas C: Mr. Double-Double (18.7 points, 11 rebounds) is too productive not to make the list, but not enough of a defensive presence (0.7 blocks) to pull even with Williams or Bogut.

Sean May, North Carolina C: Similar to Simien (15.4 points, 9.5 rebounds), minus a few numbers here, plus a number there (1.1 block per game). Teammates Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants also deserve consideration for postseason honors, though not at this level.

Salim Stoudamire, Arizona SG: The Wildcats didn't become the West's best until Stoudamire (17.9 points) heated up. He leads the country in 3-point shooting at 54.7 percent, a ridiculous figure considering the defensive attention he gets.

Hakim Warrick, Syracuse PF: The 6-8 senior is a low-post scorer deluxe (20.3 points, 8.5 rebounds) who can change a game's direction with one dunk -- or five.

Adam Morrison, Gonzaga SF: He does for Gonzaga and Ronny Turiaf what Dudley does for Boston College and Craig Smith. Morrison's numbers (18 points, 5.7 rebounds) drop in league play, which is why he's below Dudley here.

Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont PF: Everyone knows he's good. But how good? He held his own against Simien at Kansas but was eaten up by May at North Carolina. The surrounding talent works both ways, which leaves us again at: How good is he compared to the NCAA's elite? Not sure, but he's second the country in scoring at 24.3 points per game.

J.J. Redick, Duke SG: He's running away with the ACC scoring title (22.5 points, sixth nationally) and is a savvy defender. His defense of Rashad McCants destroyed North Carolina's final play in Duke's 71-70 victory last week.

No, we didn't forget: Can you believe we listed 13 players -- but not Alabama's Kennedy Winston, Arizona State's Ike Diogu, Louisville's Francisco Garcia, DePaul's Quemont Greer, Marquette's Travis Diener, Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts, N.C. State's Julius Hodge, Oklahoma State's Joey Graham, Providence's Ryan Gomes, UCLA's Dijon Thompson or Washington's Nate Robinson?