2015-16 Naismith Award candidates

After averaging only 9.2 minutes per game in his freshman year, Allen has really stepped up this year. He's clearly been Duke's best player, averaging more than 20 points per game and five rebounds. He's also shooting nearly 40 percent from three.

The senior forward transfer from Boston College is averaging 15.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in his senior season over 14 games. He leads the Wildcats in both categories.

The Huskies are looking to make a comeback this season, and Andrews is off to a fast start in his senior campaign. The senior guard is averaging 21.1 points and 6.3 rebounds through 14 games.

Barber has become the heart and soul of the Wolfpack, averaging 38.9 minutes per game and 22.9 points through 14 games. The junior guard has even added nearly five rebounds per contest.

At this point it seems like Ferrell has been at Indiana for 20 years, and Big Ten rivals certainly hope he'd move on. He's averaging more than 16 points for the third straight year and shooting nearly 49 percent from the field. He's also added six assists per game.

Gathers has become an even bigger force in the paint for the Bears, averaging 13.9 points and 10.8 rebounds in his senior season. Baylor looks like a contender in the Big 12 again, led by Gathers.

The Cougars have taken some rough early losses, but Hawkinson continues to perform well. The junior big man is averaging 16.9 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting nearly 60 percent through 14 games.

Hield's name has become more well-known over the last two seasons with Oklahoma's success, and he's taken his name to a whole new level in his senior season. The guard is among the country's scoring leaders with nearly 25 points per game, shooting just under 50 percent from the field and nearly 50 percent from three. He's the obvious reason for the Sooners' 12-0 start.

Jackson has taken a step forward for the Fighting Irish, averaging more than 16 points and attempting more that 12 shots per game. The junior guard has also done a better job distributing the ball, averaging almost five assists per game.

Johnson has taken a giant leap in his senior season, with 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game through 15 contests. He's also shooting 62 percent from the field.

Kingsley saw limited minutes in his freshman season, but the rebuilding Razorbacks have needed every bit of his contribution this year. He's averaged 16.5 points and 10.1 rebounds through 13 games, with the team off to a poor 6-7 record.

LeVert has improved in his senior season, averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 14 games. He's also shooting an outstanding 44.6 percent from three.

Moody is among the country's leading scorers in his senior season, averaging nearly 24 points and attempting nearly eight three-pointers per game. Ole Miss has rallied around him, beginning the season 10-3.

Payton's talent doesn't fall far from the tree. His father was a defensive phenom and NBA All-Star, and Payton is turning into quite the all-purpose player himself. He's averaging 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.5 steals through 12 games.

Poeltl has been an unstoppable force in his sophomore season, nearing doubling his scoring output from last year with nearly 18 points per game and adding nearly 10 rebounds per game. His efficiency has been terrific, shooting 68.7 percent from the field.

The Vols are off to a rough start, but Punter is off to a great start. The senior guard is averaging 22.8 points per contest through 13 games.

The son of former NBA big man Arvydas Sabonis, Domantas' talent is starting to resemble his father. He's averaging 18.3 points and 10.6 rebounds through 15 games in his sophomore season.

The Buffaloes have gotten off to a nice start with Scott taking a step forward. He's averaged 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game early in his senior season.

The well-rounded Jayhawks have seen a breakout year from Selden, averaging 15.5 points through 13 games. He's shooting a great 55.4 percent from three.

The consensus first overall pick in next year's NBA draft, Simmons has performed as advertised. The freshman has averaged 20.5 points and 13.1 rebounds through 13 games. Unfortunately, LSU's cold start to the season could sap Simmons of votes if the Tigers don't improve quickly.

The Wildcats haven't gotten off to the amazing start they did last year, but Ulis has still thrived in his sophomore season. The point guard has averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 assists per game through 13 contests and came up big vs. rival Louisville with 21 points.

There's perhaps no better example of Valentine's value to the Spartans than how they've struggled without him. Valentine was averaging 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game before going out with a knee injury. With Valentine out, Michigan State lost its first game of the year on a visit to Iowa.

The 6-5 senior guard is having another great year, averaging 15.2 points per game and shooting nearly 46.1 percent through 15 games. He's averaging more than 30 minutes per game for the third consecutive year.

After averaging 10 points per game in the last two seasons, Ware's average has skyrocketed to 17.7 points through 13 games. He's also putting up his customary 7.8 rebounds per game and shooting better than 70 percent for the Bulldogs.

An efficient shooter, Wiltjer is averaging 20.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game through 15 games for the Zags. The senior transfer from Kentucky is also shooting better than 47 percent from the field.