Tyson Walker is top 5 in Wooden Award bettings odds

A couple of interesting names top the list, with Purdue’s Zach Edey and former Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson. UConn guard Tristen Newton and Duke big man Kyle Filipowski are the only others ahead of Tyson currently.

The above post however puts it best by saying “Edey and Dickinson then the rest.” Both Edey and Dickinson have a substantial lead over the rest of the field and it would be kind of surprising if one of them didn’t win it. However, things like this can change fast as it only takes a few elite performances for Tyson to shoot up this list. So anything is still possible this early in the season.

What would it take for Tyson Walker to win?

Although Tyson’s stats are very good this year, they are going to have to improve if he wants to win this award. To have a shot, I think he needs to get his average points up to 25. A 5-point increase will be difficult considering we’re already 12 games into the season, but that’s likely what it will take.

As a guard, his rebounding numbers don’t really matter. But his assist numbers do and 2.5 is nowhere near good enough for a guard, so I think that at least needs to double if not slightly more to have a chance.

Lastly, Michigan State as a team needs to finish the year strong. This award is handed out before the NCAA Tournament, so we don’t have to think that far ahead. But a Big Ten regular season championship is a requirement to win this award. It also can’t be a shared title with Purdue, because Zach Edey’s stats are going to be better than Tyson’s so he needs to separate himself with the championship. A Big Ten Tournament championship would also help as well, but I don’t think it’s a requirement.

Performance in marquee matchups

Tyson Walker and MSU need to win the big games on their schedule. Most notably their one matchup with Purdue in West Lafayette. The Spartans travel to Purdue near the end of the season on March 2. College basketball’s eyes will be all over this game, so Tyson Walker needs to take over. Winning this game by one point would be good enough, but Tyson needs to go nuclear in this game. I’m talking a 30-point game with close to 10 assists to stand out. If he can have that type of game in potentially a Big Ten championship-clinching scenario, his chances of winning this award would skyrocket.

A few other games stand out on the schedule as well that MSU will need to win along with a great performance from Tyson. Illinois is the second-best team in the conference right now, so those two matchups are critical. A revenge game at Wisconsin is another pivotal moment as well. And lastly, dominating Michigan twice this season wouldn’t hurt his chances either.

Unfortunately, no player from MSU has won this award before. I honestly wouldn’t pick Tyson to win it this year either, but it could be fun to put $5 on it and hope for the best.