Arizona basketball’s Bennedict Mathurin named Naismith semifinalist
Mar 11, 2022, 10:39 AM
Guard Bennedict Mathurin #0 of the Arizona Wildcats smiles on the sidelines during the game against the Oregon State Beavers at McKale Center on February 17, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Arizona Wildcats sophomore Bennedict Mathurin was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Trophy on Friday.
Mathurin is the only player representing the Pac-12 on the list of semifinalists. The Big Ten had four players make the list, while the WCC and SEC had two each.
For Arizona, Mathurin averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists through his team’s Pac-12 Tournament opener on Thursday, a slim victory against Stanford. He scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the 84-80 quarterfinals win in Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound wing has boosted his pro stock this season, showcasing his athleticism and shooting range while adding more play-making to his game as an initiator.
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Mathurin is shooting 47% overall and 38% from three while taking 5.7 attempts of his 12.8 total beyond the arc.
That efficient production within the team context has helped Arizona to a 29-3 record, a Pac-12 regular-season title and a likely a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona resumes play on Friday in the conference semifinals against Colorado.
2022 Naismith Trophy Semifinalists
| Ochai Agbaji | Sr. | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Kofi Cockburn | Jr. | C | Illinois | Big Ten |
| Johnny Davis | So. | G | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
| Chet Holmgren | Fr. | C | Gonzaga | WCC |
| E.J. Liddell | Jr. | F | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Bennedict Mathurin | So. | G | Arizona | Pac-12 |
| Keegan Murray | So. | F | Iowa | Big Ten |
| Jabari Smith | Fr. | F | Auburn | SEC |
| Drew Timme | Jr. | F | Gonzaga | WCC |
| Oscar Tshiebwe | Jr. | F | Kentucky | SEC |
