Flagg-ing these NPOY odds

I’m sure Michigan State fans aren’t panicked AT ALL after losing 115-110 to KK FMP in their foreign tour in Spain. Does this result mean anything? No, not really. But, you know who will make it mean something? Tom Izzo. It’s a terrific preseason learning opportunity. Don’t panic, Spartan fans.

1. Cooper Flagg as the NPOY favorite?

There was never a doubt about last season’s NPOY. Sure, Dalton Knecht gave it a shot, but nobody was derailing Zach Edey.

This season? That’s a different story. Check out these odds.

Should a freshman be the clear favorite? Probably not.

Even though Cooper Flagg is awesome, it’s pretty difficult for a freshman to win the award. Only three have done it: Zion Williamson (2019), Anthony Davis (2012) and Kevin Durant (2007). Making the transition from high school to college isn’t easy, and most freshman hit a wall at some point.

Flagg is great, but he’ll have plenty award competition on his own team (assuming Tyrese Proctor develops). But these odds makers aren’t alone, either. When CBS Sports polled coaches about their prediction for the best player, they also picked Flagg.

Anyway, the best value on the board? That’s Mark Sears at 8/1.

He should be the favorite. Sears posted 21.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 4.2 apg on 50% shooting, and 43% from deep. If Sears puts up similar numbers and leads Alabama to a Top 10 ranking and the SEC title, he’ll have real momentum to take honors.

Meanwhile, Kansas features two players with decent odds: Hunter Dickinson at 5/1 and Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr at 16/1. By those odds, Storr is the fifth-best player in college basketball. Hm.

Storr averaged 16.8 ppg at Wisconsin, which almost certainly will drop with all the options at Kansas. This is more likely where he plays and that there’s no clear slate of preseason All-Americans. I’d expect Caleb Love to have better overall numbers as the clear No. 1 offensive option on a Top 15-caliber team.

Also, where is Auburn’s Johni Broome? He’s the best value of guys not listed. Broome averaged 16.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg and is one of the sport’s elite interior defenders. He earned All-American third team honors last year, and should only get better. One could make the case Broome has a better overall case than Dickinson.

2. Circle Feb. 1 for the must-see SEC matchup

On Tuesday, the SEC released their conference schedule for the 2024-25 season. Surely there’s nothing different about the league this year. Right? Not quite.

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