Arizona's Deandre Ayton was one of four players named to the final Naismith Award ballot Tuesday, along with Duke's Marvin Bagley, Villanova's Jalen Brunson and Kansas' Devonte' Graham.
Ayton strengthened his candidacy last weekend when he led Arizona to the Pac-12 Tournament title and was named the event's MVP, scoring 32 points in both Arizona's semifinal and final games.
Ayton was also the Pac-12 Player of the Year, and has been named a first-team all-American by Sporting News and USBWA so far.
The Pac-12 announced the final recommendations of its task force that looked into the issues college basketball is facing.
They are:
1. Calling on the NBA (and, really, its players association) to end the one-and-done rule.
2. Create an independent enforcement department separate from the NCAA.
3. Have the NCAA and other organizations run regional "combine" style recruiting events instead of shoe companies.
4. Require full disclosure of all shoe and apparel deals with coaches and schools. (Arizona receives about $3.8 million annually in cash and apparel from Nike, which also pays UA coach Sean Miller $200,000 annually).
5. Provide mentorship programs and education to high school prospects.
Sports Illustrated says Buffalo is one of eight teams seeded 11th or lower who could pull off first-round upsets.
The unselfish CJ Massinburg is setting the tone for Buffalo.
