Arizona's Brayden Burries was one of five finalists named for the Naismith's Jerry West Award honoring the top shooting guard in college basketball.
Burries was among the 20 players named to a preseason list for the West award but struggled over the first month of the season. Since a breakout 28-point performance against Alabama on Dec. 13, Burries has become the Wildcats' top scoring threat.
On a notably balanced team, Burries ranks 10th in scoring during Big 12 games with an average of 17.5 points and he's scored 20 or more in his last four games, including a 31-point outburst at Colorado on Saturday.
Burries entered the Alabama game shooting just 30% from 3-point range and was 1 of 6 in the first half -- and then hit all four he took in the second half while scoring 20 points after halftime.
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots and hits a three-pointer over the defense of Alabama forward Taylor Bol Bowen (7) during the second half, Saturday, in Birmingham, Ala.
DUA coach Tommy Lloyd said Burries' "phenomenal" streth in the game generated some confidence.
"He had to work through some things and get some experience," Lloyd said. "He just needed reps, and he needed to feel what it's like to struggle and why, and then to be able to review that and learn from it, and then figure out where he could be successful."
The other four finalists for the Jerry West award are Isaiah Evans of Duke, Emanuel Sharp of Houston, Keaton Wagler of Connecticut and Solo Ball of UConn.
