Idaho has a unique chance to do something that hasn’t been done in the WAC since 2009 — Win a second consecutive player of the year honor. It was last done in 2009 when Utah State brought home the back-to-back honors with Gary Wilkinson following up the 2007-08 winner Jaycee Carroll.
Kyle Barone did it for Idaho last season, this season it’s senior forward Stephen Madison who is pushing to win the award in Idaho’s final season in the conference before moving to Big Sky.
His recent five game surge has put him right in the thick of the conversation.
Madison has scored at least 18 points in his last five games, which includes a 42 point outing at Utah Valley on Feb. 15. He put in 21 points in a non-league game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night. He’s scored a combined 63 points on only 31 shot attempts his last two games, going 18-24 from the free throw line.
His season averages sit at 19.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 47-percent shooting. Last year Barone took home the award averaging 17.2 points and 9.7 boards a game, but did so shooting a ridiculously efficient 59-percent.
Madison will play his final game in Moscow on Saturday, attempting to add onto his resume against Grand Canyon at Memorial Gym. The senior already played his final game at Cowan Spectrum, a 22 point performance on Feb. 8 in a win over UT-Pan American. That included sinking a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to send the game to overtime, hitting another one in overtime to seal to 70-63 win.
Madison faces stiff competition for the award, including my pre-season pick for the award in New Mexico State’s Daniel Mullings. Here are some other competitors for the award.
– Jerome Garrison, G, Grand Canyon – 16.2 PPG, 21.0 PPG in WAC. 43-percent shooting. 2.1 APG, 3 RPG.
– Isiah Umipig, G, Seattle – 19.5 PPG, 19.2 PPG in WAC. 40-percent shooting. 4.0 APG, 2.9 RPG.
– Daniel Mullings, G, New Mexico State – 16.9 PPG, 17.1 PPG in WAC. 46-percent shooting. 3.3 APG, 5.1 RPG.
– Issiah Grayson, G, Cal State Bakersfield – 16.2 PPG, 18.8 PPG in WAC. 50-percent shooting. 4.1 APG, 2.5 RPG.
– Stephen Madison, F, Idaho – 19.3 PPG, 21.3 PPG in WAC. 47-percent shooting. 2.3 APG, 7.7 RPG.
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The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has forced the Vandals out of the Kibbie Dome and into Memorial Gym. But that might not be a bad thing.
The Vandals are 3-0 in the gym heading into Saturday’s game against Grand Canyon and is a comfortable place for the Vandals
And of course, it’s the last time that fans will be able to get a look at Madison in Moscow
Don’t forget about the women. The 11-1 Vandals will look to strength their hold on the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament in their final road game at Grand Canyon. They’ll be led by a senior who helped clinch the 58-54 win over the ‘Lopes on Jan. 23
The women are fighting off Bakersfield, who stand two games behind them at 9-3 after beating the Vandals 79-60 at the Cowan Spectrum on Feb. 13. The loss might not have been the worst thing for the Vandals, though.