IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Megan Gustafson has been named to the 2018 John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list. The announcement was made by ESPNW and the Wooden Award on Thursday. Players on the list are considered strong candidates for the most prestigious national player of the year honor.
Gustafson is one of three student-athletes not included on the preseason top 30 list to be added to the midseason top 25. She is one of three student-athletes from the Big Ten (Katelynn Flaherty and Kelsey Mitchell).
Through 17 games this season, Gustafson averages 22.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. She is shooting 68.8 percent from the field and 83.5 percent from the free throw line. Gustafson is currently ranked in the top-15 nationally in 10 categories. She leads the nation in double-doubles (16), ranks second in field goal percentage (68.8) and field goals made (150), fourth in total points (386), fifth in rebounds (214), seventh in rebounds per game (12.6) and defensive rebounds per game (8), eighth in points per game (22.7), 12th in free throws made (86), and 15th in offensive rebounds per game (4).
Gustafson has earned nine straight conference honors. She earned Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 13, Dec. 4, Dec. 18, Dec. 26, and Jan. 2, and was named to the Player of the Week Honor Roll on Nov. 20, Nov. 27, Dec. 11, and Jan. 8. She is one Player of the Week award away from tying Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender for the most Player of the Week awards in a single season (6, 2010-11). Gustafson is one of five Big Ten student-athletes to garner five Player of the Week awards in a single season.
Players not chosen to the preseason list are eligible for the Wooden Award midseason list, late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Voting will open prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2018 John R. Wooden Award will be presented during the ESPN College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s on Friday, April 6, 2018.
Gustafson and the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes return to action on Saturday, hosting Purdue in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. (CT). Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for youth, and free for UI students.
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