Frank Mason III,Kelsey Plum Take The Wooden Award

The most distinguished award in college basketball, the John Wooden Award has finally been announced for the 2016-17 season from The Novo by Microsoft in Los Angeles. Kansas Point Guard, Frank Mason III took the award on the Mens' side, while Washington's Kelsey Plum accepted the award for the Women, becoming the first player in Washington history to take the Wooden Award.

from google.com

The results may shock few as both of the winners had outstanding seasons with Plum's accolades including:

•  NCAA Womens' scoring title averaging 31.7 points per game
• Single game scoring record with 57 points
• 2017 Player of the Year
• NCAA Womens' all-time scoring leader, 3,397

from ncaa.com

Mason III finished his senior year among the best guards in the nation in statistical categories:

• 20.9 points per game
• 4.2 rebounds per game
• 5.2 assists per game

Mason's night turned out to be a big one, picking up the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award along the way to the Wooden. He also earned the:

• Associated Press Player of the Year
• National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year

Although we didn't get to see neither Frank Mason, nor Kelsey Plum in their respective NCAA Tournament Championship game, they were in fact, more than deserving of all of their accomplishments this year.

NCAA Mens' Basketball Top Attendance for 2016-17

from foxsports.com

As the NCAA March Madness woes come to an end with the Final Four set to jump off this Saturday, April 1, we take a look at the teams that had the best fan turnouts for this past season.

Take a look at the top 10 mens' college basketball  teams with the highest home attendance for 2016-17:

*where a team is ranked higher than another, but has a lower attendance: the higher ranked team has a higher average attendance.

1. Kentucky  397,148 
2. Syracuse 367,068
3. Louisville 396,333
4. North Carolina 293,219 
5. Maryland 303,676
6. Wisconsin 311,166
7. Indiana 290,809
8. NC State 301,646
9. Kansas 279,412
10. Creighton 302,887

*via NCAA

This list may surprise many of you, but note that while many of these teams may in fact have some of the loudest arenas, this list only refers to attendance.

Minnesota Goes From 8-23 to 23-8

From http://a.fssta.com/content/

The Minnesota Golden Gophers Mens basketball team has been struggling to taste success every since the academic scandal of the mid 1990s under Coach Clem Haskins, when the team was levied an NCAA sanction for an academic scandal, and was forced to forfeit a Final Four appearance. Coach Tubby Smith acquired the Gophers in 2007, but was relieved in 2013. Coach Richard Pitino is now at the helm, and hasn't had the brightest of days since taking over.  Just last year (2015-16), Minnesota went a dismal 8-23. But what has happened this year (2016-17) for this squad to do a complete 360, and finish the regular season at 23-8?

Blocked Shots
Defense wins games right? That holds true for Minnesota. Getting 6'10'' red-shirt Junior, Reggie Lynch on the court after having to ride the pine for the 2015-16 season due to transfer rules, and a stubborn "D"has proven to be the best thing that happened for the program. Lynch has actively patrolled the paint, and is second in the country in blocked shots with 111 total. The Gophers lead the country in blocked shots with 223.

From http://kstp.com/kstpImages/

Defensive Rebs
Coach Pitino has also done a hell of a job of getting the Gophers to limit the opposition's second chance opportunities. Minnesota is 10th in the country in defensive rebounds with 28.75 per game. Pitino avoids close encounters with defeat by his team being solid on the offensive glass, creating second chance opportunities, and ranked 15th in the country in total rebounds with 39.97 per game.

3-Point "D"
To add to their impressive defensive resume, Minnesota has kept teams from shooting high percentages from deep, coming in at 11th in 3-point FG percentage (30.3).

It's simple ladies and gents; defense, without a doubt, wins games. Minnesota blocks shots better than most of the NCAA, limits teams to one shot (among the NCAA's best in rebounding), and they defend the three better than almost everyone in the country. Their defensive prowess has marked their identity, and is the reason why they went from 8-23 to 23-8.

Frank Mason III:From Petersburg to Kansas

From worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com

Well, Kansas head basketball coach, Bill Self did it again. He developed another top tier guard. That shouldn't come as a surprise to college basketball followers. The man is a marksman when it comes to hitting his recruiting targets. But how exactly, did he hit the bulls-eye when he landed 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year finalist, Frank Mason III, and why didn't you hear about Mason when he was in the high school circuit?
Mason was a 2012 high school recruit fresh out of Petersburg High School in Petersburg, VA. An elite guard, and true scorer, with jet-like speed with the ball, he was ranked the number 5 Virginia prospect by Max Preps. Despite being one of the best guards in the state, Mason was on few to no major college's radar. He was a small guard (under six feet), and definitely looked to score first. When he eventually signed with Towson, many though that he deserved to to be recruited at a higher level. One thing that many can agree on, is that it's hard to get seen, or make it out of Petersburg.

From media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com

Petersburg, also known as "The Burg," is a small, independent city with a population in the low 30,000 range, and a struggling economy. Petersburg High School is the one, and only high school in the city. Combined with a high crime rate, Petersburg is one tough place to live, and its inhabitants reflect that identity in attitude, and perseverance. Frank Mason's game embodied all those characteristics.
The city raised a few household names you may recognize such as Moses Malone, NBA great, and first player to jump to the NBA from high school. Trey Songz, celebrity R&B singer While many may be familiar, or even fans of Malone, and Songz, they most likely didn't know where they were from, or where Petersburg is. Although Petersburg High produced Moses Malone, it didn't become a hotbed for division 1A schools.
Despite the history, Mason took down many of Petersburg High's records, and ended his career there second all time in points, behind Moses Malone. He lit up the stat sheet, but could only garner attention from a few mid-majors, and division 2 colleges. After eventually signing with Towson, Mason was later deemed ineligible to attend the University. The set back would give him a fifth year at Massanutten Military Academy, and a second chance on the high school recruiting circuit. There, Mason blossomed, and Coach Self had him in his sights making Mason a Jayhawk, and one of the best point guards in the 2016-17 season.

From worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com

Mason wasn't given anything. His road to success has been unorthodox, and he has earned every bit of glory. Engulfed in set backs and uncertainty, thriving in an environment where making it out is an ultimate triumph, Frank Mason III is truly a beacon of light shinning in the darkest of places. He has honorably represented for Petersburg, the 804, and the entire Commonwealth.
"He had a toughness about him that everybody sees now," Kansas Assistant Coach Kurtis Townsend said about Mason.