Oklahoma State University Athletics
Smart is USA Today Preseason POY
November 07, 2013 | Cowboy Basketball
Nov. 7, 2013
STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart has been tabbed the national preseason player of the year by the sports staff at USA Today, it was announced today. College basketball writers Eric Prisbell and Nicole Auerbach identified the players who are most likely to contend for top player honors this season.
Joining Smart on USA Today's All-America team are: Creighton senior Doug McDermott, as well as Duke's Jabari Parker, Kentucky's Julius Randle and Andrew Wiggins of Kansas, all freshmen. Wiggins was selected as the freshman of the year.
This is what the magazine said about Smart: "Smart surprised nearly everyone by saying no to the NBA and returning to Stillwater for another season. Considered a lock to be a lottery pick (this year or next, even with an expected strong draft), Smart impresses on both ends of the court. His stats from last season were eye-popping: He scored 15.4 points, dished out 4.2 assists, had 3.0 steals and grabbed 5.8 rebounds as a freshman in the Big 12. Look for big numbers once again, and look for the Cowboys to potentially break Kansas's nine-year Big 12 regular-season title streak."
Smart and his Cowboy teammates open the regular season on Friday night as they host the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at 7 pm inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Smart as preseason POY
United States Basketball Writers Association
USA Today
Blue Ribbon Yearbook
