Gonzaga University's Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme Named to 2022 John R. Wooden Award National Ballot

Strategic Insights -

Gonzaga University's Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme have been named to the 2022 Men's National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, recognizing them as candidates for the Wooden Award All American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the outstanding performance of these two talented student-athletes on and off the court. As selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, Holmgren and Timme join 13 other student-athletes on the National Ballot, competing for the top honor in college basketball.

Key Takeaways:

  • Holmgren tied the West Coast Conference record averaging 3.7 blocks per league game, matching Hondre Brewer's mark in 2002, and is fourth in the nation with 97 blocks and fourth averaging 3.59 blocks per game.
  • Holmgren is two blocks shy of seventh for most in a career in program history and leads the conference grabbing 9.7 rebounds per game, which is 21st in the country.
  • Timme, a Preseason All-American and the 2022 West Coast Conference Player of the Year, was named First Team All-Conference the last two seasons and is second in the West Coast Conference averaging 17.6 points per game.
  • Two schools have multiple players on the Wooden Award National Ballot, Auburn (Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith) and Gonzaga (Holmgren and Timme).
  • The Big Ten leads all conferences with five selections, followed by the SEC with three, the Pac-12 and WCC with two each, and the ACC, Big East and Big 12 with one selection apiece.
  • The qualifications for the Wooden Award include candidates establishing strength of character, contributing to team effort, and excelling in offense and defense, among other requirements.

Statistics:

  • Holmgren has 97 blocked shots, the fourth-most in a single season in WCC history, and 97 blocked shots exceed his number of missed shots from the field (85).
  • Timme boasts a record of 86-6 (.935) in his Gonzaga appearances, going 43-2 (.956) in conference play.
  • Timme is third in the WCC shooting 58.3 percent from the field, which ranks 17th in the nation, and is sixth blocking 0.89 shots per game.
  • The two Gonzaga players on the Wooden Award National Ballot have been certified to meet or exceed the qualifications set forth by Coach Wooden, including maintaining a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school.

Sources:

  • Los Angeles Athletic Club announced on ESPN's College GameDay
  • John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's
  • Gonzaga University News Release