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College Basketball Talk’s Player of the Year Power Rankings

Shabazz Napier

AP photo

AP

Shabazz Napier

AP photo

AP

The 2013-2014 season is sure to be a thrilling Player of the Year race, so to keep track of it, we will be posting weekly Player of the Year Power Rankings for your reading goodness.

Who’d we miss? Who’s ranked too high? We love to overlook your team’s best player and overrate your rival’s superstar.

1) Shabazz Napier, UConn: Napier is averaging 16.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 5.6 apg and 1.9 spg through eight games. The Huskies are 8-0, but their four biggest wins have come by a combined five points. You want to take a guess who gets the ball in the clutch for the Huskies?

2) Jabari Parker, Duke: The Blue Devils have struggled a bit early on this season given their lack of interior play, but Parker’s been tremendous. He’s averaging 23.0 points and 8.0 boards, shooting 50% from three despite going 0-for-5 against Arizona.

3) Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State: Smart struggled a bit down in Orlando, but he’s still been arguably the most dominant all-around player in the country this season.

4) Julius Randle, Kentucky: The double-double machine saw his streak come to an end on Sunday night at the Barclays Center, but Randle is the best player on the team with the most potential in the country. He’ll be at the top of this list all season long.

5) Keith Appling, Michigan State: Appling has been the best player on the floor for the team that’s currently sitting at No. 1 in the country. The fact that he’s come up huge in the Spartan’s two biggest wins doesn’t hurt, either.

6) Nick Johnson, Arizona: Johnson is going to end up being the most important player on the Arizona roster. The Wildcats are going to have issues in the half-court against elite defenses, and he’s the guy with the talent to break people down. He’s also a terrific defender on a very, very good defensive team.

7) Doug McDermott, Creighton: Dougie McBuckets was McAwful against George Washington, struggling with the length and athleticism that Isaiah Armwood could throw at him.

8) Russ Smith, Louisville: Smith one Kenpom’s Player of the Year award last year, and he’s been more efficient this season than he was last season.

9) Jahii Carson, Arizona State: Carson’s Sun Devils had a rough weekend at the Wooden Legacy, and Carson had some issues with rolling his ankles. The one concern that popped up? Carson appeared to quite in a blowout loss to Creighton.

10) Perry Ellis, Kansas: Ellis has been the best player on Kansas this season, but he had a bit of a disappointing week in the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Others: Kyle Anderson, Ron Baker, Dylon Cormier, Aaron Craft, Tyler Haws, Alex Kirk, Rodney Hood, Roberto Nelson, Marcus Paige, Elfrid Payton, Elijah Pittman, Juwan Staten, Joseph Young