Keita Bates-Diop continues to collect national attention as his redshirt junior season comes closer to an end.
The Ohio State forward has been named a finalist for the Wooden Award, given annually to the nation's top Div. I college basketball player, and has also been named a second-team All-American by the Sporting News.
Bates-Diop, who was named the Big Ten's Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection a week ago, finished the regular season averaging 19.2 points per game, while also pulling down 8.9 rebounds per contest. He dropped 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting in a 69-68 loss to Penn State in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Normal, Ill. native was a four-time Big Ten Player of the Week this season, collecting a pair of 30-point games against Michigan State (32) and Illinois (35) respectively.
Bates-Diop and Ohio State are set to learn their NCAA Tournament destination on Sunday, with the tournament selection show set to air on TBS at 6 p.m. The Buckeyes are inviting fans to join them for the show, opening the doors to the Schottenstein Center on Sunday at 5 p.m.
