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3 SEC players made the mid-season watch list for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Naismith Trophy announced the 15-player watch list on Thursday afternoon. It includes Mississippi State guard Shakeel Moore, Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe and Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler.
Moore made the list despite coming off the bench for the Bulldogs this season. He’s started just 1 game so far this season, but is averaging an impressive 2.2 steals per contest.
Tshiebwe has once again prove himself as one of the best bigs in the country. In addition to his 16.6 points per game, he’s also averaging 13.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1 block per contest. Last season, Tshiebwe was a finalist for this award which was eventually won by Auburn center Walker Kessler.
Zeigler is a sophomore with the Vols. He’s been a key part of what is statistically the best defense in the country this season. The Vols rank No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency by a wide margin, per KenPom. Zeigler, a 5-foot-9 guard, is averaging 2.3 steals per game.
Finalists for this award will be announced in the coming weeks.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
