USBWA Release

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU guard Boopie Miller was one of 25 players nationally named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced today. He has led the Mustangs to a 13-4 record (2-2 ACC), including a half-court buzzer-beater for the 77-76 win over Virginia Tech on Wednesday as SMU improved to 11-0 at Moody Coliseum.

Miller is also on the Lute Olson Award Watch List and was recently named The Associated Press National Player of the Week (Jan. 6), one of five Oscar Robertson Trophy National Players of the Week (Jan. 6) and ACC Player of the Week (Jan. 5).

For the season, Miller is averaging 20.8 points (3^rd ACC, 21^st NCAA), 7.1 assists (1st ACC, 10th NCAA), 2.0 steals (3rd ACC, 52^nd NCAA) and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 47.5% overall, 40.5% on threes (32-79) and 89.3% on free throws (2^nd ACC, 35th NCAA). He has a 2.90 assist-to-turnover ratio (4^th ACC, 60^th NCAA) and has five double-doubles (5th ACC, 52^nd NCAA). He is the only player in the nation averaging at least 20.0 points, 7.0 assists and 2.0 steals.

The Mustangs are No. 32 in the NCAA NET while receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll. SMU hosts No. 16 Virginia on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.

The "Big O" Trophy is handed out annually at the men's Final Four to the best player in college basketball and has been named after Robertson since the 1997-98 season. Its origins date back to 1958-59; the Oscar Robertson Trophy is the longest-running POY award in college basketball. 

"Our list is 25 names deep, but in tabulating the ballots, there are 30-plus players who have a viable case to be included," USBWA President Matt Norlander said. "The next eight weeks are going to be riveting and could wind up producing a second straight season with a fantastic, up-for-grabs race for the best player in college basketball. All signs indicate we are in the midst of one of the best seasons for the sport in the past 25 years."

Here are the 25 members of the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List:
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Jaden Bradley, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Alex Karaban, Connecticut 
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Boopie Miller, SMU
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Labaron Philon, Alabama
Braden Smith, Purdue
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina