Kris Dunn, Ben Bentil Named to ESPN Midseason All-American Teams

Apparently releasing midseason awards is something that’s happening this week. NBCSports.com released their midseason awards and midseason All-American teams on Wednesday. ESPN’s turn was Thursday. Jeff Goodman put out the ESPN awards and though he didn’t choose Kris Dunn for Midseason Player of the Year like Rob Dauster of NBCSports.com did, he did keep Dunn as a First Team All-American. Goodman also has Ben Bentil jumping into the mix as a Third Team All-American.

Dunn was beat out by Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield for ESPN’s Midseason Player of the Year and it’s hard to argue with Goodman’s choice, especially with each player’s individual performance this week. Hield went off at Kansas for 46 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a double overtime loss at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Dunn had 20 points against Marquette but his 7 turnovers were a big factor in Providence’s first home loss of the season. Denzel Valentine should be returning from his knee injury soon so the race for Player of the Year is just heating up as conference play has begun.

Bentil was NBCSports.com’s Most Improved Player in the nation. Goodman indicated that Bentil wasn’t considered for ESPN’s Most Improved Player because they put him on an All-American team, but he would have been in the mix for that award if he was considered. There is a real possibility that Bentil plays his way onto an All-American team by season’s end if he keeps up his stellar play. In 3 Big East games, Bentil is averaging 22.3 points/game, 7.7 rebounds/game, 1.7 blocks/game and shot 63.6% from 2-point range.

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Mike Hopkins

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