This was originally going to be an article solely focused on Nic Claxton’s defense, which is worthy of any praise it gets and then some. When he declared “I should be in the talk for the Defensive Player of the Year,” I had the urge to explain why it wasn't just empty braggadocio. But I realized two things, the first of which being I didn’t want to seriously talk about awards, mostly ever, but especially in January. But more so, that it’d be silly to spill so much ink on Nic Claxton and not discuss his offensive improvements.