Gonzaga Bulldogs freshman Chet Holmgren has been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Holmgren is averaging 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game this season. His 95 total blocks rank fourth-best in the NCAA, and his 215 defensive rebounds rank 12th.
On top of those hard statistics, Holmgren has been a game changer down low. His defensive rating of 77.7 is the highest mark in college hoops and his defensive box plus/minus of 7.4 is second in the nation.
In many years, those sorts of stats would make it his award to lose, but this year is unlike many years in basketball.