The Final Four Most Outstanding Player is exactly how it sounds, the MVP of the Final Four, typically on the winning team.
Save for a few exceptions to the rule, the best player on the team cutting down the nets during the two Final Four games is taking home the honors for the Most Outstanding Player. Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo of UConn are atop the odds board for this award, but Hawkins would buck some historical trends as the winner.
Since 2000, only five players have won Most Outstanding Player of the Region and went on to win it at the Final Four. Jordan Hawkins won West Region MOP after the Huskies blitzed through its four games, winning all games by 15-plus points. It’s worth noting Nijel Pack of Miami and Darrion Trammell are the other two winners that qualify for Final Four teams.
The Huskies are the odds on title favorites, so it makes sense that Hawkins and Sanogo would be at the top of the board for this award given it likely goes to the title winner. The last time a non title winning player took home honors was Hakeem Olajuwon in 1983.
Here’s the full list of odds for Final Four MOP, with a best bet for each team:
2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player odds
NCAAB • 2022-23 Futures
NCAAB Championship 2022/23 – 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Odds updated March 30th, 2023, at 12:41 pm
UConn: Andre Jackson (+2500)
Jackson is the do-it-all forward for the Huskies that fills the stat sheet. He posted an average of nearly eight points, seven rebounds and eight assists over the first four games, but is the straw that stirs the drink for the Huskies.
If Jackson is able to stuff the stat sheet and make an impact all over the floor, he can steal some shine from Hawkins and Sanogo. Of course, those two are the most likely to win and the odds reflect that, but given Jackson’s ability to impact the game in a multitude of ways, he can provide the balance to lead the Huskies to the title.
San Diego State: Nathan Mensah (+5000)
Projecting a San Diego State MOP winner is kind of tricky. While the award is guard dominant, SDSU’s path to victory lies in its defense, so I’ll side with its best rim protector Mensah.
The Aztecs big man did an awesome job in the second half containing Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and has a near 10% block rate, which is 13th in the country. He hasn’t scored much in the ‘Big Dance,’ just 20 combined points, but he has averaged nearly seven rebounds and four blocks.
If the Aztecs defense shows up for two more games, this team may cut down the nets, so I’ll take a stab at Mensah to get recognition at the podium in that case.
Florida Atlantic: Johnell Davis (+1500)
Trying to pinpoint a particular FAU player is tricky as well. The team is balanced, spreading out four or sometimes five shooters on the floor and attacking closeouts with ease, so the leading scorer could be a rotating door. While taking some fliers on longshots like Bryan Greenlee (+20000) could be worthwhile, I’ll go with the team’s No. 1 option Davis.
If Markquis Nowell didn’t get MOP of the East Region, it’d be Davis, who averaged 17 points, nearly eight rebounds and more than three assists in the Owls shocking run to the Final Four. The sophomore wing fills the stat sheet more than any other FAU player and I’ll keep it safe and go with him to get his shine if the Owls pull off the shocking title.
Miami: Norchad Omier (+10000)
Trying to sift through Pack, Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller is a fool’s errand, the trio have shined at different times, and it’s reflected in the odds that have all three bucket getters inside of 20-1. So, why not throw a dart on Omier.
If Miami is to win it all, the team will have to get high level performances from Omier, who will match up with one of the most imposing frontcourts in the country in UConn (who have Sanogo and Donovan Clingan) and two more potential elite defenses on the interior in San Diego State and Florida Atlantic.
Omier may not do the scoring to warrant enough consideration, but he is the X-Factor to a Hurricanes victory, and the other three key cogs have watered down prices.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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