By: Nick Otte (TheLantern.com) -

After Ohio State was ousted in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, junior Evan Turner’s dream of hoisting a National Championship trophy this weekend fell by the wayside.

However, the Buckeye point guard was in Indianapolis accepting a different trophy.
He was named the AP’s Player of the Year Friday, receiving 54 of the 65 votes, and is OSU’s first recipient of the award since Gary Bradds in 1964. Turner led the Buckeyes in nearly every statistical category this season, and averaged 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

Kentucky’s John Wall finished second with nine votes, and West Virginia’s Deshaun Butler and Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody each received one vote apiece.

The award could be the first of several for Turner, not the least of which may come on Sunday when the Naismith National Player of the Year is announced.

Related posts:

1. Naismith winner: Evan Turner named college basketball’s best player
2. Awards prove Ohio State Buckeyes guard Evan Turner grew into his role
3. Ohio State’s Evan Turner leaves Buckeyes for the NBA
4. Thad Matta’s advice to Butler’s Brad Stevens: ‘Get out of the ticket business early’
5. Big Ten has last laugh with another Final Four run