Kris Dunn, Henry Ellenson named finalists for USBWA awards

On Monday, Kris Dunn and Henry Ellenson were both named finalists for two regular season awards issued out by the United States Basketball Writers' Association.

Dunn joins a field filed with names like Ben Simmons, Buddy Hield, Denzel Valentine, Grayson Allen and others for the USBWA Oscar Robertson Award. The Oscar Robertson Award is handed out to the best player in the country, as voted upon by the USBWA members.

Prior BIG EAST recipients of the award include Doug McDermott, Walter Berry and current St. John's head coach, Chris Mullin.

Meanwhile, Ellenson is amongst competitors including Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray and Jaylen Brown for the Wayman Tisdale Award, handed out to the best freshman in the country.

A BIG EAST player has not won the award since Carmelo Anthony took home the honors back in 2003. Prior BIG EAST recipients of the honor also include Eddie Griffin of the Seton Hall Pirates, who won the award back in 2001.