Mike DeCourcy at the Sporting News looks at college basketball individual awards.

Most Improved Player

Front-runner: Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh. Gray averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds as a sophomore, playing behind Chris Taft. With Taft in the NBA, Gray is averaging a double double and has become the foundation of Pitt’s fifth straight 20-win season.

The field: Je’Kel Foster, Ohio State; Thomas Gardner, Missouri; Chris Lofton, Tennessee; Kevin Pittsnogle, West Virginia; Al Thornton, Florida State.

The race: This isn’t an official award, though it is in the NBA. Gray is a terrific player, but his enhanced production has a lot to do with opportunity. He was good last season but played behind another future pro.

The best choice is Foster, now a better ballhandler and defender. His shooting has improved from 43.5 percent last season to 55.1 percent, and he nearly has doubled his scoring average.

Now, DeCourcy isn’t dissing Gray. He’s been a fan of his since the end of last season.

Once again there are some early entrants who won’t be sorely missed next season.
…
Chris Taft, C, Pittsburgh. The Panthers can replace the 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game Taft produced as a sophomore. It’ll be tougher to find someone who can manage more than 11 field-goal attempts for every one assist. Pitt’s concerns mostly are on the perimeter. It will be just fine with 7-0 Aaron Gray in the middle. Gray has better post moves than Taft and is unselfish. Gray does not move as well, but Taft was so unsound defensively that his athleticism rarely made a difference.

He called that one.