The Naismith Award announced its semifinalists for men’s college basketball defensive player of the year on Thursday and Texas Tech’s Tariq Owens is among the 10 nominees.
The graduate transfer has 63 blocks on the season and needs just seven more to break Texas Tech’s single season record held by Tony Battie (1996-97).
The Red Raiders are second nationally in defensive scoring average (57.2) and lead the nation in field goal percentage defense at .361.
Men’s Defensive Player of the Year 10 semifinalists:
| Barry Brown, Jr. | Sr. | G | Kansas State | Big 12 |
| Brandon Clarke | Jr. | F | Gonzaga | WCC |
| Ashton Hagans | Fr. | G | Kentucky | SEC |
| De’Andre Hunter | So. | G | Virginia | ACC |
| Tre Jones | Fr. | G | Duke | ACC |
| Tariq Owens | Sr. | F | Texas Tech | Big 12 |
| Zavier Simpson | Jr. | G | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Matisse Thybulle | Sr. | G | Washington | Pac-12 |
| Grant Williams | Jr. | F | Tennessee | SEC |
| Zion Williamson | Fr. | F | Duke | ACC |
The four finalists for the award will be announced on March 14, and the Naismith Award Defensive Player of the Year will be announced on April 7.
