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You might’ve noticed various media outlets announcing All-America teams and Player and Coach of the Year awards over the past few days. But around here, at CBS Sports, we exercise patience and wait until just before the Final Four.

Why?

Because it makes no sense to eliminate some of the most important games -- conference tournament games and NCAA Tournament games -- from consideration if the goal is to have awards that accurately reflect what happened in a particular season. Case in point, Kemba Walker was nobody’s National Player of the Year in 2011. That seems silly in hindsight, awesome as Jimmer Fredette was. And would you believe Stephen Curry wasn’t a First Team All-American in 2008 -- when he averaged 25.9 points for a Davidson team that won 29 games and advanced to the Elite Eight? It’s true. And it’s because most postseason-award decisions were made before Curry took his first big step toward becoming the icon he is today.

Thus, we wait.

The CBS Sports Player of the Year will not be announced until the week of the Final Four. But here’s a current ranking of the top candidates:

1. Caleb Swanigan (Purdue)

Swanigan is averaging 18.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists for a Purdue team that won the Big Ten by two games -- and he’s on pace to be the first player since Tim Duncan in 1997 to average at least those numbers in those categories. The sophomore forward also has 25 double-doubles and four 20-20 games, both of which lead the nation. He grabbed more rebounds in league play than any Big Ten player since Michigan’s Rudy Tomjanovich grabbed 227 in 1970.

2. Frank Mason (Kansas)

Mason is averaging a Big 12-best 20.5 points and 5.1 assists for a Kansas team that’s ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. The senior guard got 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in last weekend’s victory at Oklahoma State. He’s shooting a league-best 49.3 percent from 3-point range and is on pace to be the first player in Big 12 history to average at least 20.0 points and 5.0 assists for a season.

3. Lonzo Ball (UCLA)

Ball got a season-high 14 assists in the regular-season finale against Washington State and is now averaging 14.9 points, 7.8 assists and 6.2 rebounds for a UCLA team that’s on a nine-game winning streak, 28-3 and ranked third in the AP poll. His 7.8 assists per game lead the nation. The freshman point guard is shooting 55.5 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3-point range.

4. Josh Hart (Villanova)

Hart is averaging 18.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists for a Villanova team that won the Big East and is in position to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The senior guard is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from 3-point range. He’s scored at least 11 points in every game this season.

5. Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga)

Williams-Goss averaged 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the WCC Tournament while helping Gonzaga improve to 32-1. The Washington transfer leads the Zags in points and assists -- and he’s tied for third in rebounding. He’s the main reason why they’ll likely be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

6. Johnathan Motley (Baylor)

Motley closed the regular season by getting 17 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Texas. The junior forward is now averaging 17.5 points and 10.0 rebounds for a Baylor team that’s spent much of the season ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll despite getting zero preseason votes. He has 13 double-doubles.

7. Justin Jackson (North Carolina)

Jackson finished with 15 points in last weekend’s victory over Duke that allowed UNC to win the ACC by two games. The junior forward is averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He’s scored at least 20 points 16 times and led the Tar Heels in scoring in 13 of their past 19 games.

8. Luke Kennard (Duke)

Kennard averaged 24.0 points in the two games since these rankings last updated and is now averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the season for a Duke team that’s ranked 14th in the AP poll. The sophomore guard is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from 3-point range. He’s scored at least 34 points in a game three different times.

9. Malik Monk (Kentucky)

Monk led the SEC in scoring by averaging 21.2 points while shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range. The freshman guard got 47 in a win over UNC, 37 in a win over Georgia, 34 in a win over Ole Miss and 33 in a win over Florida. So the SEC-champion Wildcats are 4-0 when Monk breaks the 30-point barrier.

10. Dillon Brooks (Oregon)

Brooks is averaging 21.0 points in Oregon’s past nine games, eight of which have been victories. The junior forward got 25 in the regular-season finale against Oregon State. He’s shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from 3-point range for an Oregon team that shared the Pac-12 title with Arizona.

THE NEXT TEN (in alphabetical order): Bonzie Colson (Notre Dame), Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin) Josh Jackson (Kansas), Lauri Markkanen (Arizona), Donovan Mitchell (Louisville), Monte Morris (Iowa State), Semi Ojeleye (SMU), Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina), Melo Trimble (Maryland).