Heading over to the Orleans Arena for the GU women's semifinal against BYU at noon, but a little news to pass on first.

Gonzaga junior Kelly Olynyk is one of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award.

Olynyk, who averaged 17.7 points and 7 rebounds, was named the WCC player of the year earlier this week. Olynyk, Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Miami's Shane Larkin weren't on the award's mid-season top 25 but all three made the final ballot.

Gonzaga's Elias Harris and Washington State's Brock Motum are on the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50. More here.

More below on Harris.

Gonzaga junior forward Elias Harris has been named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50.

Harris averaged 12.4 points and 6.0 rebounds last season, down from his freshman year totals of 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. Harris and Steven Gray were on the 2011 Wooden Preseason Top 50. Harris is the only WCC player on this year's list. It's a bit surprising that center Rob Sacre didn't make the top 50.

GU will play against at least three players on the top 50 (G Tu Holloway, Xavier; F Draymond Green, Michigan State; F Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame).

More below.

Gonzaga’s Steven Gray and Elias Harris (pictured above) are on the John R. Wooden Award preseason top 50 watch list, which was released Monday.

Gray, a senior guard, averaged 13.6 points per game game last season. Harris, a sophomore forward, averaged 14.9 points. The two Zags are the only WCC players on the list. Washington State’s Klay Thompson is one of six Pac-10 players on the top 50 list. 

More here, and more below.

(FYI: Like several S-R sports staffers, I’m now on Twitter. You can find GU updates, including this one, Spokane Shock news, etc., at Twitter.com/SRJimm.)