15 Coaches who deserve to be their conference’s COTY

This article assumes a lot, namely that these 15 conferences actually choose a Coach of the Year at the end of the season. I’m comfortable with that assumption, and that I know who they should pick.

Big Ten: Tom Crean, Indiana

The Hoosiers didn’t receive a single vote in the preseason top 25 rankings. By week 4 they had picked up three total votes. That whole Kentucky thing, those 12 wins in a row, with a healthy dose of teaching moments later Crean’s team is ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation. Four years ago he started with no scholarshipped players and went 6-25. That’s a pretty incredible turnaround.

Big 12: Frank Haith, Missouri

For the first time that I can remember, the internet got it wrong. When Missouri hired Frank Haith out of Miami after Matt Painter turned down the open head coaching position, bloggers, tweeters and so-called experts brought the web to its knees to ridicule Haith-gate. And then Mizzou proved them all wrong.

The Tigers’ stacked guard-laden lineup has been too busy confounding their opponents’ defenses to even consider the haters. It’s true, Haith inherited a great program and team, but it’s how he’s responded with a winning attitude that proves he’s worthy. Haith is for real.

Big East: Buzz Williams, Marquette

What separates Williams from Mike Brey and Jim Boeheim? Injuries. The Golden Eagles have picked up eight-ish spots in the top 25 rankings since the preseason, even after losing starting big man Chris Otule to a season-ending injury, and, more recently, his replacement, sophomore Davante Gardner, who has missed MU’s last four games with a knee sprain.

He may be a darkhorse candidate at 10-3 in the Big East, but Williams’ addled team is comfortably between the aforementioned coaching legends, and has won nine of his last 10 games.

MVC: Gregg Marshall, Wichita State

It took a win over Creighton for the Shockers to finally get the respect from media that they deserve. Afterall, they lead the MVC in both adjusted offensive (1.16 ppp) and defensive (0.96) efficiency in conference play. They received zero votes in the preseason top 25, and have played second fiddle to Creighton for most of the season. Finally WSU is ranked at No. 4 by the AP in the latest poll, and Marshall was a big part of getting the Shockers where they are.

SEC: John Calipari, Kentucky

0 starters that are juniors or seniors.
+0.36 adjusted efficiency margin.
1 loss.
3 seasons on the job.

ACC: Leonard Hamilton, Florida State

Hamilton might be a little bit of a risky pick, but consider that the Seminoles were just outside of the preseason top 25 rankings before they became the only team so far this season to take down both UNC and Duke. They did that without junior reserve Terrance Shannon, who suffered a season-ending injury just seven games into the schedule.

The ‘Noles are locked in a three-way tie with Duke and UNC for first, but still get another crack at Duke in the regular season. Hamilton last won ACC COTY in 2009.

PAC-12: Tad Boyle, Colorado

Because somebody has to be. Boyle is on course for back-to-back 20 win seasons in his first two years at the Colorado helm. That’s all I have to say.

A-10: Rick Majerus, St. Louis

The Billikens are ranked 10th in the Pomeroy rankings and have just five losses just one season after Majerus’ team went 12-19. Five seasons were all it took for Majerus to turn things around at SLU. Temple may feature a more impressive body of work (in addition to their half-game advantage in the A-10 conference standings), but I think it’s safe to say St. Louis is not only a surprise among the A-10, but among all of D-I hoops.

I just Googled “Majerus Billikens surprise” and received 23,000 relevant hits. That means something.

Summit League: Scott Nagy, South Dakota State

Someone named Scott will win the Summit League COTY honors: It’s certainly between Oral Roberts’ Scott Sutton (who will likely compile a greater number of wins when all is said and done) and Nagy.

Five years ago Nagy’s team wasn’t even playing Division-I basketball. Now, with four games still on the schedule, the Jackrabbits have already notched their first 20-win season, and have clinched back-to-back winning seasons. They took 1-of-2 from probably regular season champion Oral Roberts and are 12-3 in conference play. Also, he’s one of those guys that sends actual tweets (even at halftime!).

C-USA: Josh Pastner, Memphis

In conference play the Tigers are the most efficient offensively (1.11 ppp) and defensively (0.91); they have the best shooting (55.0 percent eFG%) and shot defense (43.9 percent Opp. eFG%); and they’re tied for first (8-2) with Southern Mississippi. What’s impressive though is that in usual Pastner fashion the bulk of the minutes go to freshman and sophomores. That will always be impressive.

MWC: Dave Rice, UNLV

I don’t know another first-year head coach who can say he took down Roy Williams, Bruce Weber, and Mike Montgomery in his rookie year. The Runnin’ Rebels, at 6-2 in the MWC, are locked in a three-way tie for the regular season crown.

Before Larry Shyat’s Wyoming team lost to TCU and Mexico since the beginning of February, I think he would have been the lock choice. Even so, both first-timers have a shot given their appealing stories.

Horizon League: Bryce Drew, Valparaiso

To this day I get Google Alerts from sportswriters’ ledes that involve Bryce Drew, last-second-shot-sensation, on top of the ones I actually want to read regarding Bryce Drew, first-year head coach. But certainly the latter is beginning to far outweigh the former as the heir to the Valparaiso crown is showing he has the feet that can fill his fathers’ big shoes.

The Crusaders were chosen fifth in the Horizon League’s own preseason poll after losing three starters, including Brandon Wood who left for Michigan State. Now VU sits at the top of the league standings after handing Cleveland State a crushing loss that saw the Vikings score a season-worst 0.67 ppp. I could write about Valpo forever.

p.s. Andy Katz agrees.

WCC: Randy Bennett, St. Mary’s

From six votes in the preseason AP poll top 25 to No. 21, Bennett lost Mickey McConnell and forgot about last season’s late meltdown to get back to his winning ways. SMU leads Gonzaga by two and a half games.

Sunbelt: Kermit Davis Jr., Middle Tennessee

Never has Davis logged a 20-win season in his long coaching tenure. Now his team is 23-4 with three games left on the regular season schedule. The crazy part? MTU graduated two starters from their team that went 16-16.

They easily take the Sunbelt crown. Look for Davis at the NCAA tournament.

Ivy League: Tommy Amaker, Harvard

They may not be ranked any longer, but Amaker earned Harvard its first top 25 ranking in program history to go with back-to-back-to-back 20+ win seasons.

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