Best coaches

[tower912]

If you had been asked before the season to name the top 5 coaches in college basketball, how many of you would have had the final 4 coaches in your top 5?    Probably quite a Few. (ha, unfortunate Gonzaga pun)   Maybe Donovan, Wright, Sean Miller, Matta  (chico would have included Crean, of course), but these 4 guys would have been consistently in the top 5.   

My point?  Good coaching matters.   It is my fervent hope that Wojo can develop.

[Dr. Blackheart]

So does consistency and continuity in recruitng and program philosophy. 

[jjfanec]

If you had been asked before the season to name the top 5 coaches in college basketball, how many of you would have had the final 4 coaches in your top 5?    Probably quite a Few. (ha, unfortunate Gonzaga pun)   Maybe Donovan, Wright, Sean Miller, Matta  (chico would have included Crean, of course), but these 4 guys would have been consistently in the top 5.   

My point?  Good coaching matters.   It is my fervent hope that Wojo can develop.

Bill self would get some love from dome as would Roy Williams but the question is do they get enough out of their talent.  Did you just miss Pitino? I don't see Jay alright up there. No Sweet Sixteen since 2009 is not that impressive.  Miller, Donovan,  and Matta for sure. Tony Bennett is right there as well. He will get mentioned after one deep run into the tourney

[brewcity77]

I'd still have K number one, even though I don't expect him to cut down the nets. Calipari, Izzo, and Self would be there too. After that, tough to pick who else is there. Donovan, Roy, Pitino all have to get a mention.

One question I was pondering the other day...who now is the best coach to never make a Final Four?

Many would say Bennett, but I'd probably give the nod to Mike Brey. He's kept the Irish relevant for a long time in some very tough conferences, and shown the ability to adjust his playing style to the personnel he has. I may hate Notre Dame, but Brey definitely has my respect.

[HouWarrior]

I'd still have K number one, even though I don't expect him to cut down the nets. Calipari, Izzo, and Self would be there too. After that, tough to pick who else is there. Donovan, Roy, Pitino all have to get a mention.

One question I was pondering the other day...who now is the best coach to never make a Final Four?

Many would say Bennett, but I'd probably give the nod to Mike Brey. He's kept the Irish relevant for a long time in some very tough conferences, and shown the ability to adjust his playing style to the personnel he has. I may hate Notre Dame, but Brey definitely has my respect.

Here is a pretty good listing of the current top 10 to not have made final 4 ...Sean Miller should've been there by now

http://athlonsports.com/college-basketball/college-basketballs-10-best-coaches-who-have-never-been-final-four

On the "all time" list I was most surprised to see that neither Lefty Drisell, nor John Chaney ever graced a final four

http://www.lostlettermen.com/article/top-10-coaches-never-to-reach-final-four

[GGGG]

I wouldn't include Sean Miller in that group yet.  He's good, but he has to take that next step for me to include him among the top of the best coaches around.  My thoughts:

1. Coach K
2. Pitino
3. Izzo
4. Calipari
5. Self
6. Ryan
7. Williams
8. Donovan
9. Matta
10. Belein/Miller

[dgies9156]

Sorry guys, I think Bo Ryan is the best coach in the country. He really is.

More with less than anyone else around.

Guy should be national coach of the year this year.

And I fervently HATE Becky Badger. But reality is reality. We would adore him if he was a Warrior.

[GGGG]

Sorry guys, I think Bo Ryan is the best coach in the country. He really is.

More with less than anyone else around.

Guy should be national coach of the year this year.

And I fervently HATE Becky Badger. But reality is reality. We would adore him if he was a Warrior.

You have to include recruiting as part of the equation in the college game.

[tower912]

I did forget about Pitino.  Personally,   I don't know that I would put Bo in the top 5, but he might be 6.  And I couldn't blame anyone who did put him in their top 5.

1. K
2. Izzo
3. Cal
4. Pitino
5. Self
6. Bo
7. Donovan

[MUMonster03]

Boeheim needs to be in the conversation as well. While I do believe Bo is a good coach I wouldn't put him that high. I give him credit for back to back final fours but they have also been upset a lot in the tournament. I would put anyone with one championship ahead of him and no way is he ahead of Williams who has two championships and how many final fours?

[Badgerhater]

Sorry guys, I think Bo Ryan is the best coach in the country. He really is.

More with less than anyone else around.

Guy should be national coach of the year this year.

And I fervently HATE Becky Badger. But reality is reality. We would adore him if he was a Warrior.

"Doing more with less" is not a valid argument for a Big 10 school.

[MU82]

So does consistency and continuity in recruitng and program philosophy. 

This IS coaching, or at least a major (probably THE major) part of it.

Don't try to separate the two.

Bo is an outstanding recruiter in his own way, even if he isn't landing the kind of studs the others guys do. He plays a system and he recruits solid players whom he projects can become very good players within the system.

That leads to consistently decent recruiting, and sometimes (quite often, in fact) better than that. It also leads to kids staying 4 years, which feeds on itself in keeping a program viable.

Recruiting classes like those leading to this Bucky team and the 2005 Illinois team are almost ideal -- lots of good players who can be coached to become very good or even great but who aren't so hyped that they are selfish prima donnas or that they leave the program after 1 or 2 years. The recruiting classes leading to the 2013 Marquette team fit that profile, too.

Bo has a history of stringing together class after class of these kinds of kids, and as much as I dislike Bucky, I admire that.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Sorry guys, I think Bo Ryan is the best coach in the country. He really is.

More with less than anyone else around.

Guy should be national coach of the year this year.

And I fervently HATE Becky Badger. But reality is reality. We would adore him if he was a Warrior.

I don't disagree Bo is a great coach, but part of the job is not being in the position of having "less" to do "more" with.

If he could recruit as well as our most recent 3 MU coaches, he'd have had multiple NCs by now.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

I did forget about Pitino.  Personally,   I don't know that I would put Bo in the top 5, but he might be 6.  And I couldn't blame anyone who did put him in their top 5.

1. K
2. Izzo
3. Cal
4. Pitino
5. Self
6. Bo
7. Donovan

Bo ahead of Donovan as well as Roy Williams? I don't think Bo cracks the top 10

[MU82]

I don't think Bo cracks the top 10

You can name 10 other coaches who are 14-for-14 in making it to the NCAAs, capped off by two straight Final Four appearances? OK.

Jeesh ... I can't believe I'm lobbying for the Grinch ... but fair is fair.

[Galway Eagle]

You can name 10 other coaches who are 14-for-14 in making it to the NCAAs, capped off by two straight Final Four appearances? OK.

Jeesh ... I can't believe I'm lobbying for the Grinch ... but fair is fair.

Back to back NCAA championships, a runner up and a final four > back to back final fours.  14 for 14 is impressive but I'd take 15/19 with Donovan's stats any day before Bo's.  Plus Donovan gives Florida fans people to cheer for in the pros to. 

[MUDPT]

With actual stats:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/tom-izzo-is-the-best-coach-in-modern-ncaa-tournament-history-by-far/

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

You can name 10 other coaches who are 14-for-14 in making it to the NCAAs, capped off by two straight Final Four appearances? OK.

Jeesh ... I can't believe I'm lobbying for the Grinch ... but fair is fair.

Zero national championships. Zeeeero.

1NC > 0NCs every time.

Of non-championship coaches, Bo is favorable. This list is like a "which doesn't belong" list.

1. K - national champion
2. Izzo - national champion
3. Cal - national champion
4. Pitino - national champion
5. Self - national champion
6. Bo - NOPE!
7. Donovan - national champion

[Goose]

IMO Pitino is the best all around coach and has been for quite some time. Bo is a great coach and think he is top 10 for sure. I would put Cal, Coach K, Donovan and Izzo in my top five with Pitino. Self and Williams are great coaches because of where they are and not by overall success.

[MUMonster03]

IMO Pitino is the best all around coach and has been for quite some time. Bo is a great coach and think he is top 10 for sure. I would put Cal, Coach K, Donovan and Izzo in my top five with Pitino. Self and Williams are great coaches because of where they are and not by overall success.

Why are you short changing Roy?

25 NCAA tournaments in 27 years (Kansas was ineligible his first year)
7 Final Fours (4 at Kansas, 3 at UNC)
And 2 NC's

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Bo Ryan "Doing more with less" is one of the great myths.  Kaminsky, Dekker and Hayes are all future NBA players.  Credit Bo with developing Kaminsky and evaluating Nigel Hayes better than other coaches.  Bo gets his teams to play defense and not turn the ball over.  But it took until the last two years to break through from the very good to great.  The difference?  Better offensive talent that can actually outscore people and a new strength & conditioning coach that lead to stronger, more athletic, better conditioned players.  Bo's done great but his best teams have also been the most talented.

[MU82]

Zero national championships. Zeeeero.

1NC > 0NCs every time.

Of non-championship coaches, Bo is favorable. This list is like a "which doesn't belong" list.

1. K - national champion
2. Izzo - national champion
3. Cal - national champion
4. Pitino - national champion
5. Self - national champion
6. Bo - NOPE!
7. Donovan - national champion

OK. I don't argue with any of the other 6 being ahead of Bo. But you said he doesn't crack the top 10. Your words, not mine.

Maybe you're right. All I'd like is for you to back up your very confident statement that he's on the outside looking in. Please provide your top-10, Bo-free list.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

IMO Pitino is the best all around coach and has been for quite some time. Bo is a great coach and think he is top 10 for sure. I would put Cal, Coach K, Donovan and Izzo in my top five with Pitino. Self and Williams are great coaches because of where they are and not by overall success.

So Williams and Self don't get credit because high-level success is a given at blue blood programs? Tell B Gillespie that.

Shouldn't Coach K not get credit for his success after Duke was built into the program it is? He basically has been coasting since 1991.

[Atticus]

No one mentioned Larry Brown. Weird.

[tower912]

I thought about Larry Brown.   He has won almost everywhere he has gone.   For me, his vagabond nature as well as going 25 years between college coaching gigs eliminates him.