An impressive won-lost record is a prerequisite for a
college basketball Coach of the Year candidate, but it’s not the only factor
that decides which coach takes home the hardware. Coaxing unexpected success
out of a less heralded team—as Jim Larranaga did at Miami a season ago—can go a
lot further than “merely” helping a preseason favorite live up to its
potential.
Rick Barnes’ Texas squad, for instance, was picked to
finish eighth in its own conference by the Big 12’s coaches. Instead, his
Longhorns are No. 23 in the country heading into March, having scored the
league's biggest upset by handing front-running Kansas its first Big 12 loss of
the year.
Barnes has certainly made an impression, but will it be
enough to earn him national acclaim? Read on to see where he ranks among the 20
most deserving contenders for Coach of the Year this season.
No comments:
Post a Comment