3 thoughts on “Twitter: AP coach of …”

  2. David K.

    From the ESPN story on the Butler/Syracuse game:

    • Butler is the first Horizon League school to reach a regional final.

    • The Bulldogs extended their win streak to 23 games, the longest active streak in Division I.

    • Butler committed seven turnovers, one shy of its season low. Syracuse finished with 18, its most since Feb. 18 against Georgetown.

    • The Orange finished the season 6-4 in their last 10 games. They opened the season 24-1.

  3. Brendan Loy

    In fairness, a coach obviously should not be judged on one game — even if it’s the biggest game of the year. And I don’t know when the ballots were submitted; maybe it was before the Butler-Syracuse game. I’m guessing so, because if the voting was post-regionals, I’m guessing Tom Izzo wins in a walk.

    The larger point, though, is that giving “coach of the year” honors to guys like Boeheim, Calhoun, Roy Williams, Bill Self, John Calipari, etc. etc., sort of misses the point, most years at least. Are those guys great coaches? Absolutely. But they also have every advantage in the world, in terms of recruiting and facilities and everything else. That’s not a reason to denigrate their skills as coaches… after all, it’s those skills that got them hired at programs with every advantage in the world! And it’s those skills that helps keep them at said schools, despite the insane pressure they face when the losses mount. (P.S. Fire Mike Brey!)

    But, all other things being equal, the COY is probably more accurately awarded to those who do more with less. In the final analysis, it’s relatively easy to win at Syracuse. But to win at Butler, or Northern Iowa, or Cornell (no scholarship athletes! are you kidding me?), or even Xavier… that takes some real, honest-to-God coaching genius.

    Syracuse had a great season, and Boeheim’s a great coach, but national coach of the year? Meh. I’m not convinced.

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