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2017 NCAA Tournament: Which Sweet 16 coach is most capable of winning championship?

By Daniel Benjamin

Feb 27, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self embraces guard Frank Mason III (0) after he leaves the court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 73-63. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self embraces guard Frank Mason III (0) after he leaves the court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 73-63. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Mike White leaves the floor after loosing to the Vanderbilt Commodores during overtime of game nine of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Vanderbilt won 72-62 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Mike White leaves the floor after loosing to the Vanderbilt Commodores during overtime of game nine of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Vanderbilt won 72-62 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike White, Florida Gators

Mike White is in his second season at Florida and is making his first NCAA tournament appearance with the team. The Gators, who have made 20 tournament appearances overall, made their first ever NCAA tournament in 1997 under Norm Sloan. The Gators reached the Sweet 16 that year though the records were eventually vacated by the NCAA. Florida is in its 11th regional final overall and has produced 44-17 all-time record in the tournament.

Florida has been one of the biggest surprises this year, not only of the tournament, but throughout the entire season. The Gators (26-8) started out the season winning 7 of 10 with three of those wins coming against teams that wound up making the NCAA Tournament. The Gators three losses were against teams that reached the NCAA Tournament.

Florida started SEC play on fire going 13-2 in their first 15 conference games, which included a victory over Kentucky. The Gators stumbled down the stretch, losing two of their last three to finish second in the SEC. The Gators then fell to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. White guided UF to a 21-15 record and an NIT quarterfinal appearance last season.

White is a defensive-oriented coach who likes to play with pace on both ends — which means he likes to get out and run offense and press on defense. The Gators have used this philosophy to get easy buckets in transition and force a lot of turnovers. Florida ranks in the top 100 in the country in several defensive categories this season.

Prior to landing at Florida, the 40-year old spent four seasons at Louisiana Tech as head coach. White went 101-40 and made three NIT appearances. He is 148-63 in his six seasons in the first seat on the bench.

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