NCAA Basketball: Coach of the Year power rankings

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 13: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats points after a made basket in the second half against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center on December 13, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Temple Owls 87-67. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 9: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Syracuse Orange at John Paul Jones Arena on January 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

4. Tony Bennett, Virginia

Along the same lines of Wright, Tony Bennett becomes forgotten has his team consistently performs. Unlike Villanova, however, Virginia is even more bereft of stars than usual.

Outside of Kyle Guy, who is emerging as the next Cavaliers star (15.3 ppg), there are no players in the national conscience playing for Virginia. While Duke and North Carolina bring in big recruits every offseason, Virginia quietly goes about their business, taking teams down with hard-nosed defense.

This season has been no exception. No team has a better adjusted defensive efficiency than the Cavaliers, who have surrendered 60 points to an ACC opponent just once in seven games.

Their only loss of the season was at West Virginia, a team arguably emulating Virginia’s very own defensive strategy. Hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Regardless of who did it first, Virginia is doing it best, allowing just 52.4 points per game. Meanwhile, just two players are scoring more than ten points per game on the Cavaliers.

After the loss of London Perrantes, many thought the Cavaliers were poised to take a step back. Instead, they appear positioned to make the Final Four for the first time in Bennett’s tenure.

That’s worthy of Coach of the Year.

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