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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AUSTIN, TX – JANUARY 17: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (center) talks with his team during the game with the Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Center on January 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

3. Chris Beard, Texas Tech

Struggles in Big 12 play dulled the shine of an incredible start for the Red Raiders. Nevertheless, this remains the best Texas Tech team, arguably ever.

Prior to Big 12 play, the Red Raiders endured just one loss, on a “neutral” court against Seton Hall (New York City hardly seems neutral). The team has yet to lose a game on their home court, though that will be tested by Oklahoma and Kansas later in the season.

Just like the coach himself, Beard’s best player is underrated. Keenan Evans is a senior leader averaging 16.6 points and 1.3 steals per game. Otherwise, it’s an ensemble effort, with no other player averaging even 11 points per game.

Beard was quickly recognized as a rising coach after leading Arkansas-Little Rock to the NCAA Tournament, being swooped up by UNLV before quickly jumping to Texas Tech. But after an 18-14 debut season, nobody expected the Red Raiders to be knocking on the door of that win total in January.

The Red Raiders are just two games behind Kansas in the conference standings, with a road win over the Jayhawks in hand and a home game coming later in the season.

The fact that Texas Tech is even in the Big 12 title conversation says it all about the job Chris Beard is doing this season.

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