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) /

4 of 5

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. Chris Holtmann, Ohio State

Chris Holtmann started his new coaching journey later than his colleagues, due to the delay in Ohio State moving on from Thad Matta. In late June, Holtmann left a good thing at Butler to join an uncertain thing in Columbus.

He did so with only eight scholarship players available to him.

None of that has deterred Holtmann from performing one of the best coaching jobs of the season. Last year, the Buckeyes lost to Rutgers in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. This year, the Buckeyes may have the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

They might even have a top-two seed in the NCAA Tournament.

They’re one of two teams that have yet to lose a game in Big Ten play, with a comfortable homestand pushing the Buckeyes into an even stronger position going forward.

Meanwhile, Holtmann helped develop Keita Bates-Diop (19.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg) into one of the best players in the conference and the country.

The honeymoon period between coach and program could end early in the NCAA Tournament, diminishing what took place this season.

But based on where Ohio State is right now, nobody could begrudge Holtmann winning Coach of the Year.

He might not even be the best coach in his conference, though….

Home/NCAA Basketball News