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NCAA Basketball: 10 best coaching performances from the 2017-18 season

By Tristan Freeman

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack reacts against the Loyola Ramblers in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack reacts against the Loyola Ramblers in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

8.  Kevin Keatts – NC State Wolfpack

2016-17 season record: 15-17 (4-14 in ACC under Mark Gottfried)

2017-18 season record: 21-12 (11-7 in ACC under Kevin Keatts)

At the end of the Gottfried era, the Wolfpack had talented players who played nothing like a team, with a horrendous defense. They went local with his replacement, with UNC Wilmington’s coach Kevin Keatts getting the nod. He went 54-14 in his previous two years, with both times going to the NCAA Tournament.

That happened again with NC State this season, with a new infusion of players that played much harder than the previous members of the Wolfpack. The team came up clutch against the top teams, with wins over Arizona, Duke, Clemson, and North Carolina. Mind you, this was somewhat a transition year with a ranked recruiting class along with some more transfers coming in.

7. Eric Musselman – Nevada Wolf Pack

2016-17 season record: 28-7 (14-4 in Mountain West)

2017-18 season record: 29-8 (15-3 in Mountain West)

Nevada won the Mountain West each of the last two seasons, but this past one was much more impressive. Because of how he’s used the transfer market, Musselman was down to just seven or eight scholarships at a time. And by the end of the season, there were just six available guys.

Mind you, Nevada had to make a Sweet Sixteen run without a player over 6’7. Yet teams still couldn’t make them pay. That’s because of a much improved Wolf Pack defense from a year ago. It’s not an easy job handling so many different transfers, but Musselman made it seem easy.

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