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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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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 23: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 23: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

6. Bruce Weber – Kansas State Wildcats

2016-17 season record: 21-14 (8-10 in Big 12)

2017-18 season record: 25-12 (10-8 in Big 12)

Coach Weber has a Final Four appearance on his resume, but I’d argue that this was his best season as a coach. Considering how difficult the Big 12 was from top to bottom, there was no guarantee that the Wildcats would even make this year’s NCAA Tournament. Particularly after starting point guard Kamau Stokes went down for a few weeks.

Then the injury to Dean Wade in the Big Dance should’ve derailed Kansas State early on. But somehow someway they couldn’t be stopped, shocking Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen. Imagine how good this team would’ve been if they were healthy all season long.

5. Jim Boeheim – Syracuse Orange

2016-17 season record: 19-15 (10-8 in ACC)

2017-18 season record: 23-14 (8-10 in ACC)

There may be concern about the fact that the Orange have been the king of the bubble for the last few years, but I’d argue that they’ve been overachieving in those seasons.

Syracuse had just three players who could score this season – Oshae Brissett, Tyus Battle, and Frank Howard. Brissett was just a freshman, while both Battle and Howard took major strides from their inconsistent seasons a year ago.

What makes this such a great coaching job this year by the Hall of Famer was that he knew what this team was capable of from day one. He had them play one of the slowest paces in college basketball, which preserved their bodies while playing up their strong zone defense. For most coaches, it would’ve taken awhile to set this team up for success, yet Boeheim did it early on.

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