Busting Brackets
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NCAA Tournament 2019: Ranking the Sweet 16 head coaches

By Joey Loose

DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils directs his team against the Stetson Hatters in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils directs his team against the Stetson Hatters in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts in the second half against the Liberty Flames during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 24, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts in the second half against the Liberty Flames during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 24, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

16. Tony Benford (LSU)

1st NCAA Tournament (2-0), 1st Sweet Sixteen

Even without Will Wade, the Tigers are doing just fine, and Benford’s coaching is one of the big reasons. He didn’t make the Tournament while head coach at North Texas, but he’s a big part of what put together this Tigers’ squad and has coached well in Wade’s absence. He’s a great recruiter and has put his players in position to win games, but he’s the only coach making his first Sweet Sixteen and that lack of experience sends him to the bottom of the list.

15. Buzz Williams (Virginia Tech)

8th NCAA Tournament (10-7), 4th Sweet Sixteen

Williams led the Hokies to two solid wins over mid-majors and finds himself with a challenging game against Duke on the horizon. His one Elite Eight trip was with Marquette back in 2013, but he’s built something special for these Hokies. Virginia Tech is in the Sweet 16 for just the second time and Williams has this team consistent in a tough ACC. He can coach at the biggest stage and he can recruit great athletes, but can he game plan these Hokies to take down the Blue Devils?

14. Kelvin Sampson (Houston)

16th NCAA Tournament (15-15), 4th Sweet Sixteen, 1 Final Four

Houston took care of business against Georgia State and Ohio State and Sampson has this program back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 35 years. Sampson has had a long, successful coaching career, albeit marred by his recruiting controversy at Indiana. That Final Four at Oklahoma was way back in 2002 and he’s coaching into the second weekend for the first time in over a decade. However, after his team was devastated at the buzzer by Michigan last season, he’s motivated this squad and they will be ready for a run at the Final Four.

13. Leonard Hamilton (Florida State)

10th NCAA Tournament (12-9), 4th Sweet Sixteen

For the second year in a row, Hamilton has the Seminoles facing off against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. He took over the program back in 2002 and has done well to keep the Seminoles functioning at a high level in the ACC. Hamilton has brief NBA experience, but his greatest coaching performances have come over these last few years in Tallahassee. While teams like Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina get all the spotlight, Hamilton is one game away from back-to-back Elite Eights in the same conference.

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