There were a number of great NCAA Basketball coaching performances this past season. Which ones were the best overall?
We’ve seen many NCAA Basketball teams take their game to the next level throughout the season. With great chemistry and guys having great communication on the floor, certain squads were able to elevate their play to take that next step to win a national championship.
But we have to give the Head Coaches their praise as well for leading a group of young men to a much successful season. And some of them deserve much respect for helping improve their organization from last season to this season. Let’s check out some great coaches:
1. Brian Dutcher (San Diego State Aztecs)
San Diego State was on a roll throughout this season. With Dutcher bringing this team together after a tough season last year, the guys have been put in a great position and it’s the reason behind their 30-2 record for the season. Malachi Flynn was a monster for the team this year and he really led the way as far as setting the team up for success. It’s without question that none of this is possible without the impact of Coach Dutcher and his great basketball mind.
2. Bill Self (Kansas Jayhawks)
We know how great this school has been for generations. But Bill Self did an excellent job with this Kansas team this season. For a while, it seemed as if the team was not a favorite going into the Tournament. But with the adjustments and helping guys such as Devon Dotson and others elevate their play, Kansas finished the season with a 16 game winning streak and looked to carry that momentum into the tournament going forward.
3. Scott Drew (Baylor Bears)
Scott Drew has been the Head Coach since 2003 and has had many highs and lows throughout the course of his career. But this season seemed different. Drew gave his guys a different approach to the game and helped them become engaged more on both ends of the floor. For a while, it seemed as if Baylor was going to run away with the Big 12 and that was all thanks to Drew and his coaching.
Drew also allowed Jared Butler to improve his game as a point guard being able to get everyone involved on the floor and become more of a lethal scorer. It’s unsafe to say how far Baylor would have gone in the tournament. But if they played the same way they played during the season, they would have went very far in the NCAA Tournament.
Coaching is a big factor for these young men and their development as both individual player and as teammates. So a school with an exceptional coach who can keep a team disciplined is always a major key. Unfortunately, there was no Tournament this season to test these team’s competitive spirit. But the one thing that could have been counted upon would be a great coach making sure his team is set up for success to win a championship.