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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 National Coach of the Year candidates for 2020-21

By Benjamin Zacher

COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 31, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 31, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball Head coach Isaac Brown Wichita State Shockers (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Head coach Isaac Brown Wichita State Shockers (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

2. Isaac Brown (Wichita State)

  • 2020-21 record: 13-4 overall, 9-2 AAC

Given the circumstances left with him, there may not be a more impressive coaching job in the country than what Isaac Brown has done with the Wichita State Shockers – in just his first season at the helm, as an interim coach, no less.

It was not that long ago that Wichita State was left for dead.  Gregg Marshall was accused of physical, verbal, and racial abuse – and subsequently resigned after 13 illustrious seasons with the Shockers.  Additionally, Wichita State was riddled by players leaving the program, with a whopping seven opting to transfer out during the offseason.  Subsequently, and quite understandably, the Shockers were picked to finish seventh in the AAC poll.

Brown – Marshall’s top recruiter and assistant since 2014 – was forced to take over just two weeks before Wichita State’s season-opener against Oral Roberts, and there was decidedly a bit of uneasiness in what was just a five-point win.  But the Shockers made a bit of a stand immediately afterward, dropping narrow games to solid Missouri and Oklahoma State teams.

Since then, however, Brown and the Shockers have been on an unexpected tear throughout the AAC, winning 12 of their last 14 games since their December 12th loss to Oklahoma State.  The two losses are nothing to scoff over, coming on the road to Houston and Memphis – while their wins have included significant sweeps over Tulsa and UCF, a victory at Mississippi, and- most recently and notable – a five-point triumph over nationally-ranked powerhouse Houston.

The architect of Wichita State’s success has been sophomore Tyson Etienne, who – in replacing the Shockers’ top three scorers from last season – has nearly doubled his offensive output, averaging 17.2 points per game.  UConn transfer Alterique Gilbert has become a key cog for the Shockers, as well, maintaining marks of 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.

While the Shockers have been efficient offensively, ranking 55th, they are sub-200 in both 3P% and 2P%.  Instead, Brown has found success as a defensive-minded coach, with his team holding opponents to a 36th-best 30.3% from the perimeter and a 107th-best on two-pointers.  On the season, the Shockers are holding teams to just 0.83 points per possession.

Given what the Wichita State program was like just three months ago, no one expected the Shockers to do anything this season – but instead, the Shockers are sitting with the AAC’s best conference record, are fighting for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, and are earning votes in the AP Top 25 poll.  The job that Brown has done cannot be given enough credit – and, if anything, it should absolutely cement his place as Wichita State’s next head coach – without the interim tag.

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