We are at the elite level of college basketball. We’re at the Sweet Sixteen and taking a look at the coaches in Chicago. Last week in St. Louis we were privileged to watch the likes of Matt Painter, T.J. Otzelberger, Mark Pope, Nolan Smith, Herb Sendek and others.
This weekend, it’s Nate Oats, Rick Barnes, Dusty May and Otzelberger again. These coaches are so accomplished and undeniably at the top of their profession. While the intrigue surrounding Otzelberger to North Carolina swirls, the focus is on what’s in their windshield, not their rear-view mirrors.
Otzelberger says there is nothing to the rumors and that he is staying put at Iowa State.
Counting this season, these four have reached twenty-one, Sweet Sixteens, five Elite Eights and two Final Fours. Each is looking for his first national championship game appearance.
May, Oats and Otzelberger are in their late 40’s or early 50s and Barnes is 71.
All four are compensated handsomely. During May's first season (last year) at Michigan, he signed a contract extension, paying him $4.65 million per year.
None of these coaches were handed the ‘silver spoon’. While May was a student manager at Indiana, Oats and Otzelberger started their coaching careers at the high school level. Barnes spent ten seasons toiling as an assistant prior to landing the James Madison head coaching position. None of the four played Division 1 basketball.
When Michigan (33-3) faces Alabama (25-9), May will be looking for his second trip to the Elite Eight and Oats his third. With winning percentages around .700 these two are in the conversation for every college coaching conversation. Oats is 170-72 with the Crimson Tide and May is 60-13 with the Wolverines.
Oats, who reportedly earns $5 million per season, has already denied interest in the North Carolina job.
These teams and coaches are battle tested. Big Blue already owns wins over Sweet Sixteen teams Nebraska, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State (twice) and Iowa. May’s squad also lost to Duke and Purdue. Alabama defeated Illinois, Arkansas and Tennessee. They too, lost to Purdue, Tennessee and Arizona.
Most of these coaches know each other well. Oats and Otzelberger have a Wisconsin-Whitewater connection.
“I've known T.J. since he played at UW-Whitewater and I coached at UW-Whitewater right after he got done playing,” said Oats. “Then I've known Dusty for 20-plus years. He actually helped give me my first job in Division I. I know all these guys.”
Alabama’s players feed off the energy and intensity of Oats’ personality, passion and preparation.
May’s demeanor is more laid back and straight forward. Point guard Elliot Cadeau says May is a players’ coach.
“I feel like he’s a players’ coach,” said Cadeau. “All the players love him. It’s impossible not to like him. He keeps it real with you and never lies to you. Even if you don’t like the situation that you’re in with him, it’s impossible not to like him, because he is such a genuine person.”
Tennessee (24-11) and Iowa State (29-7) is a matchup of the ‘southern gentleman’ Barnes, and the weight-lifting Otzelberger. The Iowa State approach is one of asserting the Cyclones’ will on their opponents and Tennessee more plays the game.
By-the-way, Otzelberger has already denied interest in the Tar Heel job too.
At 71, Barnes isn’t rumored for other jobs as often as his younger peers. While he is originally from North Carolina, it seems unlikely that he would change jobs at this stage of his career.
Otzelberger who reportedly earns $4 million per season is 124-52 at Alabama and is participating in his third Sweet Sixteen in the last five years.
Barnes is the ‘Six-Million-Dollar Man’ at Tennessee and is enjoying his tenth trip to the Sweet Sixteen. Four times he has won this game and reached the Elite Eight and his 2003 Texas team reached the Final Four. His 860 career wins, place him nineteenth on the all-time list, three behind Arkansas’ John Calipari.
Guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie says Barnes is very consistent.
“Coach Barnes, he’s just consistent everyday,” said Gillespie. “He never changes how he is. He always wants us to get better.”
Tennessee split its two games with Alabama and defeated Houston, but the Volunteers dropped decisions to Sweet Sixteen participants Illinois and Arkansas.
Otzelberger says all-American Joshua Jefferson is improving every day, but his status for Friday’s contest will not be known until Friday’s game time. He believes his team will be ready to perform, whether Jefferson is available or not.
Iowa State owns victories over three other Sweet Sixteen teams. The Cyclones defeated St. John's, Purdue and Iowa, while losing twice to Arizona.
Otzelberger’s team takes on his ‘toughness mindset”. His players and assistant coaches have latched on to his philosophy of embracing adversity and fighting for everything they can gain on the basketball floor.