Running a college basketball program has become even more difficult in recent years with the pandemic, NIL, the transfer portal, and a host of other challenges. These changes have affected every program at every level in the nation and we’ve seen living legends step aside as new blood takes over and old names make themselves ever known.
We’re going to laud the head coaches who are doing fantastic work this season by looking at ten current favorites to be named Naismith Coach of the Year. There are no specific requirements to nab this award, but we’re identifying coaches that exemplify brilliance by exceeding expectations this season. Who do you think should be in the running for this prestigious honor?
10. Ben McCollum (Iowa)
Certainly a contender for these types of awards last season at Drake, McCollum’s debut with Iowa has been very impressive. While the Hawkeyes aren’t in that top echelon of Big Ten teams, his program has already surpassed last season’s win total and is a fringe Top 25 team with their 18-6 start to the year. McCollum is only just getting started but has Iowa looking like a dark horse in the Big Ten.
9. T. J. Otzelberger (Iowa State)
Iowa State lost a few significant pieces from last season but somehow get even better under Otzelberger’s leadership. His fifth season in Ames just might be his best, as Iowa State sits 21-3 and have some impressive wins already on the season. The Cyclones have been playing great basketball on both sides of the ball and he’s built something truly special here this season, especially retaining top talent like Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic.
8. Ryan Odom (Virginia)
He’s got a lot of work ahead to match up to predecessor Tony Bennett, but Odom has Virginia in an incredible position in year one. The Cavaliers are 21-3; already six wins ahead of last season’s end result, and are right there in the ACC race with their 10-2 mark. This team has won some impressive games away from home and has looked again like the program that can win league titles in this system.
7. Travis Steele (Miami-Ohio)
Say what you want about the schedule or the lack of tough opponents but it takes a lot for any basketball team to win every game. Steele’s fourth year with Miami has been the clear breakthrough, headlining the MAC while off to a 25-0 start to the season. After his shortcomings at Xavier, Steele has really bounced back onto the national scene with this Redhawks team and this’ll continue being a story as long as they keep winning.
6. Josh Schertz (Saint Louis)
Two seasons ago Schertz led Indiana State to their best season in recent memory but fell short of the Big Dance. Year two with Saint Louis certainly isn’t trending towards a March Madness miss, as his Billikens are 24-1, losing by just a single point in their lone matchup. Saint Louis is off to a 12-0 start in the A-10 and have become one of the stories of this season, entering the national rankings and looking like the best true mid-major in the country.
5. Brad Underwood (Illinois)
Underwood transformed the Fighting Illini in the offseason again and hit gold with this team. Illinois has gotten off to a 20-5 start and are one of the top teams in the Big Ten, even with these recent overtime losses. The headliner is Keaton Wagler, the star freshman seemingly plucked out of nowhere, but Illinois has really thrived with the international additions as well. Underwood has Illinois looking like a national title threat when they’re on their game.
4. Mark Byington (Vanderbilt)
There have been multiple times this season when Vanderbilt looked like the best team in the SEC. That in itself is testament to Byington’s incredible work this season, inheriting a program that was a disappointment and wreck just two seasons ago. The Commodores have 20 wins already and are near the top of the league standings despite a few recent losses. Vanderbilt got off to a 16-0 start to the season and Byington’s team has impressed along the way.
3. Dusty May (Michigan)
After taking the Wolverines to the Sweet Sixteen in his debut season, May has taken the next step in Ann Arbor. He brought an incredible transfer class to town and has turned them into arguably the nation’s top team, with a 23-1 mark while sitting atop the Big Ten standings. His Wolverines are one of the heavy national favorites and have made a habit out of blowing out great squads, with May clearly making himself known in coaching circles.
2. Tommy Lloyd (Arizona)
The Wildcats have had some pretty great teams in recent years though Lloyd has outdone himself in year five in Tucson. Arizona has become one of the nation’s top teams and were undefeated before falling at Kansas earlier this week. Their 23-1 mark is one of the best in the country while boasting a flurry of impressive wins, many of them away from home. Don’t underestimate the hand Lloyd has had in building this program back up into great contenders.
1. Fred Hoiberg (Nebraska)
Remember, Nebraska has never won an NCAA Tournament game in the program’s history but Hoiberg has crafted the team that should break that streak. Nebraska won their first 20 games this season and have legitimately looked like a national contender. Even in dropping three of their last four, the Cornhuskers have still picked up some fantastic wins and Hoiberg’s seven years building this program up have been on full display.