A few days ago Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said this about the future of ACC basketball…
“We’re going to be a 10-bid conference,” Krzyzewski said. “We’re going to be the best conference in the history of the game.”
I’m not sure about that. In 1985 the Big East had 3 Final 4 teams. In 2004 the ACC had 5 teams a 4 seed or higher in the NCAA tournament. There have been some other great leagues. We’ll see if the ACC in the future becomes the best basketball conference ever. What I do know is in 2014, the collection of basketball coaches will be the greatest ever assembled in collegiate basketball history.
When you go over this list, it is simply unreal what’s in store if you’re a fan of an ACC team in 2014. These coaches will add to these totals before 2014. What will make this so special is that you don’t know how many years these coaches will remain coaching. With Coach K signing on to coach the US Olympic team in 2016, and Jim Boeheim likely joining him, I think there will be at least a few seasons to enjoy this, but not that many.
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Blue Devils
957 Wins, 4 National Titles, 11 Final 4s
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Orange
920 Wins, 1 National Title, 4 Final 4s
Roy Williams, North Carolina Tar Heels
700 Wins, 2 National Titles, 7 Final 4s
Rick Pitino, Louisville Cardinals
629 Wins, 2 National Titles, 7 Final 4s
Jim Larranaga, Miami
519 Wins, 2 Final 4s
Even the other coaches are very accomplished. Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon, NC State’s Mike Gottfried all have career winning percentages above 65% and multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Virginia’s Tony Bennett won a Naismith National Coach of the year award in 2007. Boston College’s Steve Donahue has a sweet 16 to his credit. Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton is a two-time ACC coach of the year winner, and won the ACC Tournament in 2012 and has Big East regular season in 2000. Georgia Tech’s Brian Gregory coached Dayton to the NCAA tournament. Clemson’s Brad Brownell has led 3 different teams to the NCAA Tournament. Even much maligned Wake Forest coach Jeff Bzdelik got Air Force to the Big Dance. Honestly though I don’t see Bzdelik making it 2 more years at Wake Forest, but you get the idea overall.
It’s mind boggling the coaching talent the ACC will have in 2014.
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