Coach Rick Pitino

[shadow force]

Louisville coach Rick Pitino is one of the 10 semifinalists for this year's Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Award.

Pitino, who won the NABC and John Wooden coach of the year awards in 1987, has guided the seventh-ranked Cards to a 23-7 record this season and has them in the hunt to finish second in the fiercely competitive ACC. considered the toughest league in college basketball.

Louisville began the year ranked 13th in the AP poll and 14th in the USA Today Coaches poll.

The other nine candidates for the award are Chris Collins (Northwestern), Scott Drew (Baylor), Mark Few (Gonzaga) , Bob Huggins (West Virginia), Tim Jankovich (SMU), Sean Miller (Arizona), Bill Self (Kansas), Mike White (Florida) and Jay Wright (Villanova).

The release from U of L said the four finalists will be announced on March 16 and the winner announced April 2.

 

[Cue Card]

Considering Northwestern has NEVER been to the NCAA tournament, and they are currently predicted to be a 8 or 9 seed, I would vote for Chris Collins. That's a really good seed for a 1st time participant.

 

[shadow force]

Agree. There are other coaches more deserving this season than Pitino. Still it is good to be acknowledged now and then.

 

[shadow force]

I'm also kind of surprised that Richard Pitino didn't get a nod with the great turnaround job he has done with Minnesota this season. He has them tied for 2nd in the B1G after missing the tourney last season.