Ranking the Big Ten Basketball Coaches From Top to Bottom
Ranking the Big Ten Basketball Coaches From Top to Bottom.
For some reason I had multiple people email me recently and ask me my thoughts so although I am sure many would differ, this is my opinion on rating the Big Ten Basketball Coaches. I will do the same soon for
football.
1.Tom Izzo Michigan State Call me a homer if you like, but without a doubt he is not only the best coach in the Big Ten, but few if any are better than him anywhere. Izzo is clearly among the elite in the nation.
2.Tubby Smith Minnesota He is a great person, coach and leader. He is underrated and makes exceptional game time adjustments and recruits well. He also does it the right way and doesn’t get into negative recruiting.
3.Bruce Weber Illinois I love the way Weber coaches and the way he does it. He is above board, respectful and a terrific person. Illinois is a very difficult place to win and do it the right way in basketball the way the Chicago area works for elite basketball talent. Weber is a great coach and person.
4.Bill Carmody Northwestern I know that this will make some laugh, but it won’t Izzo. He is the one that sold me on Carmody. One day we were just talking, no camera and we got on the topic of Carmody. He is brilliant at getting the most out of the least and Izzo himself told me that you could put him at any of the other Big Ten schools and he would win big. If Izzo has that kind of praise for the guy that says all I need to know.
5.John Beilein Michigan Beilein is a super person and a terrific teacher. He understands the nuances of the game and can teach. He also is a very disciplined recruiter. He was won consistently with less players and doesn’t try to go outside of what works in his system. He isn’t an egomaniac and as much as I am sure Spartan fans will hate to read, he is a great mentor to his players and a no nonsense type of person with a personal touch.
6.Bo Ryan Wisconsin I am not a fan of Bo, but it would be ignorant to discredit his ability to develop talent and to coach. He doesn’t take himself serious and that makes him even more frustrating. I once was at a game that he had beaten MSU and when someone mentioned (it may have even been me) his record against Izzo he said (and meant it) that he had no clue. Love or hate him, he is a great coach.
7.Matt Painter Purdue Painter may be a young coach, but it has no bearing on his ability to coach, develop talent and to recruit. He makes terrific adjustments and is an elite coach. Painter in a less competitive league would be sick. He is also a very likeable person and does it the right way.
8.Tom Crean Indiana I am not a fan of Crean. I won’t say why, but I know that many aren’t sold on him. I don’t think he is as great of a coach as some. One division one coach told me once, (and no it wasn’t Izzo) “What has he done without a player named Wade? Nothing amazing.†He can coach; I just don’t think he is special.
9.Thad Matta Ohio State I think great coaches are guys that do it without great players all the time. Matta can win, but only when he has the players. You don’t ever look at a coaching job Matta has done and say, “Wow, what a coaching job.†Again he can win with players, but not without and that keeps him from going higher on the list.
10.Ed DeChellis Penn State DeChellis is a good coach, but there is no reason for him to have not done more. I am a glass half full guy and I look at the facilities and all that he has and shake my head. Maybe he has turned it around, but I have seen his lack of players get a big win and then disappear the next week?
11. Todd Lickliter Iowa He has done nothing to impress me at Iowa. I haven’t like the way he coaches or handles a team. In my opinion he is over his head at Iowa. I am sure he can do well at a smaller school and in a smaller conference, but even the top ten coaches ahead of him at least can make an argument for being in the Big Ten.
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