March Madness 2010: East Region Coach Power Rankings

With the brackets being released Sunday night, March Madness has officially begun. Filling out your personal bracket has become more American than voting. Sixteen teams make up each bracket (not counting the play-in game), and each game is every bit as much about good coaching as it is about the performance of the players.

A coach has to motivate his team to either pull an upset or avoid one, as well as knowing when to make a substitution and drawing up plays during late timeouts that can lead to game-winning shots.

In this third article of a four-part slideshow, I’ll be breaking down the power rankings of the head coaches in the East region of the NCAA tournament. My formula is weighted among four categories in order to create as unbiased a perspective as I can, but some coaches have been penalized for various reasons, which will be explained in their respective slides.

The formula is as follows: career wins in Division I are worth five percent (the experience of a coach), wins in their last ten games are worth 35 percent (the momentum a team currently has), total NCAA tournament appearances are worth 20 percent (again, the experience of a coach and how many times he led his team this far), and titles are worth the remaining 40 percent (for those that have been here and won it all).

Note: these are the rankings for the coaches, not their teams.

16. Wayne Tinkle - Montana

Wins: 70
Wins in last 10: 8
Tournament Appearances: 1
National Titles: 0

Before we get started, get all the laughing at his last name out of your system. I’ll wait.

Ready now? Tinkle took over as head coach of his alma mater three years ago, and this is his first trip to the Big Dance. While the Grizzlies finished tied for third in the Big Sky, they had the highest overall win total in the conference.

There isn’t much to say about him as of yet. Montana had your average season for a team from a small conference. Their most impressive non-conference win came against Oregon, and Montana stands absolutely zero chance against New Mexico.

15. Mike Young - Wofford

Wins: 116
Wins in last 10: 10
Tournament Appearances: 1
National Titles: 0

At 26-8, this is the second year in a row head coach Mike Young has led Wofford to a winning record in Division I. Despite the fact that he has only been the head coach for eight years, Young has been with the school since 1989 as an assistant.

Young deserves some credit for the opponents he faced outside the Southern Conference. Pittsburgh, Michigan State, and Illinois hold victories over the Terriers this season, while Georgia, Navy, and South Carolina fell victim to upsets.

It’s a great story, but it ends here.

14. Todd Bozeman - Morgan State

Wins: 145
Wins in last 10: 8
Tournament Appearances: 6
National Titles: 0

Most don’t remember, but Bozeman was once the head coach at Cal, and led the 1993 tournament upset of defending champion Duke to get into the Sweet Sixteen. However, a few short years later, Bozeman got slapped with the collegiate death penalty, being forced to resign and not be hired again for eight years without explicit NCAA permission.

After the ban was lifted, Bozeman took the job at Morgan State and has led them to three straight postseason berths. He’s still undoubtedly looking to redeem himself, and will surely try to move back to a bigger program. He’s doing a solid job at Morgan State so far, but I don’t see the Bears getting out of the first round.

13. Murry Bartow - East Tennessee State

Wins: 241
Wins in last 10: 8
Tournament Appearances: 4
National Titles: 0

The Buccaneers of East Tennessee State had four teams finish ahead of them in the Atlantic Sun conference this year. But that doesn’t mean much, considering there was a four-way tie for first place and they were only one game back.

Bartow formerly coached at his alma mater, UAB, before starting at East Tennessee State in 2003. You’d have to use the transitive property to give the Buccs an impressive win; they knocked off College of Charleston, who upset North Carolina earlier this year. They face Kentucky in the first round, meaning you can expect a 30+ point beating.

12. Dino Gaudio - Wake Forest

Wins: 118
Wins in last 10: 5
Tournament Appearances: 2
National Titles: 0

A friend of mine from high school would argue that Dino should have been dead last on this list. And he’s a Wake Forest graduate.

The Demon Deacons have absolutely no business being in this year’s tournament. With a 19-10 record after being bounced from the ACC tournament, my friend’s status became what it has been for the last two or three years now: Fire Dino, but in all caps this year.

The Hokies finished a game better in conference, and four games better overall. Wake Forest may have beaten Gonzaga, Xavier, and Richmond, but they also lost to all three of the ACC’s bottom-feeders this season: at North Carolina State, at home against UNC, and twice to 4-12 Miami.

I realize it’s hard living up to the greatness that Skip Prosser brought to the program. The guy did bring in Chris Paul. And granted, this is Dino’s second Wake Forest team to make the NCAA tournament in three years. But not only do I see his team not advancing past Texas, I see his time running out if he doesn’t start producing tournament wins.

11. Buzz Williams - Marquette

Wins: 61
Wins in last 10: 7
Tournament Appearances: 2
National Titles: 0

Williams had made the NCAA tournament in both of his seasons as head coach of Marquette. Granted half the teams in the Big East normally make the tournament, that still means you’re in the top half of the largest, most powerful conference in college basketball.

Because of his career wins, Williams actually had the lowest average according to my formula, but I promoted him to 11th mostly because of the strength of the Big East. And only Syracuse, Pitt, West Virginia, and Villanova had better conference records than the Golden Eagles.

His team may not have impressed outside the conference, but at 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, forward Lazar Heyward may be a sleeper at the next level. Marquette has potential, and Williams’ inexperience is a non-factor.

10. Steve Donahue - Cornell

Wins: 144
Wins in last 10: 9
Tournament Appearances: 3
National Titles: 0

The Big Red has been dominating the Ivy League as of late, gaining their third straight automatic bid to the Big Dance. You might think the only conference without a conference tournament can’t produce tournament wins, but this year, you might be wrong.

Donahue has taken Cornell from just another team to miss the tournament to their first bid since 1988, and two more in a row after that. They nearly upset the top-ranked Jayhawks at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, losing only by five. And ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, who usually hits the nail on the head with his brackets, has the Big Red advancing to the Elite Eight.

Cornell didn’t get here by accident. Donahue is building a program that, in the next few years, will make you watch your back.

9. Mike Anderson - Missouri

Wins: 176
Wins in last 10: 6
Tournament Appearances: 5
National Titles: 0

Anderson is another up-and-coming coach to watch. After leading the Tigers to the Elite Eight last year, he’s not flying under anyone’s radar this year.

With five tournament appearances in eight years, only one of which being a first-round exit, Anderson builds teams that can win. He has yet to have a losing season, and with a career .671 winning percentage, Anderson doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Clemson needs to be careful, or else they’ll be just another seventh seed to drop to a 10-seed in the first round.

8. Lorenzo Romar - Washington

Wins: 262
Wins in last 10: 8
Tournament Appearances: 5
National Titles: 0

Like the rest of the country, I wasn’t particularly impressed by the Pac-10 this year. The Huskies arguably stole a bubble spot after knocking off California in the conference tournament finals when the Pac-10 was only projected one bid.

Coaches always seem to try harder when they take the helm at their alma mater, and Romar is no different. He’s taken the Huskies to two Sweet Sixteens, and faces an intriguing matchup against Marquette in the first round. It’s worth noting that under Romar’s guidance this season, the Huskies are the only Pac-10 team yet to record double-digit losses. In my opinion, he’s another sleeper to watch.

7. Oliver Purnell - Clemson

Wins: 394
Wins in last 10: 6
Tournament Appearances: 6
National Titles: 0

Clemson wasn’t a bad team this year by any means, but they don’t deserve a seventh seed in any region. They may have knocked off Butler by a point and upset Maryland at home, but do you think they’re a better team than Gonzaga or San Diego State? I don’t either.

Nevertheless, Purnell’s experience is an upside. He’s helped the Tigers to the postseason six of his seven years at Clemson, including reaching the NIT title game in 2007. He’s been here before, but has yet to advance past the first round in the NCAA tournament. If he doesn’t take Mike Anderson and Mizzou lightly, the battle of the Tigers might fall in favor of Purnell and Clemson.

6. Bo Ryan - Wisconsin

Wins: 246
Wins in last 10: 7
Tournament Appearances: 9
National Titles: 0

Don’t take the Badgers lightly. Bo Ryan is always dangerous, and I’ve got a few interesting facts to tell you about him. First of all, he’s spent his entire coaching career at different campuses of the University of Wisconsin. Second, he won four Division III national titles at UW-Platteville, including three in his final five years at the school.

At one point, Ryan’s Badgers had more than 40 straight home wins, which was good for best in the nation after a home loss by Duke at Cameron Indoor. He’s only been knocked out in the first round once since taking over in Madison, and has reached two Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wisconsin winning a few games this year. It’s a weaker field than most years, and strong coaching might be more of a deciding factor than ever before.

5. Steve Alford - New Mexico

Wins: 305
Wins in last 10: 9
Tournament Appearances: 5
National Titles: 0

Prior to losing to San Diego State in the Mountain West tournament finals, Alford’s Lobos hadn’t lost in more than two months. In fact, the Lobos struggled with the Aztecs this year, going 1-2 against their conference foe; their only win against them came by two points in overtime.

Still, Alford is coach with a great pedigree, and knows what it’s like to win it all: as a guard on Indiana’s 1987 championship team, under Bob Knight.

The reason I like Alford so much is because of how well he calculates his every move. He had moderate success at Iowa, and the national media’s favorite to succeed Mike Davis as head coach at his alma mater. Knowing the program wouldn’t be a good fit, he opted to stay at Iowa, then leave the Big Ten altogether and take over at New Mexico.

It looks like it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond, as Alford has won at least 22 games in each of his three seasons at New Mexico and has yet to miss the postseason. Strategy goes a long way, and Alford knows what he’s doing.

4. Fran Dunphy - Temple

Wins: 389
Wins in last 10: 10
Tournament Appearances: 12
National Titles: 0

Having been the head coach at a dominant Penn team from 1989-2006, Dunphy took on the challenge of being the man to replace the man, Temple’s John Chaney. After a 12-18 record his first season, Dunphy has led the Owls to three straight NCAA tournament berths, winning a career-best 29 games this season.

The Atlantic-10 has grown in relevance over the last few years, and Dunphy is taking full advantage. Though he has only won one first round game in his entire coaching career, I see this season being different. The Owls were ranked highly all year, and have not lost since February 6th at Richmond. His last home loss was January 2nd against Kansas.

Juan Fernandez and Lavoy Allen are making some noise this year, and if Dunphy keeps up the pace, don’t be terribly shocked to see Temple advancing as far as the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.

3. Rick Barnes - Texas

Wins: 472
Wins in last 10: 5
Tournament Appearances: 18
National Titles: 0

Forget the struggles of the Longhorns this year. Barnes hasn’t missed the NCAA tournament since 1995: his first year at Clemson. Two Elite Eights and a Final Four since 2003 is impressive, and I think, come tournament time, Texas throws it into high gear.

Barnes has plenty of tournament experience. A head coach since 1987, he’s only missed the postseason twice; the most recent was 1992, when he led the Providence Friars.

The last four seasons, Texas has won at least their first round game. You know how I feel about Wake Forest, so I think that streak stays alive this year. He recruits well and produces solid professionals (remember Kevin Durant?), and I think in spite of Texas’ troubles this year, Barnes is still one of the better coaches in this region.

2. John Calipari - Kentucky

Wins: 435
Wins in last 10: 9
Tournament Appearances: 12
National Titles: 0

I anticipate 99 percent of people disagreeing with me on this one, but at least hear me out first. I gave Calipari the nod over Barnes because their averages were close and because I recognize the nation has chosen Kentucky as their next bandwagon team. Also, I’m not enough of an idiot to pick a coach of a No. 8 seeded team over the region’s No. 1.

Calipari is no doubt a great coach. Having led both UMass and Memphis to Final Fours puts him on pace to become the second coach, after Rick Pitino (who also coached Kentucky) to lead three different teams to Final Fours. The difference is none of Pitino’s have been vacated.

Most people are quick to forgive and forget this kind of indiscretion. After all, how can you say something never happened when there’s video evidence that it did? But the fact is this wasn’t an accident. These things keep happening under his watch, and I think it’s only a matter of time before he becomes the next Kelvin Sampson, run out of the college game because of violations and vacated wins.

I know he hasn’t ever been personally indicted by the NCAA, but you have to figure this guy knows what’s going on in his program and he’s allowing it. After all, it’s not cheating if you don’t get caught, right?

1. Bob Huggins - West Virginia

Wins: 595
Wins in last 10: 8
Tournament Appearances: 19
National Titles: 0

What a wild ride it’s been for Bob Huggins the last few seasons. The best coach in Cincinnati history was forced out after a fall from grace in 2005, set in motion by a DUI arrest in 2004. After spending a year away from the game, Huggins took the job at Kansas State in 2006, promptly signing recruit Michael Beasley.

After “Beastley” left for the NBA, Huggins followed suit, leaving for his alma mater: West Virginia. In his third season in Morgantown, the Volunteers pulled off an amazing performance in the Big East tournament, clinching the automatic berth with several clutch shots hit by Da’Sean Butler.

Huggins has not only redeemed himself, but I think he has a good enough team this year to win it all. I honestly believe West Virginia will knock off Kansas for the national title. They’re just too hot right now. Between great coaching and recruiting by Huggins and the amazing play of Butler, among others, the Mountaineers have the potential to cut down the nets in Indianapolis this year.