March Madness 2011 Bracket: Power Ranking Every Tournament Coach

This year's tournament has the potential to be one of the best ever with no clear-cut dominant team as the favorite to win it all. Any number of teams could win the tournament, with the most likely candidates being Ohio State, Kansas, Duke, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.

Behind every great team is a great coach, and behind some of these mediocre teams, well, a mediocre coach.

This year's field of tournament coaches is top heavy with some very good coaches in the top 25 of the rankings, while things will get a little muddied near the bottom with coaches who are struggling to keep their heads above .500.

There may be a few surprises on this list, so you are just going to have to take a look for yourself and decide how you think the coaches rank.

These rankings take into consideration the coaches' overall bodies of work throughout their careers, as well as their team's recent performances, and finally, the coaches abilities to turn lesser-known programs into successful ones.

Let the madness begin.

68. Jim Ferry (Long Island)

Ferry has compiled a less-than-stellar record while coaching at Long Island. He is 125-139 in his nine seasons with the Blackbirds.

This is only his second winning season during his tenure at Long Island and first appearance in the NCAA tournament.

67. Ed DeChellis (Penn State)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Head coach Ed DeChellis of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts as he coaches against the Wisconsin Badgers during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 11, 2011 in In

DeChellis is in his eighth season as the coach of the Nittany Lions, and it's a wonder he still has a job there because his teams have not fared well in the past.

The 52-year-old has a record of 114-137 at Penn State. Granted the school is not known for being a basketball powerhouse, but DeChellis has done nothing until this season to change that.

This will be the first NCAA tournament appearance for DeChellis with the Nittany Lions.

66. Edward Joyner Jr. (Hampton)

Joyner Jr. and the Pirates struggled last season to a record of 14-18 in his first year as head coach, but this season has been much better as Hampton went 24-8.

The reward for Joyner Jr. and his pirates is a date with Duke and an early tournament exit.

65. Dave Paulsen (Bucknell)

Paulsen is in his third season as the head coach of Bucknell, and his first two seasons were less than impressive as the Bison went 21-40.

This season has been much better for Paulsen and his program as Bucknell went 25-8 on the season and 13-1 in Patriot League play.

Paulsen appears to have the program back on track after some good seasons a few years ago, but Bucknell will most likely be one-and-done in the tourney as UConn comes calling.

64. Mike Young (Wofford)

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 19: Mike Young head coach of the Wofford Terriers instructs his team against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Jacksonville Veteran's Memorial Arena on March 19, 2010 in

Young is in his ninth season at Wofford as the Terriers make their second-straight appearance in the Big Dance.

Young has a career record of 137-138 and 0-1 in the tournament. You might as well add another one in both of those loss columns unless Young can come up with a magic formula to slow down Jimmer and Co.

63. Kevin O'Neill (USC)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Head coach Kevin O'Neill of the USC Trojans reacts while taking on the California Golden Bears in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 10, 2011 in Los Angeles

O'Neill has been reinstated for the tournament after being kicked out of the Pac-10 tournament by USC for an incident with an Arizona fan.

O'Neill has been the head coach of numerous schools including Arizona, and he hasn't done particularly well at any of them, compiling a losing career record of 205-207.

He has not done much better in the tournament where his career record is 2-2, and his Trojans were lucky enough to squeak their way in this year. But they may not even see the field of 64 if they are unable to win their play-in game against VCU.

62. Brooks Thompson (University of Texas-San Antonio)

Thompson is in his fifth season at UTSA, compiling a so-so record of 75-75 and leading his team to a mark of 19-13 this year.

This is the first time the Roadrunners have made the tournament under Thompson's guidance.

61. Ed Biedenbach (UNC Asheville)

Biedenbach is in his 15th season at UNC Asheville where his teams have made two tournament appearances.

The Bulldogs went 19-13 and won the Big South tournament to advance to the first round and a play-in game against Arkansas-Little Rock.

60. Lewis Jackson (Alabama State)

Jackson is in his sixth season at his alma mater, and his team is making their second tournament appearance under his guidance.

If the Hornets are able to win their play-in game against UTSA, then Jackson and his squad will have the unenviable task of taking on Ohio State.

59. Steve Shields (University of Arkansas-Little Rock)

Shields is in his seventh season as the head coach of Arkansas-Little Rock where he has compiled a record of 124-89.

This is only the third appearance in the tournament for the Trojans and the first time they have gone with Shields at the helm.

58. Patrick Chambers (Boston University)

Chambers is in his second season as the head coach of Boston University, and his Terriers have a tough, no, impossible task in front of them in trying to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks in their first game of the NCAA tournament.

This is Chambers first appearance in the Big Dance, and while it is certain to be a short one, he deserves credit for taking Boston U to only their sixth tournament appearance ever in just his second year as head coach.

57. B.J. Hill (Northern Colorado)

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach B.J. Hill of the Northern Colorado Bears gestures to his players as they take on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the fourth round of the Las Vegas Invitational at The Orleans Arena November 27, 2010 in Las Vegas, N

Hill is in his first season as the head coach of Northern Colorado, and it's been a good one as he led the Bears to their first NCAA tournament ever.

Hill guided Northern Colorado to a 13-3 record in the Big Sky Conference and a 21-10 record overall this season.

56. Mick Cronin (Cincinnati)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Mick Cronin of the Cincinnati Bearcats talks to his team during a time out during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by Ame

Cronin is enjoying his best season during what has been an otherwise mediocre five-year tenure at Cincinnati.

This is the Bearcats first tournament appearance under Cronin who is making his third appearance in the tournament after leading Murray State there twice previously.

Cronin has yet to win a game in the tournament, and this year won't be easy either as the Bearcats will take on a scrappy Missouri team.

55. Donnie Tyndall (Morehead State)

Tyndall is in his fifth season as the head coach of his alma mater, where he has won 95 games.

This is Morehead State's second appearance in the NCAA tournament under Tyndall, but he is still looking to advance past the Eagles' first-round opponent for the first time.

It's not going to be easy as a matchup, with Louisville awaiting Tyndall and his OVC tournament champs.

54. Greg Lansing (Indiana State)

This season was Lansing's first at the helm of the Sycamores, and he has started his coaching career on the right track by leading his team to a 20-13 record and No. 14 seed in the tournament.

Lansing and his team have a tough draw in their opening game as they are matched up with Syracuse.

53. Bob Williams (UCSB)

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MILWAUKEE - MARCH 19: Head coach Bob Williams of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos looks on in the second half while taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Bradley Center on March 19, 2010

Williams has had a decent tenure at UCSB while posting a record of 199-165 in his 12 seasons at the school.

This will be the Gauchos third tournament appearance under Williams, and he will be looking to advance his team past the first round for the first time while he has been at the school.

52. Sydney Johnson (Princeton)

Johnson has returned to the his alma mater, which he played at from 1993-1997, to lead the Tigers back to the tournament for the first time during the 36-year-old's tenure.

This is Johnson's fourth season at the helm, and definitely his best, as he led Princeton to a record of 25-6 and a buzzer-beating win over Harvard to get into the tournament.

Johnson and his team have a very tough opponent in their first game against the fourth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats.

51. John Dunne (St. Peters)

Dunne is currently in his fifth season with the Peacocks, where he led the team to a record of 20-13 this season.

Dunne has done an excellent job of getting St. Peters to the tournament after taking over a team that won just nine games total in his first two seasons at the helm.

Look for St. Peters to be one and Dunne after they take on Purdue in their opening game.

50. Brad Brownell (Clemson)

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 11: Head coach Brad Brownell of the Clemson Tigers looks on during the first half against the Boston College Eagles in the quarterfinals of the 2011 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2011 in Gr

Brownell took over at Clemson this season for Oliver Purnell, who turned the Tigers program around and moved on to a new challenge at DePaul.

Brownell had a good first season as head coach of the Tigers, narrowly getting his team into the tournament play-in game with a record of 21-11.

49. Shaka Smart (VCU)

Smart led his Rams to the NCAA tournament this season in just his second year on the job, but they were lucky to get in, just like USC.

This will be Smart's first tournament game as a head coach, but he has done a great job at VCU in his brief stint with the school, compiling a record of 50-20.

48. Chris Mooney (Richmond)

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PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 18: Coach Chris Mooney of the Richmond Spiders reacts to an official's call against the Saint Mary's Gaels during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Dunkin' Donuts Center on March 18, 2010 in Providence

Mooney is making his second consecutive tourney appearance with the Spiders this season after leading the team to a 27-7 record.

Richmond will play Vanderbilt in their opening game as Mooney looks for his first tournament victory after the Spiders lost in their first contest last season.

47. Keith Dambrot (Akron)

Dambrot has had a nice run at Akron during his six years at the school as the Zips are making their second-consecutive tourney appearance.

Dambrot has compiled a record of 121-54 at Akron, but he is still looking for his first tournament win, and he is unlikely to find it as his team faces a huge test in Notre Dame during their first contest.

46. Rick Byrd (Belmont)

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WASHINGTON - MARCH 20: Head coach Rick Byrd of the Belmont Bruins shouts from the sidelines against the Duke Blue Devils during the first round of the West Regional as part of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Verizon Center on March 20, 20

Byrd has been the coach at Belmont since 1986 when the team was a NAIA competitor, and he raised the level of the program substantially in the last six years by reaching the NCAA tournament four times.

This appears to be the best team Byrd has ever had as the Bruins went 30-4 this season while finishing 11th in the country in scoring at 80.4 points per game.

It should be a battle of contrasting styles in the Bruins' opening game as they will want to get out and run, but Wisconsin will most likely want to slow things down after scoring just 33 points in their last contest.

45. Fran Dunphy (Temple)

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DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 23: Head coach Fran Dunphy of the Temple Owls watches his team against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 23, 2011 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Dunphy had a great run at Penn before coming to Temple, where he has been the past five seasons, leading the Owls to the tourney in each of the past four years.

This will be Dunphy's 13th appearance in the tournament, but he has an abysmal record when his teams get there. His teams are just 1-12 in the tournament all-time which bodes very well for fans of Penn State.

44. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt)

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Head coach Kevin Stallings of the Vanderbilt Commodores looks on during their game against the Florida Gators in the semifinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo

Stallings is in his 11th season at Vanderbilt where he has compiled a record of 236-147 for the Commodores, leading them to five NCAA tournament appearances.

His tournament record is 5-6 and his best finish is the Sweet 16 which Vandy has reached twice while Stallings has been at the school.

This season Vanderbilt is 23-10 under Stallings while drawing a No. 5 seed in the tourney.

43. Buzz Williams (Marquette)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: head coach Buzz Williams of the Marquette Golden Eagles gestures from the bench during the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle

Williams has put together a good three seasons during his tenure at Marquette, compiling a record of 65-32 and reaching the NCAA tournament in each campaign.

Williams led the Golden Eagles to a 20-14 record this season in the tough Big East, good enough for a No. 11 seed and a matchup with Xavier, where the 38-year-old coach will be looking to advance his team to the Round of 32 for just the second time.

42. Greg Kampe (Oakland)

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MILWAUKEE - MARCH 19: Head coach Greg Kampe of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies looks on in the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Bradley Center on March 19, 2010 in Milwauke

Kampe has slowly built a solid program at Oakland as he has led the Golden Grizzlies to the tournament in each of the last two seasons and three times in the past seven seasons.

This is Kampe's 27th season at the helm for Oakland, where he has compiled a record of 444-322.

41. Josh Pastner (Memphis)

The 33-year-old Pastner is in his second season as the coach at Memphis, and he has carried on the success that John Calipari had before him, posting a record of 49-19.

This will be Pastner's first trip to the NCAA tournament, but you should expect many more from this young coach looking to make a name for himself.

40. Chris Mack (Xavier)

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SALT LAKE CITY - MARCH 25: Head coach Chris Mack of the Xavier Musketeers reacts to a call during the west regional semifinal of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament against the Kansas State Wildcats at the Energy Solutions Arena on March 25, 2010 i

Mack is another up-and-coming coach who inherited a good program and kept it rolling, taking Xavier to the Sweet 16 last season in his first year as their head coach.

This season, Mack has led the Musketeers back to the tournament after a 24-7 season and Atlantic 10 title.

The 41-year-old is hoping to become the next head coach who makes a name for himself as a mid-major in the tournament.

39. Leonard Hamilton (Florida State)

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 11: Head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles reacts while playing against Virginia the Tech Hokies during the first half in the quarterfinals of the 2011 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum

Hamilton is in his ninth season at Florida State after coming from in-state rival Miami.

Hamilton has led the Seminoles to three-straight NCAA tourney appearances, but he is still looking to get above .500 in the tournament, where his career record is just 3-5.

The Seminoles begin with a tough matchup in their opening game against Texas A&M.

38. Mark Fox (Georgia)

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 10: head coach Mark Fox of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts against the Auburn Tigers during the first round of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Georgia Dome on March 10, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Im

Fox is in his second year at Georgia after spending the previous five seasons at Nevada. The Bulldogs somewhat-unexpected tournament selection is the first under Fox and his fifth overall.

Fox has a career record of 158-71 and the furthest any of his teams have gone in the tourney is the second round.

37. Matt Painter (Purdue)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers walks off the court dejected after they lost 74-56 against the Michigan State Spartans during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fi

Painter is in his sixth season as head coach after spending one year at Southern Illinois, in which he led the Salukis to a tournament berth.

During his current tenure with the Boilermakers, Painter has gone 130-60 while leading Purdue to the tournament in each of the past five seasons, including two Sweet 16 appearances.

Painter will be looking to improve upon his 6-5 career record in the tournament, and his squad this year should have a good chance to do so after finishing this season with a record of 25-7.

36. Mike Davis (UAB)

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LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 27: Mike Davis the Head Coach of the UAB Blazers is pictured during the game against the Louisville Cardinals on December 27, 2008 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Davis is looking to build a strong program at UAB after spending six seasons at Indiana. This is the 50-year-old's fifth season as the head coach at UAB, where he has posted a record of 107-56.

Davis has a career tournament record of 7-4 with his best finish coming in 2002 as he led the Hoosiers all the way to a runner-up finish in the NCAA title game.

35. Blaine Taylor (Old Dominion)

Taylor has built a very competitive program at ODU, winning 215 games in 10 seasons at the school.

While the Monarchs have had good success under Taylor, they have struggled in the tournament, going just 1-3.

Taylor and ODU have an intriguing matchup for their first game in another mid-major power, Butler.

34. Dave Rose (BYU)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 12: Head coach Dave Rose of the Brigham Young University Cougars watches his players during their 72-54 loss to the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball tournament at the

Dave Rose is in his sixth season in Provo, and he has clearly benefited from the phenomenon that is Jimmer this season. 

Rose led the Cougars to an impressive 30-4 record this season after winning 30 games last season, and he has now posted a career win percentage of .781.

The 53-year-old has now led BYU to five-straight tournament appearances, and he will be looking to improve on his 1-4 tourney record this year.

33. Stew Morrill (Utah State)

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SAN DIEGO - MARCH 16: Head Coach Stew Morrill of the Utah State Aggies addresses his team during the game against the Washington Huskies at the first round of the NCAA Finals on March 16, 2006 at Cox Arena in San Diego, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumen

The 58-year-old Morrill is in his 13th season as the head coach at Utah State, and he has been steadily building a winner ever since he arrived on campus.

The Aggies finished this season with a record of 30-3, raising Morrill's record at Utah State to 324-102.

While the Aggies have had plenty of success during the regular season, the same cannot be said during tourney time where Morrill is just 1-8 during his career. Beating Kansas State in their first game of the tourney this year will be no easy task.

32. Mark Turgeon (Texas A&M)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: Head coach Mark Turgeon of the Texas A&M Aggies looks on during their quarterfinal game against the Missouri Tigers in the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 10, 2011 in Kansas City,

Turgeon is currently in his fourth season at A&M where he has done an excellent job posting a record of 97-39 and leading the Aggies to their fourth-straight tournament appearance under his guidance.

Before coming to A&M, Turgeon helped lead Wichita State to the Sweet 16 in 2006.

Don't expect Turgeon to improve much on his 5-4 tournament record this season as the Aggies don't look to have the firepower to advance deep in the tourney, but they may prove to be tough in the first couple of rounds.

31. Sean Miller (Arizona)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts in the first half while taking on the Washington Huskies in the championship game of the 2011 Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 12,

Miller is in his second season as coach of the Wildcats, and he is making his first trip to the tourney with Arizona.

Before coaching the Wildcats, Miller was the head coach at Xavier where he was very successful, posting a record of 120-47 and going to the tournament in four of the five years he was there. The best finish for a Miller-led team was in 2008 when Xavier reached the Elite Eight.

30. Frank Martin (Kansas State)

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OKLAHOMA CITY - MARCH 20: Head coach Frank Martin of the Kansas State Wildcats reacts against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Ford Center on March 20, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Ph

Martin is well-known as a fiery coach who isn't afraid to get in the face of his players or the refs and so far he has continued the success that Bob Huggins had during his brief stint in Manhattan.

Expectations were high coming into this season after K-State went to the Elite Eight last season, but they struggled to start the year, and they enter the tournament with a record of 22-10.

Martin's record with the Wildcats is a very good— 94-42 and 4-2 in tournament games. Kansas State will be a dangerous team lurking in the tournament, and they have a tough matchup in their first game against Utah State.

29. Mike Anderson (Missouri)

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COLUMBIA, MO - FEBRUARY 15: Head coach Mike Anderson of the Missouri Tigers applauds during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 15, 2011 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Anderson first made a name for himself as the coach of UAB, which he led to three-straight tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16.

The 51-year-old has continued that success at Missouri where he implemented Nolan Richardson's famous 40-minutes-of-hell defense.

This is the third tournament appearance for Anderson's Tigers, and he will be looking to improve upon his 7-5 career record in the Big Dance.

28. Bruce Pearl (Tennessee)

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 11: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers shouts instructions to his team during their game against the Florida Gators during the quarterfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 11, 2011 in A

Pearl has had a rocky season on and off the court as he was suspended for eight SEC games this season, and his team struggled to a 19-14 record.

It was still good enough to reach the tournament as Pearl is going back for the eighth time, and the sixth-straight time at Tennessee.

Pearl has a career record of 231-98 and a tournament record of 10-7.

27. Lon Kruger (UNLV)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Head coach Lon Kruger of the UNLV Rebels watches his team during their 74-72 loss to the San Diego State Aztecs in a semifinal game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center March 1

Kruger is a solid coach who has done quite well in his time at UNLV, leading the Runnin' Rebels to four tournament appearances in his seven years at the school. 

Before UNLV, Kruger was the head coach at Illinois, Florida and Kansas State where he helped build those programs into well-run organizations.

Kruger has a tournament record of 14-12 with his best finish coming with Florida when he took the Gators to the Final Four in 1994.

26. Lorenzo Romar (Washington)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Head coach Lorenzo Romar of the Washington Huskies celebrates by cutting down the net after the Huskies defeated the Arizona Wildcats 77-75 in the championship game of the 2011 Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament a

Romar has done well in his time with the Huskies and he is one of the more underrated coaches in the country; the problem is that he should have an even better resume than the one he has with the talent he has had.

Romar's teams have always been a fast-paced high-scoring bunch with solid backcourt players, but the frontcourt has often been neglected, and the Huskies can't seem to find a dominant low-post player.

UW underachieved this season once again, but they have found themselves in the tourney and appear to be peaking at the right time after winning the Pac-10 tournament for the second-straight season.

Romar's teams have been to the Sweet 16 three times but have failed to reach the Elite Eight each time. Getting back to the Sweet 16 this season will be a tall order, with UNC looming in the next round if the Dawgs can get past Georgia.

25. John Thompson III (Georgetown)

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WASHINGTON, DC- JANUARY 12: John Thompson III of the Georgetown Hoyas reacts to a play during a college basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on January 12, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Panthers won 72-57. (Photo by Mitc

John Thompson III has followed in his father's footsteps as the head coach at Georgetown, and so far, he has done an admirable job.

Thompson III led his alma mater Princeton to two tournament berths, and he has since guided the Hoyas to five tournament appearances, including a Final Four in 2007.

His career record at Georgetown is solid at 181-81, but he is looking to do better in the tourney where he has a career record of 7-6.

24. Brad Stevens (Butler)

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 16: Brad Stevens the Head Coach of the Butler Bulldogs gives instructions to his team during the game against the Louisville Cardinals at the KFC Yum! Center on November 16, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/G

Stevens put his name on the map last season as his Bulldogs made it all the way to the title game before falling to Duke in a hard-fought battle.

Stevens is in his fourth season as the head coach at Butler, and although his squad this year is nowhere near as strong as it was last year, the 34-year-old is a rising star among the coaching ranks.

23. Mike Brey (Notre Dame)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on from the bench during the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the semifinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outf

Mike Brey is in his 11th season as Notre Dame head coach, and this year has been his best with the Fighting Irish, leading the team to a second-place finish in the Big East during the regular season.

The problem for Brey is that his teams have struggled in the NCAA tournament as he has compiled a tourney record of just 5-8, and his Fighting Irish teams have never advanced past the Sweet 16.

This season will be his best shot to go deep into the tournament as Purdue appears to be the only roadblock on the way to the Elite Eight.

22. Steve Lavin (St. Johns)

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Head coach of the St. John's Red Storm Steve Lavin watches on against the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Lavin has stepped out of the broadcast booth and onto the court once again this season, leading the Red Storm to an improbable turnaround this year with a record of 21-11.

Lavin has a good tournament record of 11-6, and St. John's should be battle-tested after beating Duke and many of the big opponents it faced in Big East action this season.

Lavin has never been to a Final Four, but he did take UCLA to four Sweet 16's and an Elite Eight.

21. Bruce Weber (Illinois)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Head coach Bruce Weber of the Illinois Fighting Illini coaches against the Michigan Wolverines during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 11, 2011 in Indianapolis,

Weber has a good thing going at Illinois, having led the Illini to six NCAA tournaments in his eight years at the school. Weber's best finish with Illinois came in 2005 when he guided his team all the way to a runner-up finish in the tournament.

Before taking over at Illinois, Weber helped turn the Southern Illinois program into a good one, leading the Salukis to the Sweet 16 in 2002.

This season was not one of Weber's best, but he still led the Illini into the tournament where they could be a tough out for any team that faces them.

20. Bo Ryan (Wisconsin)

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Bo Ryan of the Wisconsin Badgers argues a referee's call during a game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center November 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 68-65. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ryan is in his 10th season in Madison, and this year has been one of his best, leading the Badgers to a record of 23-8 and a No. 4 seed in the tournament.

Ryan has a career tournament record of 12-9 in the NCAA tournament, with his team's best finish coming in 2005 when Wisconsin went to the Elite Eight.

The Badgers open up with Belmont, a potentially dangerous No. 13 seed that will make getting win No. 13 a difficult chore for Ryan and his squad.

19. John Calipari (Kentucky)

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats coaches against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the semifinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox

Calipari deserves to be higher on this list based on his win totals alone, but he is too much of a shady character to move any higher on these rankings.

Calipari has a very good tournament record of 28-12 and a great career record of 505-151, but the reasons behind Calipari's success are questionable at best. Yes, there are a lot of shady coaches out there in the world of college athletics, but Calipari tops the list.

The great 2008 championship game between Kansas and Memphis never happened in the eyes of the NCAA because of the academic fraud perpetrated by the Tigers.

The great UMass team in 1996, which went to the Final Four, never happened either. Marcus Camby was later ruled ineligible because of his contact with a sports agent which Calipari knew about.

Hold your breath Wildcats fans, you're next.

18. Jim Larranaga (George Mason)

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DENVER - MARCH 20: Head coach Jim Larranaga of the George Mason Patriots reacts during the first round game of the East Regional against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as part of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Pepsi Center on March 20, 2008

Larranaga did the unthinkable when he led his George Mason team, a No. 11 seed, all the way to the Final Four in 2006.

This will be the second tournament that the Patriots have been to since that magical run and, on paper, this is the best team they have had since that season. Larranaga led his team to a record of 26-6 this season, good enough for a No. 8 seed and a tough matchup with Villanova.

The 61-year-old has a career record of 469-333 and a tournament record of 4-4.

17. John Beilein (Michigan)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 11, 2011 in Indianapolis,

Beilein did a masterful job as the head coach a West Virginia before leaving to become the head man at Michigan. While his record is not as good as many of the other high-profile coaches around the country, Beilein has turned programs around in a hurry, and he appears to be doing the same at Michigan in his fourth season.

Beilein's teams have been to the tourney six times with his best finish coming at West Virginia in 2005 when he guided the Mountaineers to the Elite Eight.

16. Mark Few (Gonzaga)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few argues an official's call during the championship game of the Zappos.com West Coast Conference Basketball tournament against the Saint Mary's Gaels at the Orleans Arena March 7, 2011 in Las V

Few has been living the good life in Spokane for the past 12 years, leading the Zags to the NCAA tournament in every season that he has been the school's head coach.

Few led Gonzaga to another good season despite not having as talented of team as he had in previous seasons.

The 48-year-old has a career record of 314-82, as well as a 12-11 record in the NCAA tournament with his best finish coming four times in the Sweet 16. Don't expect the Zags to go any further this season, but Few definitely deserves recognition as one of the top coaches on the West Coast and in the country.

15. Jay Wright (Villanova)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats gestures from the bench against the South Florida Bulls during the first round of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madison Squ

Jay Wright's bunch has really fallen on hard times as of late, losing their last five games and seven of their last nine. Very little of that fault belongs on the shoulders of Wright, who has proven to be one of the best coaches in the Big East year after year.

Wright has now led Nova to the NCAA tournament in each of the past seven seasons, posting a record of 224-109 and going 12-8 in the tournament.

14. Rick Barnes (Texas)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns looks on during their quarterfinal game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 10, 2011 in Kansas City, M

Barnes has compiled a great record at Texas of 321-122, building the Longhorns into a perennial power in the Big 12, but he has had mixed results in the tournament.

The 56-year-old has a tournament record of 19-18, however, he has done quite well in the tournament with Texas. The Longhorns have advanced to at least the Sweet 16 five times under Barnes, and they reached the Final Four in 2003.

Texas has not played as well in the second half of the season as they did in the first half when they appeared to be one of the favorites to win it all, but they are still a dangerous team capable of cutting down the nets with Barnes at the helm.

13. Ben Howland (UCLA)

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LOS ANGELES - MARCH 12: Head coach Ben Howland of the UCLA Bruins shouts instructions during the game with the California Golden Bears during the semifinals of the Pac-10 Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, Californi

It's been eight seasons since Howland coached at Pitt, and he has done quite well for himself in that time at UCLA.

Howland has led the Bruins to the tournament six times, including three-straight trips to the Final Four that resulted in one runner-up finish.

Howland has a career record of 344-177 and a solid tournament record of 18-8. In order to keep those records looking good, Howland and the Bruins will have to take down Tom Izzo and the Spartans.

12. Bob Huggins (West Virginia)

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LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 26: Bob Huggins the Head Coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers gives instructions to his team during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at the KFC Yum! Center on January 26, 2011 in Louisville, Kentuck

Huggins is at his fifth different school, and this time it is his alma mater, West Virginia, a destination he is expected to stay at.

Huggins enjoyed great success for 16 years at Cincinnati, posting a record of 399-127 while making 14 tournament appearances including one Final Four.

After turning around Kansas State's program in one season, Huggins moved on to the Mountaineers where the 57-year-old has spent four seasons, getting to the tournament in each of them and making his second Final Four last season. Huggins has a tournament record of 26-18.

11. Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: head coach Jamie Dixon of the Pittsburgh Panthers looks on from the bench against the Connecticut Huskies during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madison

Dixon is in his eighth season as coach of the Panthers, and he has done an excellent job of building a competitive program at Pitt during his tenure.

Dixon has led Pitt to the NCAA tournament in all eight of his seasons with the school while maintaining a record of 215-59.

One thing that Dixon and his club would like to improve on is tournament success where Dixon has a record of just 10-7, and his teams have never been past the Elite Eight.

This year looks as good as any for a trip to the Final Four for the Panthers, since they appear to have the easiest road to get there of any No. 1 seed.

10. Steve Fisher (San Diego State)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 12: Head coach Steve Fisher of the San Diego State Aztecs gestures to his players as they take on the Brigham Young University Cougars during the championship game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball tournament at the

Fisher is in his 11th season at San Diego State, and this year has been his best during his tenure with the Aztecs.

Fisher has never taken the Aztecs past the first round of the tournament in his three previous tries, but he should have little problem getting to the Round of 32 this season with a squad that went 32-2.

The 65-year-old has a career record of 412-232, and he previously coached at Michigan, where he went to three championship games, winning the 1989 title with the Wolverines.

Fisher was the coach of the "Fab Five" at Michigan, and he has a tournament record of 20-9.

9. Thad Matta (Ohio State)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 13: Head coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes smiles against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the championship game of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 13, 2011 in Indianapolis

Matta has quickly become one of the elite coaches in college basketball. Currently in his seventh season with the Buckeyes, he has compiled a record of 188-56.

This season has been another great success for the 43-year-old as he led his team to a 32-2 record and the No. 1-overall seed in the tournament.

Matta's Ohio State teams have been to the tournament five times during his tenure, with his best finish coming in 2007 as Greg Oden and Co. lost in the title game.

Before coming to the Buckeyes, Matta coached at Butler and Xavier, helping make those schools the perennial contenders they have become today.

Ohio State has a very good chance to improve on Matta's 14-8 tournament record with a strong performance this year.

8. Billy Donovan (Florida)

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 12: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators looks on during their game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the semifinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by

Billy Donovan and the Gators have fallen off the radar a bit since winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, but the 45-year-old appears to have his team headed in the right direction at the right time once again this season.

Florida received a No. 2 seed, which was one of the many puzzling things the selection committee did this year. The Gators are a solid, not great team this season.

Donovan has been a big reason for the team's success,  and his 22-8 tournament record should put everyone on notice that no matter where the Gators are seeded, they are a team to be reckoned with.

7. Tom Izzo (Michigan State)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 11, 2011 in Indianapolis, India

Michigan State was yet another team that underachieved and still managed to make the tournament this year, and Izzo deserves plenty of credit for that.

The 56-year-old has a career record of 383-160 in East Lansing and a very good tournament record of 35-12 that includes a national title in 2000 and five appearances in the Final Four.

The Spartans may have failed to live up to expectations during the regular season, but don't count out a run to the Sweet 16 with Izzo at the helm.

6. Rick Pitino (Louisville)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 11: head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals looks on from the bench during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the semifinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle O

Pitino is another coach who has had his share of problems off the court, but he has been one of the best leaders on the court, compiling a career record of 572-209. Pitino also has a record of 38-14 in the NCAA tournament.

Pitino has led three teams to the Final Four and he won a title with Kentucky in 1996.

This season, he has guided Louisville to a 25-9 record and a No. 4 seed in the tournament.

Perhaps the most impressive stat for Pitino is his 9-0 record in the Sweet 16 which could come to an end this year if the Cardinals meet up with the Jayhawks.

5. Jim Boeheim (Syracuse)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange gestures from the bench against the St. John's Red Storm during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madison Sq

Boeheim has been one of the top college coaches for the past 34 years, all of which he has spent coaching at Syracuse.

Boeheim's teams have reached the tournament a whopping 28 times, reaching the championship game three times and winning it all in 2003.

The 66-year-old has a career record of 855-300 and a tournament record of 41-22.

Boeheim and his zone defense will be a tough matchup for any opponent in the tournament this year.

4. Jim Calhoun (Connecticut)

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 12: Head coach Jim Calhoun of the Connecticut Huskies looks on from the bench during the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the championship of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfit

Calhoun is another one of the top-notch coaches in this field, having led his Connecticut Huskies teams to three Final Fours and two NCAA championships.

This season has been an up-and-down one for Calhoun and the Huskies, which suffered four losses in a five-game stretch heading into the Big East tournament. UConn rebounded nicely, however, by winning five-straight games in five days to take the conference tournament title.

Calhoun is a solid recruiter whose teams are always in the hunt, and his 840-360 career record as a coach isn't too shabby either.

3. Bill Self (Kansas)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a play during their semifinal game against the Colorado Buffaloes in the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 11, 2011 in Kansas Ci

Self is well on his way to becoming one of the greatest coaches of all-time, and if he stays at Kansas for the remainder of his career, there is no reason to think he won't. It is very likely that he will find his name in the mix.

Self has posted a career record of 441-150 and a very impressive record of 234-45 (.838). The 48-year-old has been to the tournament 13 times, including four Elite Eight's and one national title that came in 2008 with the Jayhawks. Self's career record in the tournament is 25-11.

Self isn't just a great recruiter. He takes the talent he gets and takes it up a notch, as evidenced by the play of the Morris twins this season. The Jayhawks are the nation's best team offensively and a lot of that stems from their extremely good passing which Self deserves most of the credit for.

2. Roy Williams (North Carolina)

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during overtime against the Clemson Tigers in the semifinals of the 2011 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 12, 2011 in Greensboro,

Williams is one of the greatest college coaches of all-time, compiling a record 640-162 (.798) and a tournament record of 55-18.

Williams has won two national titles with the Tar Heels, and although he failed to win one while at Kansas, he put together a very impressive 15-year resume while with the Jayhawks, setting the stage for Self's first championship with the school.

The 60-year-old has been to 21 tournaments during his 23-year career, including six Final Fours.

Williams would have been No.1 on these rankings if it weren't for another coach just eight miles down the road...

1. Mike Krzyzewski (Duke)

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils signals during the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the semifinals of the 2011 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 12, 2011 in Gre

Coach K is the best coach heading into this year's tournament, and it's really not that close. He has compiled a tournament record of 77-22 (.778) and a career record of 898-283 while leading the Blue Devils to four national championships.

This season, he led Duke to their 13th ACC tournament championship in his time at the school, and he will be seeking his 12th Final Four appearance this season.

Coach K consistently recruits some of the top talent in the country, and then he makes that talent go, leading Duke to at least the Sweet 16 in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

Whether you hate Duke or love them, you have to admit that Coach K is one of the greatest coaches of all-time, and certainly the top coach heading into this year's field.