It’s virtually unheard of for only two coaches to get votes in the ACC postseason awards derby, but that should be the case this year.
Other than Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and North Carolina’s Roy Williams, there’s just not another viable candidate.
If grades were assigned, those two would get As. The other 10 coaches would get Cs, Ds and Fs.
The voting outcome likely will hinge on Saturday’s winner in Chapel Hill. Members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association have until Sunday afternoon in get in their ballots, meaning many will wait until after the 8 p.m. Duke-Carolina game is over.
Krzyzewski hasn’t won since 1999-2000, but did win the season before and in ’96-’97, ’85-’86 and ’83-‘84.
Williams won in 2005-06. Carolina’s Bill Guthridge was the winner in ’97-’98 and Dean Smith won eight times, the last of which was in ’92-’93.
Overall, UNC coaches have won 11 times and Duke coaches 10.
The late Frank McGuire won at two schools — UNC (’56-’57) and South Carolina (’68-69).
PAST 10 WINNERS
2009-10: Gary Williams, Maryland
2008-09: Leonard Hamilton, FSU
2007-08: Seth Greenberg, Va. Tech
2006-07: Dave Leitao, Virginia
2005-06: Roy Williams, UNC
2004-05: Seth Greenberg, Va. Tech
2003-04: Herb Sendek, NCSU
2002-03: Skip Prosser, WF
2001-02: Gary Williams, Maryland
2000-01: Paul Hewitt, Ga. Tech
MOST AWARDS WON
8: Dean Smith, UNC
5: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
3: Everett Case, NCSU
3: Norm Sloan, NCSU
3: Vic Bubas, Duke
3: Bobby Cremins, Ga. Tech
3: Dave Odom, Wake Forest
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Comments
Well
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 11:00 — willncsu34We can rule out Lowe. As much as I hate it, its either Roy or Donahue. Brownell should be up there too. UVA's coach has impressed. They have no real talent but they are well coached (the opposite of my team).
Not unexpected from someone who wants ECU in the ACC...
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 10:21 — CSOM_97...but still. REALLY?
Coach K and Coach Williams (Roy) have both done their usual outstanding work. That said, Kyrie Irving wasn't on last year's national championship team, the bulk of which is back. UNC has performed well and grown as a team throughout the season, also with an embarrassment of riches at most positions.
For coaches having to overcome injuries/midseason departures, both of Virginia Tech and Virginia have had it far worse. Virginia in particular has grown through the season and has well exceeded very low preseason expectations.
That said, I have to agree with other posters that BC's coach and Clemson's coach are both strong choices. My vote would be for BC's guy - they are going to finish with two walk-ons averaging more than 10 minutes a game, and in total walk-ons will be contributing roughly 30 minutes a game. He has a roster of players recruited for their old coach's lane-packing flex offense that he has turned into three-point gunners. The guy is literally spinning gold out of straw.
bias
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 20:39 — saltydawg1tar hole bias is unbelievable. You guys purport to be so knowledgable, and yet not a one of you has apparently ever heard of Kyrie Irving!!!!
Kyrie ?
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 09:07 — gvillegatrOh. You mean the Mr. Mister song from the 80's. That's an awesome song ! Thx for reminding me !! Kyrie Elieson ....
great song
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 10:16 — JPDOhioHope your having a great time at Disney World. When my kids were 6 and 3, we took them off the Gulf beaches and to Disney for a couple of day change of pace. They love the beach so much they acted like we took them to Guantanamo. We didn't go back to Disney with them until 15 years later when my son ran in the Disney Marathon. Trust that your week is going much better than that.
I will need a Vacation from my vacation
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 11:54 — gvillegatrRun, run, run all week till today. The oldest has had a monster of a time and we've enjoyed watching him.
I've got a fellow Pirate who lives here in Orlando and we're leaving for Tampa in a few. Going to the Red Sox/Yankees game. Gonna hit up Frenchy's for lunch and a casino. Daddy's day !!!!
Can you say Nolan Smith?????
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 22:19 — unc098Can you say Nolan Smith?????
Tunnel vision
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 22:41 — BC68If grades were assigned Mr. Tudor would get an F. Williams' and Krzyzewski's work this year speaks for itself but they take a back seat to at least two other candidates: Clemson's Brad Brownell and BC's Steve Donahue. As a BC alum I'll limit my comments to Donahue's work.
Shortly after he took over from Al Skinner last April Rakim Sanders, his best player, transferred. The entire incoming class decommitted late in the recruiting cycle forcing him to look for players while also assembling a staff. He eventually found a lightly recruited guard and a walk-on. His team was picked to finish 10th. He installed a totally new offense. He has had to depend on two walk-ons for major minutes. Despite this BC is poised to finish as high as fourth.
That, sir, is coaching.
Not even close...
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 16:49 — heelsno1Roy Williams may have done his worst coaching ever last season, but he tops all of his peers in the ACC this year. This is said with no disrespect for the continued excellence of Coach K's program. Nonetheless, Duke started the year with high expectations with many players returning from yet another NCAA championship season.
By stark contrast, the Tar Heels began the season with only 2 veteran players (...Drew 2 and Graves)...both of whom are now distant memories. Graves got the boot from Roy for misconduct and Drew 2's Mommy wanted him to come home. Also, do not forget that the Wear twins also bailed out to return to California.
Coach Williams' tough decisions to dismiss Graves, to bench Drew 2 and to recover from the Wear twins' senseless departure are noteworthy enough...but to do this and still put a championship contender on the court this Saturday...well, that is simply the best coaching performance for this year! In fact, it is not even close.
I agree with you. Roy has
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 20:28 — unc098I agree with you. Roy has coached his butt off this season and despite adversity is poised to challenge for the ACC regular season championship. Really quite an accomplishment. I find it amazing that Tudor has dismissed Brownell and the BC coach, both rookies that have performed admirably. I suspect both of these coaches, if they stick around, will be up and coming forces to be reckoned with in the near future. A wonderful relief from some of the poor coaching ( State, GT and Wake ) that has diminished the competitive nature of the ACC over the past few years.