Who should win Big East Coach of the year?

[Dove]

I put Pitino, even though I dislike him, because I thought he did a very good job getting 11 newcomers onto the same page.

 

[RuffRuff]

Hurley only gets 26% of the vote from his own fanbase?!

Spoiled indeed.

What's the point of holding a poll if everyone just votes Hurley?

The absolute obvious choice is Willard - guy took a proud program that bottomed out, pulled a roster together with scotch tape in his first year, and came in third and got them back to the tourney.

I'm not awarding a coach for a losing record (Holtman), I don't care the situation.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I voted Willard but as many have pointed out the two best coaches are obviously Dan and Papa Pitino.

At this point the only way either win it is if, what, they go 20-0?

 

[Fairfield_1st]

If you're going to disagree, which is fine, at least put your thoughts on who and why.

 

[Dove]

If you're going to disagree, which is fine, at least put your thoughts on who and why.

I voted for Hurley.

Navigating the waters of transfers AND recruiting top players. Nailing his targets.

Mastering his motivational skills and finding ways for the Huskies to win each night, knowing he doesn't have an alpha dog who leads the team in scoring each night.

His team is beating the best. His BE brethren ate up their cupcakes and now each other.

 

[TheShot1990]

 

[Fairfield_1st]

I voted for Hurley.

Navigating the waters of transfers AND recruiting top players. Nailing his targets.

Mastering his motivational skills and finding ways for the Huskies to win each night, knowing he doesn't have an alpha dog who leads the team in scoring each night.

His team is beating the best. His BE brethren ate up their cupcakes and now each other.

Thank you. It's a fair choice as was mine. Pitino would also deserve credit for navigating new player waters and, excluding the drubbing our Huskies (and Hurley) put on him, has SJU playing very well. I don't know if voters choose the best team, or the coach who does more than was expected.

 

[Donyell 360]

Do you include recruiting and retention in coach of the year? Because that's part of the job, right? That's always my struggle.

Keep in mind the award is voted on by the other BE coaches, so by definition it is an award for who earned the most respect from their peers. Makes me wonder if the award is more a subjective popularity contest than a scientific evaluation. I'm guessing Hurley and Pitino are not voting for each other.

But it is definitely fair game to consider recruiting and retention. Not sure if the coaches in our league factor that or not. It would be a good question to ask them. What is your criteria? Honestly, I don't think most coaches give it too much thought because they are so focused on their own team and rightfully so. Hurley seems to think about it though. He has mentioned both Holloway and Willard as deserving his vote.

 

[RuffRuff]

Keep in mind the award is voted on by the other BE coaches, so by definition it is an award for who earned the most respect from their peers. Makes me wonder if the award is more a subjective popularity contest than a scientific evaluation. I'm guessing Hurley and Pitino are not voting for each other.

But it is definitely fair game to consider recruiting and retention. Not sure if the coaches in our league factor that or not. It would be a good question to ask them. What is your criteria? Honestly, I don't think most coaches give it too much thought because they are so focused on their own team and rightfully so. Hurley seems to think about it though. He has mentioned both Holloway and Willard as deserving his vote.

Willard will be closes to unanimous, if not fully.

 

[Scoe]

It's a bit of an odd year in the Big East, UConn and St John's are obviously as advertised. Is it really miraculous that Nova is a tournament team, you wanna give him Willard BE COY award for not being Kyle Neptune well then ok, so it becomes the I don't suck award.

 

[Donyell 360]

Willard will be closes to unanimous, if not fully.

I don't think they reveal how many votes the winner receives so how would you know if it was unanimous or close to unanimous?

 

[RuffRuff]

It's a bit of an odd year in the Big East, UConn and St John's are obviously as advertised. Is it really miraculous that Nova is a tournament team, you wanna give him Willard BE COY award for not being Kyle Neptune well then ok, so it becomes the I don't suck award.

It's a bit more than that - he's brand new to a program in a Neptune spiral and was able to pull a totally new roster together into a tourney team, in a league that will only have 3. No easy feat.

I don't think they reveal how many votes the winner receives so how would you know if it was unanimous or close to unanimous?

Do they not? I always thought they did.

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/big-east-awards-braylon-mullins-alex-karaban-21951426.php

 

[Donyell 360]

It's a bit more than that - he's brand new to a program in a Neptune spiral and was able to pull a totally new roster together into a tourney team, in a league that will only have 3. No easy feat.

Do they not? I always thought they did.

They did in 2023 for Shaka Smart. Apparently they only reveal the vote count if it is unanimous. So unless it is unanimous we won't know if you are right that it is close to unanimous.

 

[Kolumbo]

 

[auror]

Willard will be closes to unanimous, if not fully.

Hurley is definitely voting for Sha.

 

[yungdowork]

I think Holloway has done the most in terms of exceeding expectations considering Seton Hall was picked dead last in the conference. Willard is a good shout, but I think Villanova has probably benefitted more than anyone else in the conference from teams underperforming. Marquette, Creighton, Georgetown, Providence, even Xavier all had to imagine they'd be more competitive this year.

Personally I would lean towards Holtmann because I think taking a school that was so disillusioned with the whole program and exceeding expectations by this much and reinvigorating the fanbase in the process is huge. I think it's hard to imagine just how miserable an experience going 0-20 in conference has to be, and that team was there 2 years ago.

 

[RuffRuff]

I think Holloway has done the most in terms of exceeding expectations considering Seton Hall was picked dead last in the conference. Willard is a good shout, but I think Villanova has probably benefitted more than anyone else in the conference from teams underperforming. Marquette, Creighton, Georgetown, Providence, even Xavier all had to imagine they'd be more competitive this year.

Personally I would lean towards Holtmann because I think taking a school that was so disillusioned with the whole program and exceeding expectations by this much and reinvigorating the fanbase in the process is huge. I think it's hard to imagine just how miserable an experience going 0-20 in conference has to be, and that team was there 2 years ago.

How would Willard benefit from the conference undeperforming but Sha doesn't? Lol. They play the same teams.

 

[Umami Zen]

Based on preseason expectations and overperforming on them-I would chose Holtmann or Holloway given the rosters they had. If it were strictly on team performance irrespective of where preseason expectations were-I would go Willard. Likely one of three Tourney BE bid teams.

 

[Deepster]

I think Holloway has done the most in terms of exceeding expectations considering Seton Hall was picked dead last in the conference. Willard is a good shout, but I think Villanova has probably benefitted more than anyone else in the conference from teams underperforming. Marquette, Creighton, Georgetown, Providence, even Xavier all had to imagine they'd be more competitive this year.

Personally I would lean towards Holtmann because I think taking a school that was so disillusioned with the whole program and exceeding expectations by this much and reinvigorating the fanbase in the process is huge. I think it's hard to imagine just how miserable an experience going 0-20 in conference has to be, and that team was there 2 years ago.

Seton Hall's Big East record:

Quad 1: 1-4
Quad 2: 4-3
Quad 3: 4-3
Quad 4: 0-0

They have a Quad 2 at Xavier and a Quad 1 home vs St Johns.

Color me not impressed.