Ranking the Big East coaches to date (COY)

[Halldan1]

1. Mack. Still my favorite but his team will have to play better than they did this past week to keep him in this spot.

2. Wright. Clearly perceived by many as the best coach in the league. But fair or not his team being ranked preseason #1 makes it difficult to win this kind of award.

3. Willard. IMO hard for anyone to argue this although I'm sure some will try.

4. Cooley. Two losses this past week, albeit with an injured Bentil drops him a spot in my mind.

5. McDermott. Crippling loss to Georgetown had his team reeling. Let's see if they can now build on their last effort.

6. Holtmann. Hard to figure right now. Wednesday's game against the Hall will show if they are trending upwards or going further south.

7. Wojo. Seems like his young team is under performing but maybe too much was expected too soon.

8. Thompson. Preseason #2 in the league the Hoyas are playing to a 13-11 ledger.

9. Leitao. Round two starting off a lot like round one ended.

10. Mullin. Hoping that with the recruits coming in this expected nightmare season will become a distant memory.

 

[TheBluePirate]

As things are playing out right now, Willard ***is*** in the conversation and deserves to be there.

 

[shu09]

I see it similarly. Mack gets the edge right now over Wright, but Xavier is showing a few cracks even in its wins. Mack needs to tighten up his defense, currently 7th in the conference in efficiency.

Mack, Wright and Willard are the only three really in the running right now. Cooley is a distant fourth at this point.

 

[Halldan1]

Obviously unlikely, but what happens if both Nova and SHU run the table.

How do you not vote 17-1 Wright as the COY.

But then what do you do with a SHU team coached by Willard finishing 14-4 in a league where they were just a few points short of being selected 9th in a 10 team league?

Like I said incredibly unlikely but what a dilemma if it ever came to pass.

 

[HallX2]

If we get to 20 wins regular season and win a game in BET and make the dance look for KW to snag COY.

 

[Halldan1]

If we get to 20 wins regular season and win a game in BET and make the dance look for KW to snag COY.

FYI, the award is given out before the BET.

 

[paulmarmora]

If villanova runs the table they will be ranked #1 in the country. Hard to deny Jay COY for big east since he will win national COY. Also means they would sweep X. Short of that, I agree Mack should win.

 

[Halldan1]

Excellent point but it's possible that Wright could lose in the BET's first round. That wouldn't effect the League's COY award but it would likely eliminate him from the national one short of what Nova does in the Dance.

 

[hallgrad80]

1. Mack. Still my favorite but his team will have to play better than they did this past week to keep him in this spot.

2. Wright. Clearly perceived by many as the best coach in the league. But fair or not his team being ranked preseason #1 makes it difficult to win this kind of award.

3. Willard. IMO hard for anyone to argue this although I'm sure some will try.

4. Cooley. Two losses this past week, albeit with an injured Bentil drops him a spot in my mind.

5. McDermott. Crippling loss to Georgetown had his team reeling. Let's see if they can now build on their last effort.

6. Holtmann. Hard to figure right now. Wednesday's game against the Hall will show if they are trending upwards or going further south.

7. Wojo. Seems like his young team is under performing but maybe too much was expected too soon.

8. Thompson. Preseason #2 in the league the Hoyas are playing to a 13-11 ledger.

9. Leitao. Round two starting off a lot like round one did.

10. Mullin. Hoping that with the recruits coming in this expected nightmare season will become a distant memory.

Have to put Wright at #. 1 ahead of Mack but otherwise would rank them in the same order as you did. I put Wright ahead of Mack for two reasons.

1. When you're picked to finish first in your Conference and highly ranked you become the team everyone wants to beat and Wright has met that challenge ;

2. When you're in the conversation to be the # 1 team in the country that sets you apart from your Conference peers.

 

[pmulcahy96]

I got to give it to Willard. Wright and Mack have done an incredible job, but outside of us Seton Hall fans, who would have believed Seton Hall would be in the position they are right now?

 

[HallX2]

FYI, the award is given out before the BET.

My bad. I thought that after I typed it. So i'll modify and say if he gets to 21 regular season wins I think he gets it

 

[HALL85]

I would agree with Dan's list. Xavier had to scramble this week, but the BE schedule is a grind and the fact that they keep winning is what matters most. I would put Mack and Wright as a 1 and 1A, with Willard solidly in the third spot...everyone behind those three. If either Mack or Wright continue to either run the table or only have one loss the rest of the way, it'll be tough for Willard to get it coming in third when two teams are so dominant.

 

[HallX2]

I would agree with Dan's list. Xavier had to scramble this week, but the BE schedule is a grind and the fact that they keep winning is what matters most. I would put Mack and Wright as a 1 and 1A, with Willard solidly in the third spot...everyone behind those three. If either Mack or Wright continue to either run the table or only have one loss the rest of the way, it'll be tough for Willard to get it coming in third when two teams are so dominant.

Louie Orr got it after his team rose to 21-10 in 03-04 from a disappointing 17-10 prior season. Although they were 10-6 in league. First 10-6 BE record to miss the dance. Not thinking it always goes to the dominant team(s) coach

 

[SPK145]

1) Mack

2) Wright
3) Willard

 

[mjs428]

1. Wright - they would be the number 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament if it started today. Has exceeded expectations.

2. Mack

3. Willard

 

[Piratefan2009]

I got to give it to Willard. Wright and Mack have done an incredible job, but outside of us Seton Hall fans, who would have believed Seton Hall would be in the position they are right now?

If we get to 21 wins I would say he should get it based on expectations vs. reality.

 

[MBF72]

1. Mack. Still my favorite but his team will have to play better than they did this past week to keep him in this spot.

2. Wright. Clearly perceived by many as the best coach in the league. But fair or not his team being ranked preseason #1 makes it difficult to win this kind of award.

3. Willard. IMO hard for anyone to argue this although I'm sure some will try.

4. Cooley. Two losses this past week, albeit with an injured Bentil drops him a spot in my mind.

5. McDermott. Crippling loss to Georgetown had his team reeling. Let's see if they can now build on their last effort.

6. Holtmann. Hard to figure right now. Wednesday's game against the Hall will show if they are trending upwards or going further south.

7. Wojo. Seems like his young team is under performing but maybe too much was expected too soon.

8. Thompson. Preseason #2 in the league the Hoyas are playing to a 13-11 ledger.

9. Leitao. Round two starting off a lot like round one ended.

10. Mullin. Hoping that with the recruits coming in this expected nightmare season will become a distant memory.

Hard to argue with the top 4. Like Mack a lot and Wright, too, though not as much. Villanova reminds me of the Duke of the BE. It really gets its pick of recruits and should be at the top of the league and a top 10 team nationally as well. And kids come there in large part because of Wright's [past] success. Does that mean he is the best BE coach this year? Willard is right in the mix, especially considering youth of the team and lack of recent success in the program.

I recall hearing Calhoun say, half in jest, when PJ first won COY, that everyone liked him, admired what he had done, and didn't want to vote for the other big shots. So Calhoun was happy NOT to vote for Looie, Jim, Rollie, and John; the other guys probably felt the same. I see Willard's situation this year similarly.

Although many on this board disliked Willard's coaching, it doesn't seem as if he has made many enemies or burned bridges amns

 

[SHUSource]

1. Mack. This team is better than the sum of the parts; he's doing a great job.

2. Wright. Right now, the best team in the country. And he's running No. 2 on this list. Impressive that they have kept winning in Ochefu's absence

3. McDermott. This team, with no stars, is 6-5. Who is getting more from less in this league?

4. Cooley. Kept near the top all season with a two-man team. Now he's down to one, and I still fear them. Could be the second-best coach in the BE.

5. Willard. Pretty even list from 3 to 5, but McD and Cooley are wringing more from less-talented teams. He can rise by March, though.

6. Holtmann. the hard-luck team of the year in the Big East. Wouldn't want to meet them at MSG, though.

7. Thompson. I do not love this roster, for all its acclaim. hard to argue that they've underperformed, but I don't love the talent.

8. Wojo. Kind of hard to slot him anywhere else.

9. Leitao. Another team I wouldn't like to draw at MSG. They always seem like they're about to turn the corner, but never do. Still have danger potential to me.

10. Mullin. Is it next year, yet?

 

[cernjSHU]

If Seton Hall runs the table and goes 14-4, how could you not give it to Willard when they preseason ranked 7th?

Even if Seton Hall ends up 11-7, Willard is in the discussion and would normally win it. However, if Nova goes 17-1 or 16-2, I think it is Jay Wright.

 

[ncaaball2]

Pretty easy choice right now.

Villanova was pre-season #11. They are now ranked #1 in the nation. Anybody picking anyone other than Jay Wright is simply punishing him for his years of consistency.

Chris Mack also in the running. Let's talk on Feb 25th.

Willard joining Cooley in the discussion, but it is really a two horse race now.

 

[HallX2]

Hard to argue with the top 4. Like Mack a lot and Wright, too, though not as much. Villanova reminds me of the Duke of the BE. It really gets its pick of recruits and should be at the top of the league and a top 10 team nationally as well. And kids come there in large part because of Wright's [past] success. Does that mean he is the best BE coach this year? Willard is right in the mix, especially considering youth of the team and lack of recent success in the program.

I recall hearing Calhoun say, half in jest, when PJ first won COY, that everyone liked him, admired what he had done, and didn't want to vote for the other big shots. So Calhoun was happy NOT to vote for Looie, Jim, Rollie, and John; the other guys probably felt the same. I see Willard's situation this year similarly.

Although many on this board disliked Willard's coaching, it doesn't seem as if he has made many enemies or burned bridges amns

Much to be said for that. Will shock most of you but Willard well liked by the coaches.