Is Lamont a lock for national coach of the year? SHOULD he be?

[18IsTheMan]

We had 11 wins total last year. This year we have 12 conference wins alone. Is there a team that has outperformed expectations more than we have? Looking over the list of candidates, I don't see any of the other candidates who you could say have done a better job than Lamont. Some are having better seasons (e.g.. UConn), but what Lamont has done is phenomenal. Most of the coaches on the list seem to be having seasons about on part with their program's recent success.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

What coach has a better case?

 

[18IsTheMan]

What coach has a better case?

This is my question. I can't think of one.

 

[Deleted11512]

This is my question. I can't think of one.

Me either...shouldn't be a discussion. But I'm sure Seth Davis can come up with a few.

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

Coach Paris should earn The You Must Pay Award.

 

[ToddFlanders]

He's definitely in the conversation. I think the frontrunner has to be Kelvin Samson. He's number one in the nation right now - which is huge for this award. In their first year in a new conference he's also at the top of the Big 12 - which is considered the best basketball conference.

Shaka Smart at Marquette probably gets more play for this year as well.

I do think Lamont gets the SEC coach of the year - that's probably a lock.

 

[18IsTheMan]

He's definitely in the conversation. I think the frontrunner has to be Kelvin Samson. He's number one in the nation right now - which is huge for this award. In their first year in a new conference he's also at the top of the Big 12 - which is considered the best basketball conference.

Shaka Smart at Marquette probably gets more play for this year as well.

I do think Lamont gets the SEC coach of the year - that's probably a lock.

I guess it depends on how look at the award. Sampson and Houston are having a great year, but in the last 3 years, they've been to the FF, Elite Eight and Sweet 16.

I don't see how you can argue against Lamont having done the best job compared to expectations, but maybe that's not the right criteria to look at.

 

[Viennacock]

Can't give it to a coach that lost to Bama by 40 and blew a 15 point lead at home to UGA. Didn't have his team prepared. Plenty of coaches more deserving

 

[Deleted11512]

I guess it depends on how look at the award. Sampson and Houston are having a great year, but in the last 3 years, they've been to the FF, Elite Eight and Sweet 16.

I don't see how you can argue against Lamont having done the best job compared to expectations, but maybe that's not the right criteria to look at.

Agree here. Houston has been near the top of the sport for several years now. Is Sampson one of the best coaches in the country, yes. Has he done the best job this year? No.

 

[Prestonyte]

Without a doubt, LP's body of work in turning a projected last place conference finish team into a conference crown contender is hard to beat. Samson and Smart began the season in much better positions and their achievements were not out of the realm of projection compared to LP.
With that said, history and stature always come into play with awards and polls.

 

[CWW]

Definitely should be SEC Coach of the Year

 

[18IsTheMan]

Definitely should be SEC Coach of the Year

I'm not sure that one is even debatable. I'd assume they've already made that decision.

 

[gamecock stock]

Definitely should be SEC Coach of the Year

Now that's a lock.

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

Can't give it to a coach that lost to Bama by 40 and blew a 15 point lead at home to UGA. Didn't have his team prepared. Plenty of coaches more deserving

You forgot about the poor showing in the Wofford exhibition where South Carolina had to comeback from being down 17 points barely winning the game. I am sure the NCAA Tournament selection committee will hold that against South Carolina.

 

[Viennacock]

You forgot about the poor showing in the Wofford exhibition where South Carolina had to comeback from being down 17 points barely winning the game. I am sure the NCAA Tournament selection committee will hold that against South Carolina.

Good point. I do remember the sky falling during that game. To be fair, I had no idea we would finish this well but picking a team apart over one or two games is crazy. Bad losses happen to good teams. Simple as that.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Good point. I do remember the sky falling during that game. To be fair, I had no idea we would finish this well but picking a team apart over one or two games is crazy. Bad losses happen to good teams. Simple as that.

There's not 1 team in the top 10 that doesn't have at least one bad/questionable loss.

Shoot, Duke lost back-to-back games to Arkansas and Ga Tech.

 

[Abush]

I guess it depends on how look at the award. Sampson and Houston are having a great year, but in the last 3 years, they've been to the FF, Elite Eight and Sweet 16.

I don't see how you can argue against Lamont having done the best job compared to expectations, but maybe that's not the right criteria to look at.

I think LP has an uphill climb to be NCOTY, unless our university pushes that narrative. ESPECIALLY if we beat UT tomorrow night.

The problem with getting him to NCOTY is guys like Sampson and Hurley. Neither of them had the expectations that LP had, yet writers will look at both as being the coach of the year over LP. I mean, look how long it took the AP to even rank our team.

 

[Joeb4usc]

I vote for SEC coach of year not national

 

[Evilchicken]

He'll have to win the SEC, SEC tourney, or get to the Final Four to win COTY.

 

[Uscg1984]

When is the NCOTY award determined? In other words, what body of work is examined? How much of the postseason is factored in? Clearly, we have had the most surprising regular season of this college basketball year. But is there some team out there who was projected to be a bubble team, who is now projected as a #5 seed and who will make a run to the Final Four? I don't know, but if that were the case, the coach of that team would probably have a pretty strong argument. NCOTY award doesn't necessarily mean the same as "most improved team" although that would certainly be a compelling thing to have on your resume.

Now, if this team continues to overperform, finishes in the top 4 of the conference, wins a game or two in the SECT, and follows that with a couple of wins in the big dance, then I don't think there'd be any question about who is going to win that award.

 

[18IsTheMan]

A few hurdles for Lamont:
1. He coaches at USC, and we simply aren't a name-brand basketball school. This is the biggest hurdle.
2. Our bread and butter is good defense and efficient offense, which isn't as sexy.
3. As a result of #2, we don't put up eye-popping offensive numbers or win games by 25 points.
4. We don't have that one marquee player that some of the top 10 teams do, like Knecht at UT.

Given #1, the nomination is likely as far as it will go.

 

[KingWard]

A few hurdles for Lamont:
1. He coaches at USC, and we simply aren't a name-brand basketball school. This is the biggest hurdle.
2. Our bread and butter is good defense and efficient offense, which isn't as sexy.
3. As a result of #2, we don't put up eye-popping offensive numbers or win games by 25 points.
4. We don't have that one marquee player that some of the top 10 teams do, like Knecht at UT.

Given #1, the nomination is likely as far as it will go.

Speaking of the offense, it's gone from terrible to competent in one year. Last year's team was the most disjointed offensively I have ever seen above the middle school level.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

Acknowledging the hurdles, which include both structural challenges and other excellent coaches, I think he's a definite finalist and possible winner.

There's a very real scenario where he and Dawn could both win NCOTY.

I think if we make the Sweet 16, Paris might actually become the favorite for NCOTY.

 

[Beanerball]

Agreed and I don’t think we need that many tournament wins for Paris to get it, but I’ll take tournament wins!

 

[DrMickeySC]

My guess is we will need to win the SEC to be considered for national. Probably need to win it alone (UT loses to UK too). Winning a major conference outright is a big deal, and the attention on the program and coach LP would skyrocket.

Even if we lose to UT, I think he wins SEC honors. We shall see. It’s amazing that we are even having this debate!

 

[92Pony]

Can't give it to a coach that lost to Bama by 40 and blew a 15 point lead at home to UGA. Didn't have his team prepared. Plenty of coaches more deserving

Hopefully they don’t base COTY on NET rankings.

 

[Beanerball]

When is the vote? During the NCAA tournament or before?

 

[Evilchicken]

Nope.

 

[Viennacock]

Nope.

Another knee jerker! Past your bedtime cowboy.

 

[adcoop]

Can't give it to a coach that lost to Bama by 40 and blew a 15 point lead at home to UGA. Didn't have his team prepared. Plenty of coaches more deserving

I wouldn't call that lack of preparation especially in the loss to UGA. That was just guys missing lay-ups and free throws. A game or two like that happens in a season where the wheels come off. The Auburn and Alabama games are just bad matchups for us. If we don't keep control of the tempo, those teams are more talented and we are going to lose convincingly. Sometimes, I think people over-estimate our talent level because we have won so many games. Our margin for success is very fragile. Most of our games are close even against the mediocre and bad teams.

 

[adcoop]

Speaking of the offense, it's gone from terrible to competent in one year. Last year's team was the most disjointed offensively I have ever seen above the middle school level.

Not having a PG does that. Meechie was that in name, but that is not his game.

 

[Viennacock]

I wouldn't call that lack of preparation especially in the loss to UGA. That was just guys missing lay-ups and free throws. A game or two like that happens in a season where the wheels come off. The Auburn and Alabama games are just bad matchups for us. If we don't keep control of the tempo, those teams are more talented and we are going to lose convincingly. Sometimes, I think people over-estimate our talent level because we have won so many games. Our margin for success is very fragile. Most of our games are close even against the mediocre and bad teams.

I was only joking. You know I'm a huge L.P. fan. There is nobody more deserving than Lamont.

 

[will110]

Can't give it to a coach that lost to Bama by 40 and blew a 15 point lead at home to UGA. Didn't have his team prepared. Plenty of coaches more deserving

I'm glad I read the rest of the thread before replying. I thought this was a serious post from one of those impossible to please Gamecock "fans"

 

[Viennacock]

I'm glad I read the rest of the thread before replying. I thought this was a serious post from one of those impossible to please Gamecock "fans"

Yea, I was poking at the group in which you mention.

 

[Forkcock]

He deserves it, as much as anybody.

I’d love to see him get it. It could only help the building process. I don’t see him screwing the pooch the way Frank did.

 

[LonghornsGamecocks]

Most of our games are close even against the mediocre and bad teams.

Which reflects in the NET rankings

 

[Beanerball]

The vote is announced during the Final 4 so a tournament win or 2 might be needed to land it, but he’s a, if not the front runner. Hubert Davis is at the top as well , really? I like him but Paris has done the impossible.

 

[gamecock stock]

The SEC Network guys after today's game, with the camera on Lamont, said we are looking at not just the SEC Coach Of The Year, but also the National Coach Of The Year.