Naismith Men's Coach of the Year late season watch list revealed

There is less than a month remaining in the regular season for college basketball. Most teams have five or six regular season contests remaining, and the conference tournaments will get underway. This season has been wildly unpredictable, with a lot of surprising teams pulling off big upsets. But at this point in the season, the best teams are beginning to establish themselves at the top. The late season watch list for the Naismith Coach of the Year award has been revealed.

Men’s Coach of the Year late season watch list

Mark Adams, Texas Tech

John Calipari, Kentucky

Ed Cooley, Providence

Scott Drew, Baylor

Mark Few, Gonzaga

Steve Forbes, Wake Forest

Greg Gard, Wisconsin

Jeff Linder, Wyoming

Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

Bob McKillop, Davidson

Matt McMahon, Murray State

Bruce Pearl, Auburn

Kelvin Sampson, Houston

Shaka Smart, Marquette

Brad Underwood, Illinois

More on the watch list

Adams has led Texas Tech to a lot of success in his first season as the Red Raiders’ head coach. Texas Tech is 20-6 overall and 9-4 in the Big 12. Baylor’s Scott Drew is the only other representative from the Big 12 on the Coach of the Year watch list. The Bears have spent time at the top of the rankings, and currently sit at 21-5 and 9-4 in the Big 12. There are also two SEC representatives. Kentucky’s John Calipari has the Wildcats ranked in the top four after a 21-5 start and a 10-3 record in the SEC. Auburn’s Bruce Pearl has led the Tigers to the top spot for many weeks, and currently sit at 24-2 overall with a 12-1 mark in the SEC.

The Big East and Big Ten have two representatives also come in with two finalists apiece. Providence’s Ed Cooley has led the Friars to a 21-3 record and an 11-2 mark in the Big East. Providence is currently ranked No. 8. Shaka Smart has also led Marquette to a 17-9 record, and the Golden Eagles have been ranked for much of the year. Greg Gard has led Wisconsin to a 20-5 record, ranking second in the Big Ten with an 11-4 conference record. Brad Underwood has led Illinois to an 18-7 record, sitting tied with Illinois with an 11-4 Big Ten record.

Mark Few has again led Gonzaga on an impressive season, and the Bulldogs are 22-2 overall and ranked in the top spot. Steve Forbes has done a tremendous job at Wake Forest, leading the Demon Deacons to a 20-7 start. Wake Forest is a fringe top 25 team, and currently sits fifth in ACC standings. Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd has led his Wildcats to a 23-2 record and a top three ranking. Arizona is 13-1 in Pac-12 play, leading the conference.

Houston’s Kelvin Sampson has Houston contending as a fringe top ten team right now despite a plethora of injuries to key players up and down the roster. The Cougars are 21-4, and Sampson is a serious Coach of the Year candidate because of it.. Wyoming’s Jeff Linder has led the Cowboys to a 21-4 start. Bob McKillop has also led Davidson on an impressive season, sitting at 21-4 overall. Murray State is now in the top 25 as well under Matt McMahon, sitting at 25-2 overall.