Season 4 of The Comparable 4 will return Dec. 1, 2024 (about a month into next season)

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SelectionSunday

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I never updated this after the NCAA Tournament, but have done so here. Even though Micah Shrewsberry has moved on to Notre Dame, we’ll continue to track him.

Updated Through 2023 NCAA Tournament
These 3rd-year coaches are listed in order of overall winning percentage since taking over their programs prior to the 2021-22 season.

1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 41-27 overall (60.3%), 27-27 vs. Power 6 (50%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (2/2-2), no NIT appearances

2 Micah Shrewsberry (Penn State) -- 37-31 overall (54.4%), 25-30 vs. Power 6 (45.5%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances

3 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 28-35 overall (44.4%), 16-32 vs. Power 6 (33.3%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 22-39 overall (36.1%), 9-38 vs. Power 6 (19.1%), no NCAA or NIT appearances
 
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Updated Through November 12, 2023
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 44-27 overall (62%), 27-27 vs. Power 6 (50%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (2/2-2), no NIT appearances

2 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 30-35 overall (46.2%), 16-32 vs. Power 6 (33.3%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

3 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 24-39 overall (38.1%), 9-38 vs. Power 6 (19.1%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

Other
Micah Shrewsberry (Penn State 2 seasons/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 38-32 overall (54.3%), 25-30 vs. Power 6 (45.5%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances

Next Update: December 1, 2023
 

Updated Through November 30, 2023
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 46-29 overall (61.3%), 27-29 vs. Power 6 (48.2%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (2/2-2), no NIT appearances

2 Micah Shrewsberry (2 seasons @ Penn State/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 40-34 overall (54.1%), 26-32 vs. Power 6 (44.8%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances

3 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 33-37 overall (47.1%), 17-34 vs. Power 6 (33.3%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 27-41 overall (39.7%), 9-39 vs. Power 6 (18.8%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

Next Update: January 1, 2024
 

Ben has to win 7 BT games to be better than Lickliter otherwise Ben will be added to the list of 10 worst BT coach tenures. Should be fun.
 
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Why just these 4 ? What about all of our other failed coaches....and all the other failed coaches at historically bad programs?
 

I think it's too confusing to continue to include Shrewsberry. Notre Dame is going to be bad in his first year there, whereas the other guys are in year 3 and truly are comparable.
 

formerlybis said:
I think it's too confusing to continue to include Shrewsberry. Notre Dame is going to be bad in his first year there, whereas the other guys are in year 3 and truly are comparable.
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To see if Ben can catch him, or at least make up significant ground. He should, wouldn’t you think?
 

Everyone just parrots that this is the comparable 4 ?

What about Tom Allen? Mel Tucker. Tony Schiano. Bret Bielama. Scott Frost. Maryland's coach. Brady Hoke. Rich Rodríguez. Jim Wacker. Joe Salem.

How many of them were 9-0 with a win over the #4 ranked team? Covid prevented any recruiting bump from this season...but Fleck bounced back okay imo.
 



EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Everyone just parrots that this is the comparable 4 ?

What about Tom Allen? Mel Tucker. Tony Schiano. Bret Bielama. Scott Frost. Maryland's coach. Brady Hoke. Rich Rodríguez. Jim Wacker. Joe Salem.

How many of them were 9-0 with a win over the #4 ranked team? Covid prevented any recruiting bump from this season...but Fleck bounced back okay imo.
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What?
 

Why don’t we steal away… why don’t we steallllll away into the night….
 

EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Everyone just parrots that this is the comparable 4 ?

What about Tom Allen? Mel Tucker. Tony Schiano. Bret Bielama. Scott Frost. Maryland's coach. Brady Hoke. Rich Rodríguez. Jim Wacker. Joe Salem.

How many of them were 9-0 with a win over the #4 ranked team? Covid prevented any recruiting bump from this season...but Fleck bounced back okay imo.
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This is the basketball board.
 

EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Why just these 4 ? What about all of our other failed coaches....and all the other failed coaches at historically bad programs?
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There is only one failed coach in the 4.

EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Everyone just parrots that this is the comparable 4 ?
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Yes, because they were all potential replacements (theoretically, at least) when the Gophers had an opening for basketball head coach.

EasyThere Pilgrim said:
What about Tom Allen? Mel Tucker. Tony Schiano. Bret Bielama. Scott Frost. Maryland's coach. Brady Hoke. Rich Rodríguez. Jim Wacker. Joe Salem.
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Who's Tony Schiano?

Spaulding!No! said:
Why don’t we steal away… why don’t we steallllll away into the night….
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I would have gone with:

"Guess who's back? Back again. Rockraven's back. Tell a friend. Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Guess who's back?"

Everyone is now dumber for having read his post. May god have mercy on his soul.
 




A somewhat interesting tidbit. ... in his third season at Iowa State, Otzelberger has yet to lose a game vs. a non-Power 6 opponent.

Updated Through December 31, 2023
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 52-29 overall (64.2%), 29-29 vs. Power 6 (50%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (2/2-2), no NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 11-2 overall, 2-2 vs. Power 6

2 Micah Shrewsberry (2 seasons @ Penn State/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 43-38 overall (53.1%), 27-35 vs. Power 6 (43.5%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 6-7 overall, 2-5 vs. Power 6

3 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 39-37 overall (51.3%), 20-34 vs. Power 6 (37%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 11-2 overall, 4-2 vs. Power 6

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 32-42 overall (43.2%), 10-40 vs. Power 6 (20%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 10-3 overall, 1-2 vs. Power 6

Next Update: February 1, 2024
 
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Craig Smith has passed Micah Shrewsberry in overall winning percentage by the slightest of margins. Of course, Shrewsberry is in his first year (rebuilding) at Notre Dame, so that factors in.

Updated Through January 21, 2024
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 55-31 overall (64%), 32-31 vs. Power 6 (51%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (2/2-2), no NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 14-4 overall, 5-4 vs. Power 6

2 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 42-40 overall (51.2%), 23-37 vs. Power 6 (38.3%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 14-5 overall, 7-5 vs. Power 6

3 Micah Shrewsberry (2 seasons @ Penn State/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 44-42 overall (51.2%), 28-39 vs. Power 6 (41.8%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 7-11 overall, 3-9 vs. Power 6

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 34-45 overall (43%), 12-43 vs. Power 6 (21.8%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 12-6 overall, 3-5 vs. Power 6

Next Update: February 2, 2024
 
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Updated Through February 2, 2024
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 57-31 overall (64.8%), 34-31 vs. Power 6 (52.3%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (2/2-2), no NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 16-4 overall, 7-4 vs. Power 6

2 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 42-42 overall (50%), 23-39 vs. Power 6 (37.1%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 14-7 overall, 7-7 vs. Power 6

3 Micah Shrewsberry (2 seasons @ Penn State/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 44-45 overall (49.4%), 28-42 vs. Power 6 (40%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 7-14 overall, 3-12 vs. Power 6

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 35-46 overall (43.2%), 13-44 vs. Power 6 (22.8%), no NCAA or NIT appearances

2023-24 only: 13-7 overall, 4-6 vs. Power 6

Next Update: March 1, 2024
 

Am I to assume that only 4 coaches took on new positions the year Ben did? That seems like a low amount? He replaced someone, where did that guy go? Did he retire?
 


MaxyJR1 said:
At this point if we were to fire Ben this year (Which I think is about a 5% chance.) Not sure I take any of these guys if available other than Iowa State guy.
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And there would be no way the ISU guy would come to this dumpster fire.
 

The NCAA appearance for Otzelberger and the NIT appearances for Smith & Johnson are included in the update.

Updated through March 18, 2024
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 68-34 overall (66.7%), 45-34 vs. Power 6 (57%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (3/2-2), no NIT appearances
2023-24: 27-7 overall, 18-7 vs. Power 6

2 Micah Shrewsberry (2 seasons @ Penn State/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 50-51 overall (49.5%), 34-48 vs. Power 6 (41.5%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances
2023-24: 13-20 overall, 7-15 vs. Power 6

3 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 47-49 overall (49%), 28-46 vs. Power 6 (37.8%), no NCAA appearances, 1 NIT appearance (0-0)
2023-24: 19-14 overall, 12-14 vs. Power 6

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 40-53 overall (43%), 18-51 vs. Power 6 (26.1%), no NCAA appearances, 1 NIT appearance (0-0)
2023-24 only: 18-14 overall, 9-13 vs. Power 6

Next Update: After final team has been elimianted from the postseason
 
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Spaulding!No! said:
Thanks for updating this. Tip of the cap to those who kept the faith.
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That's the idea. ... the point of this was to see how these guys do over the long haul. There was no nefarious intent. TJ is still kicking it, Utes have a chance to make NCAA & and Ben is making progress (perhaps NIT).
 

RockChalk said:
And there would be no way the ISU guy would come to this dumpster fire.
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Iowa State was a dumpster fire when he took the job there. The situation is what you make it or make it into.
 

Bad Gopher said:
Iowa State was a dumpster fire when he took the job there. The situation is what you make it or make it into.
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No doubt, his situation was as bad as Johnson's. He made it better, Johnson really has not. Johnson is better in year 3 than year 1 no question. Unfortunately Johnson is not on the same level as TJ. Then again Johnson had zero HC experience, TJ did. Is that why one is so much better than the other? Who knows.
 

RockChalk said:
No doubt, his situation was as bad as Johnson's. He made it better, Johnson really has not. Johnson is better in year 3 than year 1 no question. Unfortunately Johnson is not on the same level as TJ. Then again Johnson had zero HC experience, TJ did. Is that why one is so much better than the other? Who knows.
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Johnson hasn’t made his situation better? Dude took over a roster with one player on it and is currently 18-11, 9-9 in the conference.

Yes it’s taking him some time but let’s not pretend he hasn’t “improved” his situation.
 


gopherbadgerman said:
Total lie. There was not one player on it
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What I meant was that, between graduations and transfers, Ben Johnson only retained one player from Pitino’s 2020-2021 team (that being Ihnen, I did forget about Eric Curry).

Pretty sure almost all of the players who left for the portal did so either before or within 2 weeks of Ben Johnson’s hire (Brandon Johnson being the exception). Maybe Ben had a shot at keeping any of those guys but based on how long they stayed, probably not a good one.

Yes, Ben was recruiting guys as he was losing them. OP was poor word choice.
 

The NCAA appearance for Otzelberger and the NIT appearances for Smith & Johnson are included in the update.

Updated through March 18, 2024
1 TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) -- 68-34 overall (66.7%), 45-34 vs. Power 6 (57%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (3/2-2), no NIT appearances
2023-24: 27-7 overall, 18-7 vs. Power 6

2 Micah Shrewsberry (2 seasons @ Penn State/now in 1st season @ Notre Dame) -- 50-51 overall (49.5%), 34-48 vs. Power 6 (41.5%), NCAA Tournament Appearances/Record (1/1-1), no NIT appearances
2023-24: 13-20 overall, 7-15 vs. Power 6

3 Craig Smith (Utah) -- 47-49 overall (49%), 28-46 vs. Power 6 (37.8%), no NCAA appearances, 1 NIT appearance (0-0)
2023-24: 19-14 overall, 12-14 vs. Power 6

4 Ben Johnson (Minnesota) -- 40-53 overall (43%), 18-51 vs. Power 6 (26.1%), no NCAA appearances, 1 NIT appearance (0-0)
2023-24 only: 18-14 overall, 9-13 vs. Power 6

Next Update: After final team has been elimianted from the postseason
 
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We already knew this, but Iowa State got a DUDE in Otzelberger. Came in following a 2-22 season and has 3 tournament appearances, a Sweet 16 and a 2 seed in his 3 years. Amazing what hiring the right guy can do to turn your program around in a hurry. It is possible. Wish it were us.
 

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