Tom Izzo: Best collegiate basketball coach in America?

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ShowinGoldyLove

ShowinGoldyLove

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The more I watch his offensive schemes, his tenacious defense, his team rebounding and his continued success year in and year out, often beating teams more talented than his own, I can't help but think: Is Izzo the best coach in NCAA basketball?

What do you think?
 

Sure would have to agree with you.

These past two games he and his arsenal of well rounded guys have methodically broken down the two best Big East teams. You could literally watch the will and focus drain out of Louisville and UConn in the final 6,8 minutes. More details later, but yeah couldn't be more impressed, excited, and goodness... a little proud. Nice work Sparty!
 

Was just saying the same thing. His teams have ZERO weaknesses. Rebounding, toughness, speed, solid defense, great half court sets...as far as coaching the game of basketball, I would absolutely say he is the best.
 

I do not know how any one could do better than Izzo! I feel he is if not the best, one of the best. Coach Williams of UNC is also great!
 

Geez, Reading the Wisky Boards

He's not even as good Bo Ryan. Don't you know Bo has a better head-to-head record against Izzo? Why, reading on - it's clear that "Bo owns Izzo". :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Their "pretzel logic" is astounding at times.
 


Izzo is a great coach and I do think he belongs in the top 5, however I don't think he is the best coach in the nation. That honor has to go to Bill Self of Kansas, what he did with a group of mostly very inexperienced players this year was a thing of beauty. He lost all 5 starters from last year's NC team and he still made it to the sweet 16. He is a master of the strategy changes at halftime and he has shown himself to be somewhat of a master on the recruiting trails as well. There's a reason the Jayhawks gave him what I believe was a ten year contract??
 

I agree that Izzo is one of the top coaches in college basketball. I don't know if I would go as far as saying he is the best, but he is top tier for sure. The reason I'm not ready to crown him as the best coach is because he hasn't been able to consistently recruit the top talent. Recruiting is as much a part of college coaching as the x's and o's.

With that being said, when it comes to instilling toughness and preparing his player to win, Izzo is second to none.
 

As much as I admire Izzo, seems like it's one game too early to pronounce him best coach of college BB. Just my 2¢
 

I think he's top five for sure as others have noted. What I see from him is that, more than x's and o's, his teams every single year just beat the crap out of people on the boards. They are always going to be in games because they always rebound.
 



MNSnowman said:
seems like it's one game too early to pronounce him best coach of college BB.
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Does he need to win the championship tonight to solidify that claim? He has already won a national championship?

In addition, he's been to more Final 4's in the past 10 years than any coach in America? I don't think tonight's game will decide if he's the best.
 

At absolute worst he's in the top 5

He's unquestionably in the top 5. I think he's moved ahead of Coach K(ooky). Aw Shucks Roy, Self, Calhoun & Boeheim are the others I'd have in the top 5 as far as the total package, but I'd have him ahead of Calhoun & Boeheim because those guys have missed the NCAA on occasion. Izzo, Self & Williams haven't.
 

Plus, Jay-Z wrote a song about him ;)

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I am a Gopher first and foremost, but I also have a strong allegiance to the Wolverines. Despite that, I have been in awe of Izzo ever since he became the coach. Izzo may not be the greatest recruiter, but I have no doubt he gets my highest respect for basketball philosophy, implementation of it, and brilliant strategies/tactics.

If only Bo didn't utter some non-sense about Michigan man and stopped crying about the injustice of a basketball coach getting paid higher than a football coach in Ann Arbor, Michigan might have had a better shot at Pitino. How about Izzo Vs. Pitino for an in-state rivalry?
 



He sure looks like a great coach tonight. He is getting his Azz handed to him
 


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