Gonzaga basketball players cannot possibly remember a time when the Bulldogs did not make the NCAA Tournament. Mark Few made sure of that.
Few will make his 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as Gonzaga’s coach this week. He twice finished as a national runner-up while coaching a mid-major that functions as a high-major and traded in its glass slipper long ago.
Few ranks as my best active college basketball coach to never win a national championship. He enjoys good company within that conversation.
Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and Tennessee’s Rick Barnes join Few on my Mount Rushmore of top active coaches without a Division I championship ring.
Together, they’re career winners and March Madness regulars with a combined six Final Four appearances. Pearl owns a Division II national title from his 1995 season coaching Southern Indiana.All four are coaching in the NCAA Tournament once again, and there’s a real chance my Mount Rushmore will require modification within a month – because, one of these guys could cut down nets in April.
Bruce Pearl, Kelvin Sampson coming for that national title
Being on this particular Mount Rushmore rates as more of a compliment than a criticism. Only a coach who’s an NCAA Tournament regular could earn this distinction, but each of these coaches has stomached repeated stinging March Madness defeats. A championship ring elevates perception of a coach’s career.
Pearl secured a spot on this list in part because of his underdog coaching performances. He took Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Sweet 16 as a No. 12 seed, Tennessee to the Elite Eight as a No. 6 seed and Auburn to the Final Four as a No. 5 seed, but he’s also suffered his share of March disappointments, including last year’s stunning first-round loss to Yale. Now, for the first time, he’s coaching a No. 1 seed.
I trust veterans in March Madness, and there’s no better veteran in college basketball than Auburn big man Johni Broome.
Thirst for basketball relevance? Hire Pearl. He’s won at a Division II school, plus a Division I commuter school and later two SEC football schools.
The knock on Pearl’s Auburn tenure? He’s frequently fizzled in March. He took Auburn to the 2019 Final Four, but four other NCAA appearances at Auburn ended in the first or second round.If not Auburn for the title, how about Houston? Remember, I gravitate to March Madness teams with reliable veterans. Well, Houston boasts four juniors or seniors averaging in double figures scoring.
I also trust teams that are reliable on both ends of the court. Houston joins fellow No. 1 seeds Duke and Florida as the only teams that rank in the top 10 nationally of KenPom’s advanced metrics for both offense and defense.Sampson has become a model of consistency at Houston, enjoying five straight tournament appearances that finished in the Sweet 16 or beyond.
The Cougars lost in November to Auburn and Alabama, but the margins were close, and the Big 12 schedule wasn’t as grueling as the SEC’s battle royale. That could work to Houston’s advantage. The Cougars lost only once since November.
_With One March Madness, Bruce Pearl or Rick Barnes Can Exit a Mount Rushmore_
Gonzaga basketball players have grown accustomed to the NCAA Tournament, thanks to Mark Few’s impressive tenure as head coach. Few will make his 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this week, a testament to his consistency and success. He has led the Bulldogs to two national runner-up finishes and has established Gonzaga as a perennial powerhouse.
Few is widely regarded as one of the best active college basketball coaches without a national championship ring. He is joined on this list by Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, and Tennessee’s Rick Barnes. These coaches have combined for six Final Four appearances and have consistently demonstrated their ability to win at the highest level.
Pearl, in particular, has a reputation for exceeding expectations and achieving success with underdog teams. He has taken Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Tennessee, and Auburn to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four, respectively. However, he has also experienced his share of March disappointments, including last year’s surprising first-round loss to Yale.
This year, Pearl has Auburn poised for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are a No. 1 seed for the first time under Pearl’s leadership, and they boast a talented roster led by veteran big man Johni Broome. Pearl’s ability to win at multiple levels, including Division II and Division I, is a testament to his coaching acumen and adaptability.
Houston, meanwhile, is another team to watch in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars are led by Sampson, who has established himself as a model of consistency in college basketball. Houston boasts four juniors or seniors averaging in double figures scoring, and they have been reliable on both ends of the court. The Cougars join Duke and Florida as the only teams to rank in the top 10 nationally in KenPom’s advanced metrics for both offense and defense.
Sampson has led Houston to five consecutive tournament appearances that have ended in the Sweet 16 or beyond. The Cougars lost to Auburn and Alabama in November, but those defeats were narrow, and the Big 12 schedule may have been less grueling than the SEC’s. This could work to Houston’s advantage as they navigate the NCAA Tournament.
As the NCAA Tournament gets underway, all eyes will be on Pearl, Sampson, Few, and Barnes as they attempt to lead their teams to championship glory. One of these coaches could potentially exit the Mount Rushmore of top active coaches without a national championship ring, and college basketball fans will be eagerly watching to see which team will emerge victorious.
The NCAA Tournament is known for its unpredictability, but one thing is certain: Pearl, Sampson, Few, and Barnes have the experience, talent, and coaching acumen to make a deep run in the tournament. Which team will ultimately prevail remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this year’s NCAA Tournament promises to be an exciting and unpredictable ride.
As the games get underway, college basketball fans will be treated to a showcase of talented teams, skilled players, and masterful coaching. The NCAA Tournament is a time-honored tradition that never fails to deliver excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments. This year’s tournament promises to be no exception, and fans will be eagerly watching to see which team will emerge as the ultimate champion.
In the end, only one team will be crowned the national champion, but for Pearl, Sampson, Few, and Barnes, the NCAA Tournament represents a chance to etch their names into the history books and cement their legacies as some of the greatest coaches in college basketball.
