GWRising wrote:
DC Native wrote:
GWRising wrote:
“America’s Grestest Coach” strikes out again! Think it’s beyond apparent that calling Mark Few America’s Greatest Coach might be one of the most ridiculous things ever posted here.
Actually, I think belittling a coach who has taken a team from a mid major conference to 2 national title games, 6 Elite Eights, and 14 Sweet Sixteens is the most ridiculous thing ever posted here, but I guess that’s just me.
Nobody is belittling him. He's a very good coach - one of the top 10% in college. Problem is he is not "America's Greatest Coach". Bet even he would be embarrassed by the moniker. But it points to the over the top nature of the posts that have consistently been placed here over the years for what purpose I have no idea.
I understand that the poster you reference has a history of hyperbolic posts, but maybe you should consider that there are some other posters on here that respect and admire Mark Few. To say he is only a top 10% coach is pretty laughable. I would love to see your list of 35 coaches you think are better. To me, getting a team from a mid major conference to the Final Four is harder than winning it all at a power conference, but even if we treat everyone equal regardless of program/conference, there are only 9 active coaches that have taken a team to 2 or more Final Fours. Assuming no preference for situation, here is how they would rank:
1. Tom Izzo: 8 Final Fours (1 win in 2000).
2. Rick Pitino: 7 Final Fours (2 wins in 1996 and 2013).
3. John Calipari: 6 Final Fours (1 win in 2012).
4. Bill Self: 4 Final Fours (2 wins in 2008 and 2022).
5. Dan Hurley: 2 Final Fours (2 wins in 2023 and 2024).
6. Mark Few: 2 Final Fours (13 Sweet Sixteens)
7. Kelvin Sampson: 2 Final Fours (8 Sweet Sixteens)
8. Thad Matta: 2 Final Fours (6 Sweet Sixteens)
9. Jim Laranaga: 2 Final Fours (5 Sweet Sixteens)
So even not considering the advantages and disadvantages that certain programs have over others, he comes in at #6. But I would love to see how well some of those coaches ahead of him would do at a WCC school, and how Few would do at some of their blue blood schools. One of things I most admire about Mark Few, however, is that although he could have moved to a power conference years ago, he decided to stick it out and build a program in a mid major conference. If only GW would be so lucky as to find someone like that, or any other school in the A10. Our coaches tend to bolt at the first chance they get, like Ryan Odom just did after only 2 years at VCU...