You’ve heard the expression a million different times in sports: “No one talks about him.”
This is obviously a statement that’s not meant to be taken as a literal truth. Someone, somewhere, talks about a head coach at a program in the public eye. If you’re at Kennesaw State, okay, few will talk about you (speaking of Kennesaw State, former Boston College coach Al Skinner has landed there — good to see!). However, if you’re at a Power 5 program or a notable mid-major, some pundits and fans will certainly be interested in your job performance.
“No one talks about him” is, as you can imagine, a reference to national buzz. Some figures soak up a lot of it, while others don’t. Which college basketball coach should receive a lot more national recognition — not just from the hoops junkies or the insiders who know how good he is, but in terms of being able to bask a little bit in the sunshine of popular affection?
If we’re talking about basketball, why shouldn’t a coach (or two) get to bask a little more?
Ryan Palencer joins me in this, our latest season-preview conversation at The Student Section:
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THE BEST COACH NO ONE* TALKS ABOUT
* = not literally true
RYAN PALENCER
The answer is Larry Krystkowiak of Utah.
Few programs have enjoyed the under-the-radar success Utah has created over the past few years. Much of this is due to the little-known Krystkowiak. This season, Utah brings back a deep veteran squad that will make some noise in the Pac-12. The team loses Delon Wright, but Jordan Loveridge could be one of the better players in the conference if healthy. Jakob Poeltl is one of the smoothest true centers in the conference. Combine all of these factors, and the former NBA player and coach could stack his resume even higher. Krystkowiak has taken hold of what had been a drifting program and made it an annual threat in the Pac-12.
MATT ZEMEK
A word at the outset: Oregon head coach Dana Altman has made the most of his resources over the past few years. Strictly in terms of X-and-O acumen, Altman has coached at a level which should impress not just his peers, but the casual fan. Not merely making the NCAA tournament in three straight seasons, but also winning games in the Dance during that span of time, puts Altman a cut above a lot of other coaches.
However, Oregon basketball has not been a pretty picture the past few years. The idea that Altman receives less praise than he should is tempered by everything that’s happened in Eugene. Altman has not won the trust of his own fans, at least not to the extent his coaching performance ought to. This is a very complicated stew of emotions and perceptions. “Deep In The Woods” (as you see on Oregon’s floor at Matthew Knight Arena) is a place where there’s too much smoke… and therefore, some kind of fire.
Altman, therefore, can’t be No. 1 on this list.
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The coach who is not talked about enough on a national level — not just by the hoops insiders, but by the masses — is Bob McKillop of Davidson.
First of all, this is the man who helped Stephen Curry develop his skills in college. Given what Steph is doing to the rest of the NBA right now, it’s clear that he couldn’t have had a much better instructor and guide in college.
McKillop won the Atlantic 10 in Davidson’s first year as a basketball member. He has chosen to remain with the Wildcats instead of jumping for a bigger job. He could have sought a different career path, but he chose to become the Chris Petersen of college basketball before Chris Petersen became a national name.
McKillop — whom I wrote about last season — is sensational.
