Five College Basketball Coaches You Can Count On
Perhaps more than any sport, the coaching factor in college basketball should be a big part of your betting decisions. The talent pool is becoming more even all the time, which makes coaching all the more important.
Your coach needs to have his team mentally and physically prepared to play each opponent. He needs to be adept at adjusting in-game strategies, and be able to keep himself and his team poised when adversity hits.
He needs to coach the fundamentals well, and have his team especially competent in getting key defensive stops and rebounds. What’s more, it doesn’t hurt if he’s not the type to look too far down the bench too early in a blowout, win or lose.
As you’re likely aware, some coaches are better at all of the above than others. Hence, the Final Four appearances, mega-contracts and fame that come for the fortunate few. They also help keep bettors in the money on a regular basis.
In their honor, and for the service they provide us, here is a list of the top 5 coaches you can count on in college basketball.
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke: Am I suggesting that Coach K is the most reliable coach out there for your money? To quote a line in his once-famous commercials, yes, I am. Whether you love the Devils or hate them – and there seems to be a strong sentiment for the latter among most sports fans – there’s no denying that a bet on Krzyzewski and his club rarely is a waste of money.
Although his recent teams have lacked the talent of their predecessors, Coach K still finds a way to maximize their talent and they are a threat to reach the Final Four every year. Krzyzewski’s teams always play sound defense and are nearly unbeatable at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Devils often delight their wild students and their backers by covering enormous spreads. Bench warmers don’t often see the court in Duke games, even blowouts, until there are about 30 seconds left. Coach K’s ruthless side often produces good results for bettors; the Devils are 81-59 against the spread in the past five seasons.
Roy Williams, North Carolina: Coach K’s archrival at North Carolina has a merciless style all his own, as his high-powered teams hit the accelerator from the opening tip-off and don’t stop until they have run over an opponent. Then they back up and run over them again.
The great thing about the Tar Heels’ relentless style is its double-sided benefit. Not only do they often cover big numbers without breaking a sweat, but their explosiveness allows them to overcome slow starts and stay in games when such setbacks would stymie most other clubs. North Carolina went 22-8 ATS last year during its Final Four season, and the Heels are 40-19 ATS over the past two seasons.
Rick Pitino – Although his Louisville teams lack the flair of his 1990s Kentucky clubs, Pitino still hasn’t lost his touch as a master motivator. The architect of the biggest comeback in NCAA history – 31 points against LSU while he was with the Wildcats – Pitino is a great in-game strategist, and his Cardinals will give you a fighting chance most of the time.
Tom Izzo – Granted, his teams have taken a dip talent-wise from the Spartans’ hey day of the late 1990s and early 2000s, mostly due to early defections to the NBA. But there still isn’t a coach alive who emphasizes the importance of the box out and defensive stop more than Izzo, whose Spartans always are a threat because of their prowess in these key fundamentals. In the physical Big 10, Izzo is the coach you want on your side.
Bill Self – A great recruiter whose super-calm demeanor defines grace under pressure. Self’s poise is a contagious trait that spreads to his team, allowing for some historic feats such as the Jayhawks’ improbable nine-point comeback in last year’s NCAA title game against Memphis. Self understands the importance of history at Kansas, and his teams more often than not come through in big games at home.
If you are looking to do some basketball betting this season, you might want to consider what coach is on the bench before you do!
Read more NCAA Basketball Handicapping Information Articles
