March 11, 2003

The Men of March

March 11, 2003

By Mike Douchant

Three Conference USA coaches--Louisville's Rick Pitino, Cincinnati's Bob Huggins and Memphis' John Calipari--account for the top three records in league tournament competition among active mentors with at least 20 postseason tourney decisions through 2002. Another C-USA coach, East Carolina's Bill Herrion, is also among the following nine coaches who have won at least 70 percent of their conference tournament contests (minimum of 20 verdicts):

Coach, Current School     Record Pct.
Rick Pitino, Louisville      23-5  .821
Bob Huggins, Cincinnati      27-7  .794
John Calipari, Memphis       15-5  .750
John Chaney, Temple          39-14 .736
Jim Calhoun, Connecticut     35-13 .729
Bill Herrion, East Carolina  18-7  .720
Tubby Smith, Kentucky        18-7  .720
Davey Whitney, Alcorn State  41-17 .707
Steve Alford, Iowa           14-6  .700

Pitino also sits atop the following list of 10 active coaches to win more than two-thirds of their postseason games including the NCAA Tournament, NIT and conference postseason tourneys (minimum of 30 postseason contests):

                  NCAA          NIT           League        Overall
                  W-L  Pct.     W-L  Pct.     W-L  Pct.     W-L  Pct.
Rick Pitino      26-7  .788     3-3  .500    23-5  .821    52-15 .776
Mike Krzyzewski  58-15 .795     2-2  .500    31-14 .689    91-31 .746
Steve Fisher     20-7  .741     5-1  .833     3-2  .600    28-10 .737
John Calipari    11-5  .688    12-4  .750    15-5  .750    38-14 .731
Tom Izzo         16-4  .800     2-2  .500     6-3  .667    24-9  .727
Tubby Smith      20-8  .714    ..... .....   18-7  .720    38-15 .717
Jim Calhoun      29-14 .674    12-4  .750    35-13 .729    76-31 .710
Roy Williams     29-13 .690    ..... .....   23-10 .697    52-23 .693
Lute Olson       39-23 .629    ..... .....   12-1  .923    51-24 .680
Bob Huggins      18-12 .600     2-4  .333    27-7  .794    47-23 .671