Who should win Coach of the Year in the MAC this year?
I think this is a very close race between O'Shea and Dambrot. No one expected Ohio to do anything this season and O'Shea has done a great job bringing in talent this year and they have all contributed right away. I think he is a great coach. But, Dambrot is doing well too, being a first year coach, I went with him. But, anything can still happen.
Boone? That was put in there for comic relief I am assuming.
Hey, I was trying to give the West it's fair share of candidates. There's not too many to choose from in the West.
Anyone gonna post their reasoning behind their vote?
My early vote goes to Dambrot. There are still so many big games left in the reg. season to make a final decision though.
I couldn't give a final vote now, though since we are voting now, I vote Dakich. Has his team in first place when they looked dead in the water entering the season. Depending on how the last week goes, if the Zips win their next two, I'd vote for Dambrot. If OU wins their next two and UA and BG don't, I'd vote O'Shea. If Miami wins their next two and the aformentioned teams do not, I'd vote Coles.
UB was the consensus pick based on talent, and it looks unlikely they will win the east if Miami wins at least one more so no to Reggie who I "voted" for last year over Hawkins.
I realize the high level of resentment towards us, but if we win out, we win the east despite no one (but Vandelay
) picking us to be that good this year. Christian has done a good job molding a team with many newcomers and one returning starter who has struggled, yet no one is considering him. Hmmm.
We'll do another vote after the season is over to see how much these next 2 big games for all the teams changes everyone mind. If OHIO beats Buffalo at home and Kent on the road...my vote is definatly going to O'Shea.
I was considering Christian as a write-in if they win the East. Tons of newcomers and he has altered his plan by resting at the end of the season instead of burnout practices and it appears to be paying off.
IF we win the East or MAC tourney, my vote goes to J.C., too, Flash, because he's worked through only one returning starter starter and 8 new guys to the program.
Also, once again we were picked anywhere from second to fifth coming into this year. But both the MAC East and MAC tourney wins are in great dispute at this point.
Besides, I think COY is the last thing J.C. is thinking about right now. Given he went 22-9 his first year coaching, got to the MAC finals and a NIT appearance after being a pre season fifth or sixth pick, named national "Rookie Coach of the Year "by College Hoops Insider and nary a mention as MAC COY, I don't think he holds out much hope unless he wins it all. And fortunetly for us, that's all he thinks about.
GoCats Wrote:No one expected Ohio to do anything this season and O'Shea has done a great job bringing in talent this year and they have all contributed right away.
Same can be said for Dakich, especially since he lost his leading score to a xfer to Ohio State.
I would nominate Judson at NIU. He has a very young team which is ravaged by injuries yet he had that team competitive in nearly every single game this year. Judson also has made strides with recruiting in nabbing Quenten Lipkins, who will be one of the bright players in the MAC over the next four years.
O'Shea is 57-56 in this four years. He has taken a lot of shots from the Ohio fan base, myself included, these four years. He has got us back to where Larry Hunter left us. O'Shea has led a quick turnaround this year. His team has not folded when many expected cats to fall back. Next year will be the big year for O'Shea. No excuses. This should be a dominating team next year. I will expect a 20 win season and a title run next year. With 4 starters returning, baring injury to a key player, Ohio should be a top 50 rpi team next year. Much more difficult schedule, but this team will have a loaded roster next season. No worse than NIT.
I voted Dakich because I think he has his players overachieving, more so than Dambrodt at Akron. Charlie Coles does a great job every year. O'Shea has a few nice players, but they've lost more than a few they should have won, same with Buffalo's coach. Jim Christian inheirited a program that was HOT. If he's still got the team playing well in a year or two, then he will have made a believer out of me.
How about this? We should all vote for Marshall's coach for coaching them to one of the worst seasons I can remember, outside of Central last year or the year before! Go thundering turds and take the CFU Black Knobs with you!