Bo Gets His Due

I don't often agree with SI's Rick Reilly, but I always find his columns interesting. This week's entry (you'll need SI subscriber status to access) was particularly compelling, as he asked readers to answer three questions:

1. Who had the highest winning percentage among college basketball coaches in the 1990's?

2. What BT coach has the highest winning percentage in the league (min. 5 years)?

3. Standing next to UNC's Roy Williams, this coach has the highest winning percentage among those with 500+ wins.

The answer to all three questions is of course Bo Ryan. I need not rank UW coaches across history because most have been pretty mediocre and only Dick Bennett in recent history deserves mention in the same breath as Coach Ryan. Instead, I'll take a stab at the best active coaches in the business. I invite additions, squabbles with my rankings, and of course subtractions.

1. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke: Nobody runs a classier, more consistent program than Coach K. His kids play the right way, succeed in school, and in life.

2. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin: While I admit Bo has yet to take the Badgers beyond the Elite Eight, his 4 national championships at Platteville, rebuilding job at UWM, and consistency at UW stand out. His swing offense is the stuff of legend, and his players exude a poise reflective of their coach regardless of who or where they play.

3. Tom Izzo, MSU: Even though Sparty is down a bit this year, Coach Izzo's teams out-tough their opponents, run a myriad of offensive sets to perfection, and are always a dangerous team come tournament time. His 2000 national championship is his crowning achievement.

4. Ben Howland, UCLA: Turned Pitt and UCLA into perenial title threats, belongs in this lofty group because he can both drill x's and o's and recruit.

5. Bobby Knight, Texas Tech: The winningest coach in NCAA history, his place was cemented when he left Indiana. Two national championships, perfecting the motion offense, and tenacious man-to-man defense with switches are his calling cards. The General's players graduate and his teams win. Enough said.

6. Jim Calhoun, UConn: My revised rankings cannot omit this icon in Storrs. He speaks the language of the East Coast playgrounds despite a generational difference and blends offensive talent with defensive toughness to compete for the Big East and national title nearly every year.

7. Billy Donovan, Florida: Pinino's protege has passed his master through exceptional recruiting and great development of young players. Has a realistic shot at back-to-back national championships.

8. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse: Another legend who has perfected the 2-3 zone like no other. Excellent recruiter, but early defections have damaged his program of late.

9. Roy Williams, UNC: Many will quarrel with this relatively low ranking for the winningest coach in recent memory, but I attribute his success more to his unparalleled recruiting than his basketball IQ.

10. Kelvin Sampson, Indiana: As much as I resent the fact that he entered the BT fraternity, I must admit this is mostly on account of the fact that Indiana will once again contend for the league title because this guy is a top-notch recruiter (see Eric Gordon), motivates his teams to play hard, and emphasizes defense on a level parallel to the aforementioned Bennett now in retirement.

On the cusp: Rick Pitino, Thad Matta, Tom Crean, Jay Wilson.