We’re already reaching the midpoint of conference play in men’s college basketball as the calendar flips to February, which means awards season is just around the corner. Purdue’s Zach Edey appears destined to win National Player of the Year honors, but the race for National Coach of the Year is wide open. Here’s a look at the five top candidates for this year’s award, with a first-year coach at the head of the list.
1. Jerome Tang, Kansas State
After 19 years as Scott Drew’s right-hand man in Waco, Tang finally got his first head coaching opportunity this year and has thrived. Tang has led a Kansas State team that finished ninth in the Big 12 a season ago, returned just two scholarship players and was picked 10th in the preseason to conference title contention and a top-10 national ranking. Landing Florida transfer Keyontae Johnson late in the summer accelerated the turnaround, and Johnson has played like an All-American in what’s likely to be his lone season in Manhattan. But even without Johnson, Tang deserves credit for the incredible improvement from point guard Markquis Nowell and for identifying under-the-radar talent like defensive wizard Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
