The conversation for national coach of the year never feels as sexy or provocative as the Wooden Award race most seasons.
And, throughout history, it has resembled Michael Jordan's pursuit of regular-season MVPs. Many coaches who've led championship-level squads have failed to win the award in their best years.
Mike Krzyzewski has five national titles, and he could win another one this season, months before the nation's best recruiting class arrives, with R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish, Zion Williamson and Tre Jones. But he has never won the Associated Press college basketball coach of the year award.
Well, Coach K can ask Cliff Ellis (1999), Larry Eustachy (2000) and Matt Doherty (2001) where they stashed their national coach of the year awards in the years they won them.