Clay Travis typically overreacted yesterday and stated that Auburn now has the best coaching combo of the two major college sports with the Bruce Pearl hire to go along with Gus Malzahn in football. Who would you say currently has the best combination at the moment? I'd lean toward Michigan State with Dantonio/Izzo. Ohio State and Louisville would be in the mix too. Other candidates?

Best young up-and-comers: UCONN's Diaco/Ollie

Yeah, he had Ohio State as a near tie for 1st. Hard to argue that one. When Urban was still at Florida, he and Billy Donovan were the best, hands down. Today, I like these combos in some order:

Auburn
Ohio State
Michigan State
Baylor
Louisville (although both have a hint of creeper)
Arizona

Also, considering their recruiting opportunities and athletic legacy, I think Iowa State has a pretty good duo.

I would throw Duke in the discussion. Coach K is as good as anybody and Cutcliff has done some amazing things. I'm not saying they are the best, just worth mentioning.

I would not include Auburn. Malzahn did make the NC game but with players he did not recruit. Pearl has never made it past the elite-8.

I'd have Michigan State #1 for now.

(03-19-2014 11:47 AM)Wolfman Wrote:  I would throw Duke in the discussion. Coach K is as good as anybody and Cutcliff has done some amazing things. I'm not saying they are the best, just worth mentioning.

I'd second this. Coach Cut has done stuff at Duke that hasn't been done since Spurrier was there.

I'd go with Ohio State.

Louisville with Petrino and Pitino has to be in the discussion.

Cheers,
Neil

An underrated one to me would be UCLA. Steve Alford and Jim Mora.

Another one that may get on the list in a year or two- Wisconsin- Bo Ryan and Gary Anderson...

Last year, the answer would have been Florida- but after this year no way.

(03-19-2014 12:26 PM)Chappy Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:47 AM)Wolfman Wrote:  I would throw Duke in the discussion. Coach K is as good as anybody and Cutcliff has done some amazing things. I'm not saying they are the best, just worth mentioning.

I'd second this. Coach Cut has done stuff at Duke that hasn't been done since Spurrier was there.

Yes, I should have had them in my list, too. Very solid.

(03-19-2014 11:47 AM)Wolfman Wrote:  I would throw Duke in the discussion. Coach K is as good as anybody and Cutcliff has done some amazing things. I'm not saying they are the best, just worth mentioning.

I would not include Auburn. Malzahn did make the NC game but with players he did not recruit. Pearl has never made it past the elite-8.

In fairness, Malzahn did recruit many of those offensive players when he was the OC.

if you add women's bb to the mix 3 really stand out as being good to great in all 3:
Louisville
Stanford
Baylor

Kansas State's combo is solid too.

(03-19-2014 11:44 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Best young up-and-comers: UCONN's Diaco/Ollie

You may want to wait on both of those until Diaco has actually coached a game and Ollie is playing with only his players.

(03-19-2014 12:27 PM)stever20 Wrote:  An underrated one to me would be UCLA. Steve Alford and Jim Mora.

Wait until Alford gets at least to a Final Four and Mora wins a Pac-12 title before putting them on the list. They do have one of the best college baseball head coaches, though.

(03-19-2014 11:46 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  Arizona

Same comment as for UCLA.

(03-19-2014 12:36 PM)mlb Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:44 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Best young up-and-comers: UCONN's Diaco/Ollie

You may want to wait on both of those until Diaco has actually coached a game and Ollie is playing with only his players.

Well, there is probably no where else to go but "up" for Diaco.

(03-19-2014 12:44 PM)Jet915 Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 12:36 PM)mlb Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:44 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Best young up-and-comers: UCONN's Diaco/Ollie

You may want to wait on both of those until Diaco has actually coached a game and Ollie is playing with only his players.

Well, there is probably no where else to go but "up" for Diaco.

Yup, unlike the "downward" trend for Creighton basketball post-Doug McDermott...

(03-19-2014 12:36 PM)mlb Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 11:44 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Best young up-and-comers: UCONN's Diaco/Ollie

You may want to wait on both of those until Diaco has actually coached a game and Ollie is playing with only his players.

"Young up-and-comers." Never said they arrived...

To be an up and comer you have to actually be going upwards.

(03-19-2014 11:44 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Best young up-and-comers: UCONN's Diaco/Ollie

Diaco has yet to coach a game.

I liked Bob as ND's defensive coordinator but I think we need to see if he can indeed function well as a head football coach.