Fansided

College Basketball: Top 5 candidates for AP Coach of the Year

By Robert Molnar

Dec 20, 2014; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) and head coach Jay Wright and guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) celebrate a victory against the Syracuse Orange at Wells Fargo Center. Villanova defeated Syracuse 82-77. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) and head coach Jay Wright and guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) celebrate a victory against the Syracuse Orange at Wells Fargo Center. Villanova defeated Syracuse 82-77. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Jan 24, 2016; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright talks with guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) during a timeout against the Providence Friars at Wells Fargo Center. The Providence Friars won 82-76 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright talks with guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) during a timeout against the Providence Friars at Wells Fargo Center. The Providence Friars won 82-76 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Jay Wright, Villanova

Coach of the nation’s current No. 1 team, Jay Wright has led Villanova to their first ever national No. 1 ranking and will likely be a contender for the AP Coach of the Year award at the season’s end. While there may be no major turnaround or spectacular stat about ‘Nova and Jay Wright, their overall success this season shows Wright’s overall strength as a coach.

The Wildcats currently sit with a record of 20-3 with key wins over Xavier, Butler and Providence. In fact, since Villanova lost against Oklahoma and Virginia in December, the Wildcats have won 12 of 13 games and have only a single loss in the super competitive Big East. That only loss came in a game against Providence that had to be pushed back a day due to the massive snowstorm over the East Coast of the United States.

If Villanova can hold onto their one game lead over Xavier and defeat the Musketeers again later this season, Wright could find himself with the inside track to the AP Coach of the Year award. Winning their third straight Big East conference title will lock in Wright as a top contender for the award as well as make the Wildcats a contender for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

While many may not have Wright pegged as a front runner for the award, continued success for the Wildcats this season will only make Wright’s name continue to rise in the mind of the Coach of the Year voters, finally recognizing him for the 15 great seasons as coach of one of the Big East’s most successful schools.