Texas Tech’s Beard wins AP’S Coach of the Year
Houston’s Sampson second in the voting for the award
Chris Beard has never ventured far from the work, work, work approach that guided his career on its winding path through obscure, overlooked coaching jobs.
No reason to change it, not with Beard guiding Texas Tech to college basketball’s biggest stage at the Final Four — and now recognition as The Associated Press men’s college basketball Coach of the Year.
“I’ve always believed you have to be who you are,” Beard said in an interview with the AP. “You can never forget who you are . ... Sometimes as you advance in the profession and the logo on your shirt changes or the title next to your name changes, you kind of change. I’ve never wanted to do that.”
Beard earned 20 of 64 votes from the same panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25, with voters submitting ballots before the start of the NCA A Tournament. Beard’s team had won a share of its first Big 12 regular-season title at the time of the voting. In the tournament, Texas Tech pushed past top-seeded Gonzaga to win the West and earn its ticket to Minneapolis.
Houston’s Kelvin Sampson was second with 13 votes after the Cougars finished with a program-record 33 wins before losing in the Sweet 16.
Beard and Sampson were the only coaches to receive at least 10 votes, with 12 coaches splitting the rest of the ballots.
Beard has guided the Red Raiders to the program’s first trip to the Final Four behind the growth of sophomore Jarrett Culver and a rugged defense that locks down opponents with an efficiency not seen in years.
Not bad for a team that lost six of its top eight scorers from last year’s Elite Eight run. NIT
Texas 81, Lipscomb 66: Texas can hook its horns to an NIT championship. Dylan Osetkowski had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Texas to the NIT championship with a win over Lipscomb at Madison Square Garden. The Longhorns (21-16) beat South Dakota State, Xavier, Colorado and TCU to reach the final, and survived a few late shots at the lead to win their first NIT title since 1978. Coach Shaka Smart, just 71-66 in four seasons with the Longhorns, got to cut down the nets the same time he is reportedly on the short list of candidates to take the UCLA vacancy. Texas has not won an NCAA Tournament game under Smart and few Texas fans would weep if he left for the Bruins.
CIT
Marshall 90, Green Bay 70: C.J. Burks scored 28 points as Marshall romped past Green Bay for the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament championship. Burks also had seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in being named the most valuable player. He had a steal on back-to-back possessions and his fast-break dunk gave Marshall a 72-62 midway through the second half. Taevion Kinsey added 21 points for the Thundering Herd (2314). Jon Elmore had 17 points on just 5-for-18 shooting. Marshall was 1-for-12 from 3-point range to start the game and finished 3-for-26. Tank Hemphill had 21 points for the Phoenix (21-17). Sandy Cohen III added 13 points — all in the first half — and Jayquan Mccloud had 11. Montana State: Former Montana State guard Danny Sprinkle will be the Bobcats’ new head coach. Sprinkle, an assistant at Cal State Fullerton, replaces Brian Fish, whose contract was not renewed after Montana State went 65-92 over the past five seasons. Iowa State: Sophomore Lindell Wigginton is declaring for the NBA draft for the second year in a row “with the full intent of staying in.” Wigginton, who withdrew from last year’s draft at the last minute, announced his plans Thursday on Twitter.