With only a couple weeks left in the college basketball regular season, there could be as many as 10 legitimate candidates for national coach of the year. Here's our top five:
5. John Calipari, Kentucky » He may never be able to escape the recruiting questions of his past, but his ability to manage players during a season can't be overstated, especially this year. The Wildcats have coalesced around player of the year front-runner Anthony Davis and have played at a level to match their talent.
4. Dave Rice, UNLV » Plenty of praise has gone to Steve Fisher, whose San Diego State team -- minus four starters from last year -- is making the most out of a transition season. But Rice, in his first year at his alma mater, beat SDSU and is thriving with a team he inherited from Lon Kruger.
3. Tom Izzo, Michigan State » The Spartans aren't just a contender but a real threat after last week's upset of No. 3 Ohio State -- Izzo's fifth win this season over a ranked team. No one wants to face Izzo in March.
2. John Thompson III, Georgetown » It has been almost universally acknowledged that no one knew what the Hoyas had coming into the year. Thompson had them within a possession of upsetting No. 2 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome last week. Thompson, Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Marquette's Buzz Williams all have an argument for Big East and national honors.
1. Frank Haith, Missouri » No matter what was already in place, Haith, coming off an indifferent stint at Miami, has the Tigers on a clear path to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Missouri avenged one of its two losses this season by utterly destroying Oklahoma State this week 83-65.
- Craig Stouffer
