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Two B1G coaches named finalists for Naismith Coach of the Year
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
The list of finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year just dropped and a pair of Big Ten coaches made the cut. Michigan‘s Dusty May and Nebraska‘s Fred Hoiberg are finalists along with Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd.
All four of the coaches have reached the Sweet 16 this season. May’s Wolverines knocked off Howard in the first round and Saint Louis in the Round of 32 to set up a matchup with Alabama in the Sweet 16. Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers defeated Troy in the first round and then edged Vanderbilt to advance to a Sweet 16 contest vs. Iowa, which it lost.
In the lone head-to-head matchup this season, Michigan topped visiting Nebraska 75-72 on Jan. 27.
May has guided Michigan to the Sweet 16 in each of his first two seasons in Ann Arbor. He led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023 and another NCAA Tournament appearance the following season. May is aiming to propel Michigan to its first national title since 1989.
Hoiberg, who has coached Nebraska since 2019, has already earned the Big Ten Coach of the Year award for this season. This was the first time in program history that the Cornhuskers made the Sweet 16.
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Rolando Rosa brings his experience covering college football to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @RolandoRosa3.