Rick Barnes: 2007-2008 Big XII Coach of the Year

Well deserved award. Congrats Coach Barnes.

No brainer decision but I'm a little bias.
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Great for him. Well deserved.

Hmmm... what does that say about how the coaches feel about the guy over at Baylor?
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Just stirring the pot...

Regardless, Barnes deserved this. Congrats to him!
 
Was a little worried about it going to the KSU coach, but definitely glad to see Coach Barnes get the nod.
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What I like about Rick is he coaches up whatever he has.

Guard oriented team? Fine.
Power team? Fine.
Running team? Fine.

And the thing mentioned in the DMN article, his teams will definitely get after your ***.
 
Barnes had more talent in the Big 12 than anyone not named Kansas. To give this award to him after the miraculous job that Scott Drew has done in Waco is laughable.

Congrats to Barnes, but this award should have gone to Drew.
 
Actually, I agree with lawbu.

I have some minor/major quibbles with the job Barnes has been doing coaching this team. The last 3 games have exposed problems with the way he's approaching this team as far as I'm concerned, and not only did I comment on the job he was doing in the middle of the season, but Barnes himself came as close to admitting not doing a good job as the head coach --- "coaching mad" --- as you'll ever find from a head coach anywhere in the midst of a season. Which, ironically, I give him major kudos for.

I'd also give the award to Frank Martin ahead of Rick Barnes. But then again, I was always confident this team would be better post Durant's freshman year whether Durant was on the team or not, so I'm not quite as astounded as this team's accomplishments as many others --- although it is fair to say they've exceeded my expectations at times. I'd also say they've been a disappointment at times, too. But that's okay. That's part of the fun of being a fan.


Scott Drew and Frank Martin --- whatever I think of them as coaches, and with Drew it's under construction, and with Martin the sooner he's gone from this conference the happier I'll be --- have been in charge of programs who have resurrected themselves from complete irrelevance. Baylor hasn't had a winning conference season in 20 years!

They have come back from the biggest scandal in college sports history. I just think that's a bigger accomplishment than what Barnes did with this Texas team.

With Frank Martin, I understand he had Beasley/Walker, and other refugees from the DC Assault AAU team that Delonte Hill --- highest paid assistant in college basketball other than Johnny Dawkins --- brought to Manhattan under Bob Huggins mentorship.

Still, that team performed better than I thought they'd be able to over the course of a season, and a program that at one time was at least a top 20/30 national presence, but has descended into an abyss of anonymity, is actually going to make the NCAA tournament again.

I just think either one of these guys should have received the award over Barnes, but both of them had too few coaches who would vote for them.
 
Apparently the Big XII coaches didn't think it was so laughable, since they're the ones who gave the award to Barnes. When the coaches themselves are the ones who choose the winner, how can you complain about who they pick?

I have nothing against Scott Drew. I like all the Drews. They're good, stand-up guys, and yes, Scott has done amazing things with Baylor's program since he took over. But the award is not meant to be some recognition of several years' worth of achievement. It's meant to honor the league's best coach this year, and few can argue anyone deserves that honor more than Rick Barnes. Hell, even Aggies are saying Barnes was the only logical choice, and you know how hard it is for them to say anything positive about a Texas coach.

Again, not a swipe at Drew or anyone else. I just don't see how one can argue with the Coach of the Year winner when that winner was voted on by the coaches.
 
I think either would have been a solid choice, and the analysts I have heard say the same. Drew took a mediocre team and has them ready to plan in the tourney. BUT Barnes took a pretty good team (that lost the best player in the country) and has used them to beat Kansas, UCLA, and Tenn. Beating those three teams this year is incredible!!!!! Especially when you consider that we lost Durant. I think Barnes is in consideration for national COY, athough I don't think he will get it. You don't get to be considered for that award unless you have done some amazing coaching.
 
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