I consider many of these coaches to be the best in the game. Crean, Beilein, and Pitino overrated? For that matter, Calipari, Buzz Williams, Tony Bennet? These are great teams. There are 347 Division I basketball teams in the NCAA. Only one can win the championship. Statistically, it is 10 times harder to win than the Superbowl, World Series, or NBA title.
Many of these coaches have had their teams ranked at #1, which is also an accomplishment. Just being highly rated brings tons of publicity to a school. Publicity that is tough to put a pricetag on. In my former field of work it was said that a bumper sticker is the equivalent of $500 of advertising. Product placement is what its all about, and paying a coach to place a school in the top 7% (top 25) is worth these guys' salaries.
|