Kevin Willard (left) and Greg McDermott (right) are two of 15 candidates for Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year.
Photo by: Porter Binks
Greg McDermott Named to Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List
2/21/2020 10:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bluejay coach has Creighton off to a 21-6 start
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton University's Greg McDermott is one of 15 men named to the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Late 2020 Season Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. McDermott is one of three BIG EAST coaches on the list, as he's joined by LaVall Jordan (Butler) and Kevin Willard (Seton Hall).
McDermott has guided a Creighton team that was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST to a No. 15 spot in this week's Associated Press poll, and a No. 11 slotting in the most recent NET. The Bluejays are the nation's only team with three top-25 road wins this season, and on Jan. 11 McDermott became the 27th active Division I coach to reach 500 career wins. Creighton's success has come despite the loss of key returnees Davion Mintz and Jacob Epperson for the season due to injury.
The 10 semifinalists will be announced on March 6, and the finalists will be revealed on March 18. The winner of the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year will be announced on April 5, at the Naismith Awards Brunch in Atlanta.
Creighton has gone 8-1 in its last nine competitions to climb to second place in the BIG EAST standings, one game behind Seton Hall with four contests remaining. Currently 21-6 overall and 10-4 in the BIG EAST, Creighton hosts No. 21 Butler (17-8, 7-7 BIG EAST) on Sunday at 3 p.m. in a game that will be nationally-televised by FS1.
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McDermott has guided a Creighton team that was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST to a No. 15 spot in this week's Associated Press poll, and a No. 11 slotting in the most recent NET. The Bluejays are the nation's only team with three top-25 road wins this season, and on Jan. 11 McDermott became the 27th active Division I coach to reach 500 career wins. Creighton's success has come despite the loss of key returnees Davion Mintz and Jacob Epperson for the season due to injury.
The 10 semifinalists will be announced on March 6, and the finalists will be revealed on March 18. The winner of the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year will be announced on April 5, at the Naismith Awards Brunch in Atlanta.
Creighton has gone 8-1 in its last nine competitions to climb to second place in the BIG EAST standings, one game behind Seton Hall with four contests remaining. Currently 21-6 overall and 10-4 in the BIG EAST, Creighton hosts No. 21 Butler (17-8, 7-7 BIG EAST) on Sunday at 3 p.m. in a game that will be nationally-televised by FS1.
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| First Name | Last Name | School | Conference |
| Patrick | Chambers | Penn State | Big Ten |
| Scott | Drew | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Brian | Dutcher | San Diego State | Mountain West |
| Mark | Few | Gonzaga | WCC |
| Anthony | Grant | Dayton | Atlantic 10 |
| Leonard | Hamilton | Florida State | ACC |
| Bob | Huggins | West Virginia | Big 12 |
| Ben | Jacobson | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley |
| LaVall | Jordan | Butler | BIG EAST |
| Chris | Mack | Louisville | ACC |
| Greg | McDermott | Creighton | BIG EAST |
| Bruce | Pearl | Auburn | SEC |
| Steve | Pikiell | Rutgers | Big Ten |
| Brad | Underwood | Illinois | Big Ten |
| Kevin | Willard | Seton Hall | BIG EAST |
Players Mentioned
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