Roy Williams vs Coach K vs Jim Calhoun

People frequently compare coaches based on their championships, final fours, conference championships, and wins. However, it is rare that we get a chance to compare high profile, successful coaches on down years back to back. And we can this year!

Roy Williams won the national championship in 2005 and his top seven players were gone (graduation and NBA early entries). He brought in a foundation class of solid players, but with nowhere near the same talent and experience as the 2005 team. Everyone expected a mediocre season and a trip to the NIT. Instead Roy had a stellar season, and if it wasn't for George Mason, they would have ended their season in the Sweet 16 (or even Elite 8).

Coach K went to the Final Four in 2004 (although if the zebras split the 50-50 calls, Thad Matta's Xavier would have been in the Final Four), and he had a strong team last year with JJ "Cry me a river" Redick and The Landlord Sheldon Williams. But unlike Roy, who didn't even have as much raw talent last year as Coach K has this year, Coach K has been unable to have a similarly successful year, infact his team is going down hill.

Jim Calhoun won the championship in 2004 and had a solid team in 2006 that was a George Mason short of the Final Four. Just like the other two, Calhoun lost players to the NBA (graduation and early entry) but he brought in a number of talented and inexperienced players. Just like Coach K's team, the Huskies have been struggling and are going downhill as the season progresses.

It is no coincidence that Roy Williams is the fastest to 500 among active coaches. He may have his quirks (eg not looking at the scoreboard) but his success on a down year (2005-2006) is something that sets him apart from Coach K and Jim Calhoun right now. Some also criticize Roy for having a deep rotation (including Doug Gottlieb), and playing at a frantic pace, but then again Roy doesn't lose Top 100 players to transfer because they don't get any playing time (Eric Boetang, Jamal Boykin). Martynas Pocius would benefit from a transfer as well but that's a different story. So as of right now, among active basketball coaches, Roy Williams is a step ahead of everybody else.