BOZICH | Pat Kelsey is a frontrunner for national coach of the year; Who are other contenders? | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Associated Press men's national college basketball coach of the year plaque is the strangest award in the game.

Let me prove that to you.

Keno Davis has one AP coach of the year award.

Rick Pitino has none.

Frank Haith has one AP coach of the year award.

Denny Crum had none.

Matt Doherty has one AP coach of the year award.

Mike Krzyzewski earned none.

Point made?

Good. Because as we reach the middle of February it is becoming awards season in college basketball. Like too many sports, college basketball bases many of its awards on what a team, a coach or a player does during the regular season.

Many awards close the voting before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Check the records of Keno Davis (2008, Drake), Frank Haith (2012, Missouri) and Matt Doherty (2001, North Carolina) for details.

How can Crum, Pitino and Coach K find their way into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame but not make the list of AP National Coach of the Year winners?

My guess: Voters tilt toward coaches whose teams won considerably more games than they were expected to win. Often the choice is the guy who exceeds expectations.

That being the case, who are the guys exceeding expectations this winter, positioning themselves to earn the AP award?

By my count, there are seven contenders — led by Louisville coach Pat Kelsey. I'll list them by the amount of improvement they have delivered at their school over the previous season.

Plus-7

Ed Cooley, Georgetown: Cooley might not get the Hoyas back to the NCAA Tournament in his second season after leaving Providence, but Georgetown is 15-9 after starting 8-16 last season.

The Hoyas finished 10th in the Big East last season. They're currently seventh with wins over Creighton and Villanova. That's not coach of the year stuff, but Cooley has been an upgrade over Patrick Ewing.

Darian DeVries, West Virginia: The Mountaineers were a complete mess last season after the abrupt departure of Bob Huggins. But DeVries has installed a Top 20 defense while beating Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas and Iowa State. After going 8-16 in their first 24 games last season, the Mountaineers are 15-9.

He'll need a big finish for national coach of the year but DeVries is a solid pick for the top coach in the Big 12.

Rick Pitino, St. John's: Surprised to see this name? Don't be. Pitino is already safely on the glide path to being the first coach to take six programs to the NCAA Tournament. With a big finish (like winning the Big East regular season title), he could win his first AP national coach of the year award.

A year ago the Red Storm were 14-11 after 25 games. This Pitino team is 21-4 — with all four defeats by three points or less. The Red Storm rank second in the nation in defensive efficiency. Pitino does not have a great three-point shooting team so the Red Storm are No. 80 in offensive efficiency.

But with his return to the top of the college game after the pit stop at Iona, Pitino is a legit national story and top coach of the year contender.

Plus-10

Dennis Gates, Missouri: There was coach of the year chatter around Gates two years ago when he won 25 games in his first season in Columbia. Last year his Tigers went 0-18 in the SEC. Ooof.

Their 18-6 record is a major jump from the 8-16 start last season. He's sprinkled in wins over Kansas, Florida, Arkansas and both Mississippi schools. The Tigers sit sixth in the SEC which tells me the next three guys on the list have stronger credentials.

Mark Byington, Vanderbilt: The Commodores have not had a team to get excited about since the Jeff Taylor, John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli squad that won the 2012 SEC Tournament in New Orleans under Kevin Stallings.

At a similar point last season, Jerry Stackhouse had Vandy 7-17 overall with a 2-9 conference record. Byington, the former coach at James Madison, has won 17 of 24 games, with court-storming wins over Tennessee and Kentucky.

He's got work to do for national coach of the year consideration and competition for the award in the SEC will be fierce. But Byington has made a solid first impress in Nashville.

Plus-11

Dusty May, Michigan: Consider this a reminder of how badly the Wolverines slipped last season before firing Juwan Howard. Michigan was 8-16 overall with a 3-10 record in the Big Ten. Michigan lost to Long Beach State, McNeese State, Minnesota and Penn State.

Check the Big Ten standing. The Wolverines (19-5, 11-2) have a half-game lead on Purdue and a full game advantage on Michigan State. May's team ranks in the Top 25 nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency. They'll take a 5-game winning streak to Ohio State Sunday.

Dusty May is the Big Ten coach of the year and a front-row contender for the national honor. I won't even mention the Indiana chatter.

Pat Kelsey, Louisville: At this point last season, the Cardinals had won for the last time. They were 8-17 overall and 3-11 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Cards can win their 20th game Sunday night at Notre Dame. At 12-2, the Cards are tied with Clemson for second in the ACC — and hold the tiebreaker against the Tigers.

From roster assembly to motivation to strategy to game day preparation to engaging the fan base, Kelsey has done everything superbly, bringing Louisville directly into national relevance, from woeful to fearsome.

He's miles ahead in the ACC coach of the year race and my pick as the frontrunner for national coach of the year.