Talking ACC coach of the year

There's a week left in the regular season, and a case for coach of the year in the ACC could be made for six of the conference's coaches.

Can't remember the last time that was the case this late in the year.

The above photo indicates whom I'd give the edge to, but understand it's far from a decisive feeling and things can change a lot between now and Sunday.

Let's try to break it down (and we'll go in the order of the current standings):

MIKE KRZYZEWSKI
The case for: Lost a great player when Kyrie Irving went down with the foot injury in early December. Yet Duke is 26-3 and 12-2.
The case against: The Blue Devils are loaded with talent without Irving. Nolan Smith is a candidate for national player of the year honors. It's hard not to win a bunch of games with this crew.

ROY WILLIAMS
The case for: The Tar Heels have won 10 of 11 since that awful defeat at Georgia Tech. The only loss is a narrow defeat at Duke, and North Carolina outplayed the Blue Devils in the first half of that one. Williams appears to have successfully melded an assortment of egos that were driving him crazy earlier in the season. The abrupt departure of Larry Drew II certainly helped.
The case against: Sorta the same deal as Krzyzewski: Williams is blessed with gobs of talent. He has two freshmen (Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall) who are better than most everyone else. And the towering frontcourt presence of John Henson and Tyler Zeller gets in opponents' heads before the game even starts.

LEONARD HAMILTON
The case for: The Seminoles are 10-4 in the ACC with games remaining against North Carolina and Miami, and they've won three of four without star Chris Singleton. They beat Duke.
The case against: The Seminoles' recent schedule hasn't exactly been rigorous. Their five wins in the last seven games have come over Wake Forest (twice), Virginia, Georgia Tech and Miami.

SETH GREENBERG
The case for: He's had to operate with just eight scholarship players after a withering bout with injuries and transfers. Among the injured were veterans J.T. Thompson, Dorenzo Hudson and Cadarian Raines. Yet here the Hokies are, at 9-5 in the league after Saturday's conquest of Duke. If he beats Boston College and Clemson this week, you have to think voters would be .... certifiably insane not to give him the award. Maybe a split gets it for him.
The case against: Swept by a bad Virginia team. Lost at Georgia Tech.

BRAD BROWNELL
The case for: Excellent job of coaching by a first-year coach who has secured at least a break-even record in ACC play. Brownell had to replace Trevor Booker, and he lost Noel Johnson and Donte Hill early in the season. And oh by the way, his system is dramatically different from the one employed by his predecessor.
The case against: The Tigers still don't have that signature win, though they've come close twice against North Carolina. The loss at Virginia hurts, as does the recent defeat at N.C. State.

STEVE DONAHUE
The case for: Similar to Brownell in that Donahue successfully implemented severe schematic changes. The Eagles swept Maryland and also own a win over a good Virginia Tech team.
The case against: Boston College is 7-7 with remaining games at Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Win Tuesday in Blacksburg, and the case for Donahue grows stronger. But his case is not strong right now.

The pick: Greenberg, followed by Williams, Brownell, Hamilton, Donahue and K.

But stay tuned. Things can change ... and change quickly.

LW