The Best Duos In College Sports

Everyone in Buckeye Nation is on cloud nine these days. A football season of foreseeable doom and gloom came out the back end with lots to smile about. You found yourself a young, uber-talented Quarterback who improved each game and looks like he will be the real deal and of course, you were able to hit the Grand Slam of all college coaching hires in Urban Meyer. Not only does he bring his two National Titles and recruiting prowess, but there will be zero lull or downtime, the way their was at Michigan after Lloyd Carr left.

Oh but there’s more.

Ohio State boasts a top three basketball team with the best low post force in the game, Jared Sullinger. PG Aaron Craft is viewed as the best on-ball perimeter defender in the country as well. The heady sophomore, along with soon-to-be all time leading scorer William Buford, budding star Desean Thomas, and a group of talented and highly regarded freshman have the Buckeye Nation thinking National Title. On top of all of that, you are blessed with probably the most underrated coach and recruiter in the nation – Thad Matta.

Since Matta came over from Xavier, he has brought in one quality player after another. This year’s incoming freshman class (Amir Williams, LaQuinton Ross, Shannon Scott) was ranked in the top five nationally, and this was a year AFTER he brought in the class of Sullinger, Thomas, Craft, Lenzelle Smith.

Be proud, followers of the Scarlet and Gray, you have the best duo of football coach/basketball coach in the nation.

As much as I dislike AD Gene Smith and still cannot believe he has his job, the guy has someone managed to keep Matta happy and at a school where basketball is clearly #2 and in the wake of possibly losing his own job, managed to weather the storm and come out on top with Meyer in hand.

Look around the country – I defy you to find any duo that is even in the ballpark with OSU’s M&M boys. I tried. Here is what I came up with.

Texas – Mack Brown and Rick Barnes – These two have become institutions on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Brown, 62, has a National Title under his belt thanks the the brilliance of Vince Young, and until the past two seasons, had his football program as a perennial top five. Rumors have been swirling that Brown’s time at UT is coming to a close in the next couple of years. As for Barnes, 57, has been at Texas for 13 years and has taken his team to 13 NCAA Tournaments, and has reached one Final Four. He brings in top tier talent every year, but his in-game coaching has been questioned for years.

Florida – Will Muschamp and Billy Donovan – This one is on the “wait and see” list. Muschamp was once the “coach in waiting” at Texas and was viewed as one of the top defensive minds in the game. When Meyer left Gainesville, it was seen as a coup for Florida to snag Muschamp away from Austin. His first season was played to mixed reviews, and he will head into his second campaign looking for a new Offensive Coordinator after Charlie Weis left for Kansas. Donovan has two National Titles in tow, little to no pressure, like Matta considering the magnitude of the football program, and great weather to sell. After a couple of down years, Donovan has been killing it on the recruiting trail and has a Final Four caliber club this year.

Alabama – Nick Saban and Anthony Grant – Everyone knows Saban’s bio. He’s got two National Titles at two different SEC schools, and is going for a third next month. He can do no wrong in Tuscaloosa and owns the town. Viewed with Meyer and Les Miles as the best coaches in the college game. Grant may be the most under-appreciated coach in college basketball. Has take a basketball program that nobody thinks about and made them relevant. Once Donovan’s top assistant at Florida, he went to VCU, won big there, and moved back into the SEC. They have top-tier talent and will be a force come March.

Wisconsin – Bret Bielema and Bo Ryan – Bielema has picked up where his predecessor Barry Alvarez left off. He has a .754 winning percentage in his five years in Madison, and has his team in the Rose Bowl for this second time under his watch. Ryan is known as the guy who does the most with the least in college basketball. The names on the back of the jerseys change, but the results stay the same. Ryan’s teams are consistently at top of the Big Ten. In his first 10years in Madison, he has five Big Ten titles, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, a 152-11 home record, and an overall winning percentage of .727 (242-91). He’s done all of this with just one McDonald’s All-American, Center Brian Butch.

I hope you Buckeye fans appreciate this time. This next decade or so may be the best run we will ever see. Enjoy it, because guys like Matta and Meyer aren’t paired up at the same time in their primes every day.