Jeff Goodman Believes T.J. Otzelberger is National Coach of the Year
Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger has had an incredible run in 2023-24.
With the Cyclones currently fighting for first in the Big 12 Conference, Otzelberger has been getting a lot of love from media members in conversations surrounding the Naismith Coach of the Year award, one of whom is the Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.
“T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State, they’re a game back from Houston,” Goodman said. “Nobody had them ranked in the top 25, most people didn’t have them ranked in the top 50. Their freshman that came in as a top 10 recruit doesn’t play, he can’t get on the court, and they are a game behind Houston in the best league in America ahead of Kansas. T.J. is the one right now.”
If Otzelberger is named National Coach of the Year, he would join a selective group of two coaches from the Big 12 Conference to win the award since 2000 and would become the Big 12’s fifth coach to claim the honor. Otz would join Kansas State’s Jerome Tang (2022-23) and a trio of Kansas coaches in Bill Self (2011-12), Roy Williams (1996-97), and Larry Brown (1987-1988) as the only five coaches in the league to take home the award.
Otzelberger and the Cyclones take the court next on Saturday, March 2nd, against the UCF Knights in Orlando. The Cyclones are currently listed as a 3.5-point favorite over UCF, and will have a shot to take care of business at 3:00 PM CT at the Addition Financial Arena.
