Kelvin Sampson Says Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger Should’ve Won Big 12 Coach of the Year
The Big 12 Conference announced Individual awards on Sunday evening after naming its All-Conference team, with conference champion Houston being well-represented among the honors.
One such honor was head coach Kelvin Sampson, who took home the title of Big 12 Coach of the Year after leading the Cougars to a 28-3 (15-3 Big 12) mark on the season.
No one could argue that Sampson is worthy of winning the award, as he’s got the Cougars ranked as the top team in the country with a No. 1 seed almost assured in the NCAA Tournament.
However, if you ask Sampson himself, there should’ve been another name on that award.
According to the UH head coach, that distinction should’ve been given to Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger.
Otzelberger led Iowa State to a 24-7 (13-5) mark and has the Cyclones ranked No. 7 in the country and looking like a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Considering Iowa State was picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll and has grown into a team to fear under Otzelberger’s tutelage, it’s hard to argue that he’s not just as deserving of the honor.
Both the Cougars and the Cyclones will be in action at the Big 12 Basketball Championship Tournament on Thursday, as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds await the winner of Game 4 (TCU/Oklahoma) and Game 5 (Texas/Kansas State), respectively.
