OMAHA, Neb. — Creighton Universitys Greg McDermott is one of 10 men named a semifinalist in contention to be named the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. McDermott is the lone BIG EAST coach on the list.
The finalists for the award will be revealed on March 18, and the winner of the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Mens Coach of the Year will be announced on April 5, at the Naismith Awards Brunch in Atlanta.
McDermott has guided a Creighton team that was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST to a No. 11 spot in this weeks Associated Press poll, and a No. 12 slotting in the most recent NET. The Bluejays are one of three teams nationally with three top-25 road wins this season, and on Jan. 11 McDermott became the 27th active Division I coach to reach 500 career wins. Creightons success has come despite the loss of key returnees Davion Mintz and Jacob Epperson for the season due to injury.
Creighton has gone 10-2 in its last 12 competitions to climb into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. Currently 23-7 overall and 12-5 in the BIG EAST, No. 11 Creighton hosts No. 8 Seton Hall (21-8, 13-4 BIG EAST) in a 1:30 p.m. game on Saturday that will see the winner earn the No. 1 seed for next weeks BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
