How Have Premier Active Coaches Done in League Tourneys Pre-Big Dance?

March 10th, 2026 - 21:10

For quality teams in upper-echelon leagues, conference tournament action is only the beginning of what they hope will be a long postseason experience culminating with memorable success in the NCAA playoffs. Because of their season-long excellence, quality power-league members are virtually immune to exclusion from the NCAA Tournament. Thus, along with trying to win the league tournament title, the squads are tuning up for the main event by jockeying for position in the NCAA bracket.

Despite winning event three years ago, Purdue's Matt Painter has struggled in league tournament play. Painter and TCU's Jamie Dixon are only at breakeven mark (.500) among a total of 15 active coaches appearing in more than a dozen NCAA tourneys through 2025. Following is a look at how these prominent mentors have fared in conference tournament competition through 2025 before attending the Big Dance a majority of the time:

Celebrated Coach Current School League Tourney Mark Overall Conference Tournament Summary Through 2025
Mark Few Gonzaga 54-6 (.900) all appearances in West Coast Conference Tournament
Rick Pitino St. John's 56-16 (.778) 4-1 (.800) in ECAC North/ECAC North Atlantic Tournament, 18-8 (.692) in Big East Tournament, 17-1 (.944) in SEC Tournament, 8-2 (.800) in CUSA Tournament, 2-1 (.667) in American Athletic Tournament, 0-2 (.000) in ACC Tournament and 7-1 (.875) in MAAC Tournament
John Calipari Arkansas 56-17 (.767) 14-3 (.824) in Atlantic 10 Tournament, 17-5 (.773) in CUSA Tournament and 25-9 (.735) in SEC Tournament
Bill Self Kansas 48-16 (.750) 4-3 (.571) in Western Athletic Tournament, 5-2 (.714) in Big Ten Tournament and 39-11 (.780) in Big 12 Tournament
Thad Matta Butler 35-13 (.729) 3-0 (1.000) in Midwestern Collegiate Tournament, 8-1 (.889) in Atlantic 10 Tournament, 23-9 (.719) in Big Ten Tournament and 1-3 (.250) in Big East Tournament
Sean Miller Texas 28-13 (.683) 7-3 (.700) in Atlantic 10 Tournament, 18-7 (.720) in Pac-12 Tournament and 3-3 (.500) in Big East Tournament
Dana Altman Oregon 49-24 (.671) 0-1 (.000) in Southern Conference Tournament, 2-4 (.333) in Big Eight Tournament, 21-9 (.700) in Missouri Valley Tournament, 25-9 (.735) in Pac-12 Tournament and 1-1 (.500) in Big Ten Tournament
Kelvin Sampson Houston 38-20 (.655) 2-3 (.400) in Pacific-10 Tournament, 1-2 (.333) in Big Eight Tournament, 17-7 (.708) in Big 12 Tournament, 0-1 (.000) in Big Ten Tournament and 13-6 (.684) in American Athletic Tournament; 5-1 (.833) in Big 12 Conference
Tom Izzo Michigan State 36-21 (.632) all appearances in Big Ten Tournament
Mick Cronin UCLA 26-16 (.619) 6-1 (.857) in Ohio Valley Tournament, 6-6 (.500) in Big East Tournament, 9-4 (.692) in American Athletic Tournament, 5-4 (.556) in Pac-12 Tournament and 0-1 (.000) in Big Ten Tournament
Steve Alford Nevada 37-24 (.607) 6-4 (.600) in Missouri Valley Tournament, 13-6 (.684) in Big Ten Tournament, 11-10 (.524) in Mountain West Tournament and 7-4 (.636) in Pac-12 Tournament
Fran McCaffery Penn 32-22 (.593) 4-2 (.667) in ECC Tournament, 7-5 (.583) in Southern Conference Tournament, 11-2 (.846) in MAAC Tournament and 10-13 (.435) in Big Ten Tournament; making first appearance in Ivy League Tournament
Rick Barnes Tennessee 44-35 (.557) 2-1 (.667) in CAA Tournament, 5-5 (.500) in Big East Tournament, 2-4 (.333) in ACC Tournament, 22-17 (.564) in Big 12 Tournament and 13-8 (.619) in SEC Tournament
Jamie Dixon Texas Christian 21-21 (.500) 12-9 (.571) in Big East Tournament, 3-3 (.500) in ACC Tournament and 6-9 (.400) in Big 12 Tournament
Matt Painter Purdue 17-17 (.500) 1-1 (.500) in Missouri Valley Tournament and 16-16 (.500) in Big Ten Tournament