ARLINGTON, Texas — Gregg Marshall, whose Wichita State team was the first to reach the NCAA tournament undefeated in 33 years, has been selected The Associated Press’ coach of the year.
The Shockers entered the tournament at 34-0 and as a No. 1 seed. They became the first team in NCAA men’s history to win its first 35 games. They lost to Kentucky in the third round and fell short of matching Indiana in 1976 as the last unbeaten national champion.
Marshall led the Shockers to a No. 2 ranking in the final poll and to the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles. For the fifth straight season, the Shockers won at least 25 games.
Marshall received 44 votes Thursday from the same 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Tony Bennett of Virginia had 13 votes, Billy Donovan of Florida drew six and John Beilein of Michigan and Larry Brown of SMU one each. Voting ended on Selection Sunday.