Week 2: HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions

By AJ Nelson, HoopDirt.com staff writer

Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 2 HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions. These coaches are now eligible to receive the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award presented by Just Play Solutions which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2019-20 college basketball season.

This is the fifth season that HoopDirt.com has run the Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The previous 2019-20 weekly winners, and a list of all-time COY winners can be found following this weeks honorees.

To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).

The Week 2 winners are:

NCAA DI: Tony Bennett – University of Virginia

Tony BennettIt’s no surprise that Coach Bennett’s squad has been elite defensively on the way to a 6-0 start and an early season tournament championship. The Cavaliers went 4-0 in the Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament, defeating Arizona State 48-45 yesterday to take home the title. The 45 points that Virginia allowed marked the fifth time in six games that they have held opponents to under 50 points, including two straight games of giving up only 34 to open the year. On the season, the No. 7 Cavaliers are allowing 42.7 points per game – best in the nation by over four points. Virginia’s next contest is a home match-up against Maine on Wednesday.

NCAA DII: Tobin Anderson – St. Thomas Aquinas College (NY)

Tobin AndersonCoach Anderson’s St. Thomas Aquinas squad was up to the challenge against two previously unbeaten opponents this week, coming away with a pair of big wins and remaining undefeated themselves. On Wednesday, the 20th ranked Spartans handed Adelphi their first loss of the season – a 93-78 triumph that saw STAC out-rebound their competition 35-18. Next up for St. Thomas Aquinas was a top-25 road match-up against No. 23 Jefferson (4-0 at the time). The Spartans withstood a late, overtime-forcing Jefferson run and held on in the extra period for a big 81-78 win. Now 6-0, the Spartans await a home contest against Dominican tonight.  

NCAA DIII: Bosko Djurickovic – Carthage College (WI)

BDjurickovicHSThree more wins this week have Coach Djurickovic and Carthage College at 5-0 to begin the season – the program’s best start since the 2001-02 campaign.  The Red Men opened the week in a huge way, forcing the 2nd ranked team in the country, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, to shoot only 28% en route to a stunning 64-57 victory. Carthage carried this momentum into the Honda of Kenosha Classic, defeating Finlanida 122-64 on Friday and Rose-Hulman 73-63 on Saturday. The Red Men will next place their undefeated record on the line on December 4th in their conference opener – a home showdown against North Central.

NAIA: Stacy Hollowell – Loyola University (LA)

Stacy Hollowell Image Coach Hollowell’s Wolf Pack won three more games this week, tying an over 90 year old school record in the process. No. 17 Loyola started the week with their second win of the season over Dillard, who had received votes in the preseason top-25 poll, before heading into conference play. Wins over Bethel, who had also received preseason top-25 votes, and Blue Mountain College put the Wolf Pack at 2-0 in SSAC play and 10-0 overall. The 10 straight wins to begin the season matches the best start in program history, tying the 1928-29 squad. Loyola will look to set the record against Xavier (LA) on Tuesday in their final game before break 

JUCO: Anthony Fletcher – Eastfield College (TX)

Coach Fletcher’s high-powered offense has led Eastfield to a 12-0 start to the season and the No. 5 spot in the NJCAA DIII rankings. The Harvesters won their three matchups this week by scores of 117-66, 118-88, and 130-89, and have topped 90 points in 11 of their 12 games to begin the season. Eastfield is averaging a ridiculous 105.3 points per game so far, with all but one of their wins coming by double digits. They will attempt to continue their stretch of dominant play tonight against Loyalty Prep. 

2019-20 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners

Week 1

NCAA DI: Walter McCarty – University of Evansville
NCAA DII: Mark Downey – Northeastern State (OK)
NCAA DIII: Josh Merkel – Randolph-Macon College (VA)
NAIA: Kelly Wells – University of Pikeville (KY)
JUCO: Kyle Cooper – Western Texas College

Previous HoopDirt.com Coach of the Year Award Winners:

Division I

Division II

Division III

NAIA

JUCO

USCAA

About HoopDirt.com

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About Just Play Solutions

Just Play Solutions has become the market leader in helping coaches prepare faster and teach athletes more effectively. From our digital coaching tools to interactive mobile app coaches can build playbooks, scouting reports, integrate video and even quiz players. Working with over 500 programs from high school to the professional levels, Just Play has a solution for any budget or need. Just Play currently has products available for Basketball, Football, Soccer, and Lacrosse. Go Premium

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