Great Expectations: Coach K Failed to Kayo First NCAA Foe Until 10th Year

Unrealistic expectations spread like a virus across the country when a young pup such as Brad Stevens becomes a big dawg by winning 11 NCAA Tournament games in his first four seasons coaching mid-major Butler before departing for the NBA's Boston Celtics at the conclusion of the 2012-13 campaign. But many school administrations and boosters need to exercise a little patience in this era of instant gratification. As for any of the misguided media, they should take a cue from ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, who is deemed an expert after winning a grand total of one NCAA playoff game in 22 years as a DI head coach.

Starter-kit supporters for some schools should take a chill pill if their coach remains winless in NCAA Tournament competition by losing an opener. Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has been frustrated by the tourney long before losing against Mercer. Take a long look at how long it took for the following alphabetical list of high-profile coaches, including all-time leader Krzyzewski, to secure their first NCAA playoff victory.

Prominent Coach Season Posting First NCAA Tournament Victory
Dana Altman 10th season as a DI head coach (1998-99 with Creighton against Louisville)
Rick Barnes 10th season (1996-97 with Clemson against Miami of Ohio)
P.J. Carlesimo 12th season (1987-88 with Seton Hall against Texas-El Paso)
Pete Carril 17th season (1982-83 with Princeton against North Carolina A&T)
Bobby Cremins 10th season (1984-85 with Georgia Tech against Mercer)
Tom Davis 10th season (1980-81 with Boston College against Ball State)
Don DeVoe eighth season (1978-79 with Tennessee against Eastern Kentucky)
Cliff Ellis 14th season (1988-89 with Clemson against Saint Mary's)
Tim Floyd ninth season (1994-95 with Iowa State against Florida)
Bill E. Foster 15th season (1977-78 with Duke against Rhode Island)
Hugh Greer 10th season (1955-56 with Connecticut against Manhattan)
Leonard Hamilton 13th season (1998-99 with Miami, Fla., against Lafayette)
Marv Harshman 26th season (1983-84 with Washington against Nevada-Reno)
Terry Holland 12th season (1980-81 with Virginia against Villanova)
Ben Howland eighth season (2001-02 with Pittsburgh against Central Connecticut State)
Bob Huggins eighth season (1991-92 with Cincinnati against Delaware)
Maury John 11th season (1968-69 with Drake against Texas A&M)
Bob Knight eighth season (1972-73 with Indiana against Marquette)
Mike Krzyzewski 10th season (1984-85 with Duke against Pepperdine)
Babe McCarthy eighth season (1962-63 with Mississippi State against Bowling Green)
Greg McDermott 11th season (2011-12 with Creighton against Alabama)
Ralph Miller 13th season (1963-64 with Wichita against Creighton)
Mike Montgomery 17th season (1994-95 with Stanford against UNC Charlotte)
Joe Mullaney 10th season (1964-65 with Providence against West Virginia)
Pete Newell 11th season (1956-57 with California against Brigham Young)
C.M. Newton eighth season (1975-76 with Alabama against North Carolina)
Johnny Orr ninth season (1973-74 with Michigan against Notre Dame)
Tom Penders 14th season (1987-88 with Rhode Island against Missouri)
George Raveling 11th season (1982-83 with Washington State against Weber State)
Nolan Richardson ninth season (1988-89 with Arkansas against Loyola Marymount)
Kelvin Sampson 12th season (1998-99 with Oklahoma against Arizona)
Norman Sloan 14th season (1969-70 with North Carolina State against Niagara)
Norm Stewart ninth season (1975-76 with Missouri against Washington)
John Thompson Jr. eighth season (1979-80 with Georgetown against Iona)
Jim Valvano eighth season (1979-80 with Iona against Holy Cross)
Butch van Breda Kolff 13th season (1963-64 with Princeton against Virginia Military)
Jim Williams 15th season (1968-69 with Colorado State against Dayton)
Ned Wulk 10th season (1960-61 with Arizona State against Seattle)

NOTE: The victories for retired Greer, McCarthy and Newton were the only one they posted in NCAA playoff participation.