15. Kevin Keatts — NC State
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
You can celebrate an ACC Tournament victory, but the only thing anyone cares about in March is the Big Dance. And in Keatts’ 10-year career as a head coach, he had never made it out of the first round. In three years at UNC Willmington, he made the tournament twice and lost in the first round both times. In seven years at NC State, Keatts has made the tournament three times (this year being the third), and this is the first time his team has advanced past the Round of 64. The Wolfpack upset Texas Tech in the opening round and outlasted No. 14 Oakland in an overtime classic in the Round of 32. Now, Keatts and Co. will face Marquette in the Sweet 16.
