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Final Four all about the head coaches

The NCAA Final Four teams have been determined, and the storylines, as usual, have been captivating.

First, the Michigan State Spartans (27-11), a seven- seed, will be there with the great Tom Izzo, who should be soaking it in because no one can doubt his credentials.

Second, there is the main man, Chicago's Mike Krzyzewski, who has more than 1,000 wins and will be going to his 12th Final Four in 35 years at Duke.

Next, there's Bo Ryan, the University of Wisconsin coach who with has taken the Badgers and Benet Academy standout Frank Kaminsky to center stage. They sure don't look like Ryan's plodding teams of the past.

And last but not least, my candidate for Coach of the Year, John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats, a team that just might finish this season undefeated.

I know University of Virginia head coach Tony Bennett will receive the 2014-15 Henry Iba Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for coach of the year, but Calipari is making the Final Four a regular thing for the 'Cats.

For me, it's the coaches who really make the tourney now, even though they won't be playing once the games begin.

I like Kentucky over Wisconsin and Duke over MSU, but anything can happen. I think Kentucky will win it all, but Notre Dame made them look human, so let's just wait and see.

The coverage has been excellent, and once again the tournament is a big hit.

DePaul hiring not exciting:

I know Dave Leitao had some success in his three season with the Blue Demons when he made the NIT in 2003 and 2005 and the NCAA in 2004, but his uninspired hiring by DePaul reeks of favoritism with a hint of laziness.

Where is athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto's confidence level after failing with Jerry Wainwright and Oliver Purnell?

While the decision took some nerve, and it's possible the choice might work out, I don't believe the hire excites anyone. This flatlining men's basketball program needed a shot in the arm.

Why not a Bobby Hurley, a Steve Lavin, a Bryce Drew, a Jim Les or 15 other coaches who could have been given a chance?

It didn't appear that Leitao, a Tulsa assistant, had any other head coaching prospects.

In his statement after the hiring was announced, Leitao commented, "I underestimated what a special place DePaul University and the city of Chicago are when I left here in 2005."

I can buy that story except his name just won't keep the Chicago recruits in town. He won't generate passion, and he won't bring the buzz that DePaul sorely needs.

After Oliver Purnell, though, I guess anyone would be improvement.

How many bad hires is an athletic director allowed? At DePaul, it seems to be unlimited.

Program notes:

Follow me on Twitter@ north2north, and listen to Fox Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman and myself from 5-8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Fox Sports radio, and check me out on iHeart radio or Foxsportsradio.com.

• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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