Overview
- Ralph, named AP Coach of the Year on Thursday in Phoenix, earned 23 of 31 votes from the national media panel.
- Vanderbilt finished 29–5 with 13 SEC wins, tied for second in the league, secured a No. 2 NCAA seed, and reached the Sweet 16.
- The Commodores started 20–0, rose as high as No. 5 in the AP poll, and logged seven wins over ranked teams.
- One day earlier, Ralph won the Naismith Coach of the Year over finalists Geno Auriemma, Cori Close, and Vic Schaefer, becoming Vanderbilt’s first coach to claim that honor.
- UConn coaches and players gave Ralph a standing ovation at the AP ceremony, while some fans online argued for Auriemma or noted Dawn Staley’s omission from the Naismith finalists list.