With the 2008-09 season deep in the rearview mirror and the NBA Draft still more than a month away, the offseason lull has hit college basketball during the month of May.

And while things couldn't get much quieter on the college hoops front these days, it's left us time to consider some bigger-picture items.

Because as the NBA Playoffs continue to unfold over the next month, college basketball's dead period actually gives us a chance to reflect on some of the best and worst that the sport has to offer.

So that got me thinking ... who are the 10 best coaches in the country right now?

Since the sport's early days, college basketball has always been predicated on coaching.

The players come and go - whether it's one year or four years - but the coaches often remain the same.

From the countless hours of recruiting to a six-month, full-fledged run of film meetings, weightlifting sessions and on-court practices, the coaches are truly the faces that resonate most in college basketball.

In that regard, deciding who to keep on and off of this list was no easy task. The fact is, there isn't room for everybody.

Nevertheless, the 10 coaches below are undoubtedly some of the best out there today.

Yes, I realize Jim Boeheim, Bill Self, Bruce Weber, Jim Calhoun and Billy Donovan did not make this list. Neither did Bruce Pearl nor John Calipari (you can partially thank violations at UMass in 1996 for Cal's submission from this list while Kansas and UConn have had their own off-the-court issues with players more recently).

But if I needed a coach to build a clean and disciplined program from scratch, one that has the capability of competing for multiple national championships, I'd certainly be tracking down one of these guys.

Honorable Mention: John Beilein, Michigan

One of the best Xs and Os coaches in the country, Beilein has built his résumé on three 20-win seasons at West Virginia, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2005 followed by a trip to the Sweet 16 in '06. Known for his motion offense and patented 1-3-1 zone defense, the New York native already has Michigan back on the national radar in only two years after ending a 10-year NCAA tournament drought this past season.

10. Tony Bennett, Virginia

In the three short seasons that he spent in Pullman, Bennett turned Washington State from a Pac-10 afterthought into a national name, leading the Cougars to their highest ranking ever during the 2007-08 campaign. Now after the resignation of Dave Leitao, the 2007 AP National Coach of the Year is headed to Charlottesville to turn around a Virginia program that's been abysmal the past two seasons.

9. Sean Miller, Arizona

One of the most successful young coaches in the game today, Miller managed to collect six NCAA tournament victories in only five seasons at Xavier. Now at only the age of 40, the former Pittsburgh point guard holds the reigns to one of the most recognizable programs in the country as he looks to return Arizona to its glory days under the Lute Olson era.

8. Ben Howland, UCLA

Everywhere Howland has gone in his 15-year head coaching career, he's made his team a winner in a matter of three years. Starting at Northern Arizona and moving to the Steel City to rebuild a Pittsburgh program that has now blossomed under Jamie Dixon, Howland has taken UCLA to three Final Fours and continues to pull in some of the top recruiting classes in the country year after year.

7. Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh

A former assistant under Howland, Dixon has captured the most wins of any collegiate coach in six years of work after guiding Pittsburgh past the Sweet 16 for the first time in 35 years last season. While his 163-45 record speaks for itself, the 43-year-old from Southern California also has a Big East regular-season and tournament championship to go along with nine NCAA tournament victories.

6. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin

His teams certainly don't play the prettiest game of basketball, but when it comes down to it, Ryan knows how to win and get the most out of his players. At the age of 61, he's made a name for himself all across the state of Wisconsin, employing a blue-collar style on both ends of the floor that has led the Badgers to the Sweet 16 twice and to the Elite Eight once in 2005.

5. Jay Wright, Villanova

One of the brightest minds in the college game currently, Wright has worked hard to make Villanova a national power out of the mighty Big East once again. With a Final Four appearance this past season and a trip to the Elite Eight back in 2006, the former Hofstra coach, who took the Pride to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances his final two seasons, has the tools to potentially win a national championship if he chooses to stay with the Wildcats.

4. Roy Williams, North Carolina

Critics have always knocked Williams for his inability to win a national championship in his 15 seasons at Kansas - which included several extremely talented teams - but he's won two since leaving Lawrence for Chapel Hill. And aside from two exits in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Hall of Fame coach has also taken the Tar Heels to the Elite Eight and Final Four before winning it all with four-time All-American Tyler Hansbrough this past season.

3. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

Say what you will about Coach K (he's a weasel, the refs favor him, etc., etc.), the guy knows how to win year in and year out. Sure, his team got blasted by Villanova in the Sweet 16 this past season and we haven't seen Duke reach a regional final since 2004, but when you've got 833 wins to your name, 10 ACC regular-season championships and three national titles, there's something to be said for that.

2. Rick Pitino, Louisville

One of the most animated and candid coaches around, Pitino has been a bona fide winner going back to his early days at Providence, where he took the Friars to a Final Four in less than two years of service. Since then, the 56-year-old New Yorker has accumulated over 500 victories, including one in the 1996 national championship game with Kentucky, and after a brief stint in the NBA, he's turned Louisville back into a national power whether it's been in Conference USA or the Big East.

1. Tom Izzo, Michigan State

It's hard to find a better program over the last 10 years than the one that Izzo has been running in East Lansing. Aside from his first two seasons at Michigan State, Izzo has taken the Spartans to the NCAA tournament every year - a run that's included five Final Fours, a trip to the Elite Eight, a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and not to mention, a national championship in 2000 - with his focus on point guard play and hard-nosed approach to defense and rebounding.

To see the full list in photos, click here.

Now that the page has been turned on the 2008-09 season, things are a little slow on the college basketball front. And though my life feels somewhat empty without another NCAA tournament game to be watching, the NBA Playoffs are at least here to help me maintain my basketball fix for another two months.

After all, in those 60 days, you can tell just by watching on TV that compared to the regular season, the game's level of intensity is taken up a notch. That's because every game means a little bit more than the last. It's that time of the season when the stars shine and new ones are born.

So as we watch this year's NBA postseason action unfold, there's also a draft class being molded into place for June 25 - when Commissioner David Stern takes the podium at Madison Square Garden and reads off the league's next 60 rookies.

While underclassmen testing the waters will have until June 15 to pull out of the NBA Draft, many early entries have already made up their minds and turned pro by signing with agents. Here's a look at those prospects and whether they're making the right move with their future.

DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh: Even after a sensational sophomore season that included an appearance in the Elite Eight, Blair could afford to play one more year in college to help hone his jumper. But with Levance Fields and Sam Young having played their senior seasons, it's understandable why he's coming out now. Draft decision: Good.

Chase Budinger, F, Arizona: Budinger was expected by many to declare for the draft a lot sooner than waiting until after his junior season, but with a new era beginning under Sean Miller, staying in Tucson would have meant playing for a fourth different coach in four years. And with enough size at 6-foot-7 and a deadly perimeter game, he won't have a problem finding his way onto a NBA roster. Draft decision: Good.

Earl Clark, G/F, Louisville: Clark has the length and athleticism to play at the next level, but he'll need to add some more muscle and improve his defense significantly in order to stay in front of opposing small forwards. His offensive game remains his strong suit after averaging 14.2 points per game at Louisville, and with sidekick Terrence Williams gone, the chances of a Final Four appearance look bleak for the Cardinals next year. Draft decision: Good.

Brandon Costner, F, N.C. State: The Wolfpack's leading scorer last year at 13.3 points per game, Costner will have a tough time playing the power forward slot in the NBA at only 6-foot-8. The other major question mark for the junior out of Montclair, N.J., is whether he'll have the athleticism to guard opposing small forwards, which includes the likes of LeBron James, Lamar Odom and Paul Pierce. Draft decision: Bad.

Stephen Curry, G, Davidson: Despite not getting Davidson back to the NCAA tournament, the sharp-shooting son of ex-NBA player Dell Curry, who stole the show during March Madness two years ago, did lead the nation in scoring at 28.6 points per game this past season. With the range he has on his jump shot, Curry - projected to go anywhere from 7th to 20th in the first round - shouldn't have any trouble adjusting to the NBA 3-point line next season. Draft Decision: Good.

DeMar DeRozan, F, USC: The Compton native had plenty of hype surrounding him prior to his arrival at USC, but unlike one-and-done phenom O.J. Mayo, DeRozan did little over the course of the season to prove he was one of the best players in the Pac-10, let alone in the nation. The 6-foot-7 freshman, in fact, was only third on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game, sitting behind Dwight Lewis and Taj Gibson. Draft Decision: Bad.

Eric Devendorf, G, Syracuse: After playing only 10 games during the 2007-08 season due to a torn ACL, Devendorf came back and finished second on the team in scoring this year at 15.7 points per game while shooting 39 percent from three. Despite the solid offensive numbers in 2008-09, it's hard to see the Bay City, Mich., native being taken in the first round with his lack of athleticism and his defensive and rebounding skills still needing a lot of work. Draft Decision: Bad.

Wayne Ellington, G, North Carolina: Before the Final Four, many might have questioned this move by Ellington. But with the junior wingman being named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and helping the Tar Heels win their fifth national championship, Ellington proved over the month of March - complements of a 19.2 NCAA tournament scoring average - that he can rise to the occasion when called upon. Draft Decision: Good.

Jonny Flynn, G, Syracuse: He may be undersized at only 6-foot, but Flynn showed during the Big East tournament and NCAA tournament that he was clearly the Orange's most talented player this season. If the Niagara, N.Y., native can avoid more injuries and can show that he's improved the range on his jump shot, he should be one of the top three point guards taken in the draft. Draft Decision: Good.

Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma: The National Player of the Year and a near deadlock to be the first pick in the draft, Griffin absolutely dominated the 2008-09 college basketball season from November all the way to March. In leading the Sooners to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003, the 6-foot-10 sophomore shot over 65 percent from the field and averaged a double-double at 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. Draft Decision: Good.

Daniel Hackett, G, USC: Hackett may have been one of the best on-ball defenders in the Pac-10, but it's hard to see him going anywhere in the first round. While the 6-foot-5 junior, who finished fourth in scoring (12.3 points per game) for the Trojans, has an adequate jump shot and solid passing skills, a spectacular senior year would have made Hackett a much more attractive acquisition in potentially another weak draft class next year. Draft Decision: Bad.

James Harden, G, Arizona State: The Pac-10 Player of the Year, Harden has a knack for scoring, whether it's inside or from the perimeter, and that should unquestionably make him a lottery pick. The All-American out of Los Angeles led the Sun Devils with 20.1 points per game this season, but he'll have to hope that a strong camp performance also overshadows his two final collegiate games, in which he tallied only nine and 10 points against the likes of Temple and Syracuse. Draft Decision: Good.

Paul Harris, F, Syracuse: When Harris committed to Syracuse more than two years ago, there was a buzz in upstate New York that Jim Boeheim was getting a player that could get him back to the Final Four after Carmelo Anthony had in 2003. But despite averaging 12 points and eight rebounds this season, Harris never truly lived up to his billing as a potential All-American, and there's no doubt a final year in college would have helped his draft stock come next June. Draft Decision: Bad.

Jordan Hill, F, Arizona: Despite a career filled with coaching changes and an up-and-down junior season, the 6-foot-10 forward out of Atlanta took his game to another level this year, averaging a double-double a game at 18.3 points and 11 rebounds. And in a draft that doesn't feature many quality big men besides Hill, National Player of the Year Blake Griffin and 7-foot-3 UConn product Hasheem Thabeet, he should go somewhere within the first 10 picks. Draft Decision: Good.

Brandon Jennings, G, Italy: There were few point guards out of high school that were as hyped as Jennings, who spent his final two seasons at Oak Hill. But while the Los Angeles native didn't really help his draft stock by playing professionally overseas for a year (he averaged only 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in Euroleague games) rather than attending college at Arizona, he should go fairly high in the first round due to the lack of quality point guards available. Draft Decision: Good.

James Johnson, F, Wake Forest: Johnson had a solid year for the Demon Deacons in 2008-09, averaging 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. While the 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward ended his collegiate career with a loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Cleveland State, his upside and body type have him projected to go somewhere in the lottery. Draft Decision: Good.

Ty Lawson, G, North Carolina: After this year's NCAA tournament, there was no question who the nation's best point guard was. Despite missing the Tar Heels' opening-round game against Radford with a toe injury, Lawson absolutely torched opposing backcourts during UNC's national championship run, making him almost a lock to be the first college point guard taken in this year's draft. Draft Decision: Good.

B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State: This is by far the worst decision made by any early entry in this draft class. Mullens did little to cement himself among the nation's top big men all season long. The 7-footer out of Columbus, Ohio, averaged a mere 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and while he might think a weak class this year might improve his stock, Mullens is clearly still a work-in-progress for whichever team calls him to the podium. Draft Decision: Bad.

DaJuan Summers, F, Georgetown: With the departures of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert over the past two years, it was Summer's responsibility this season to carry the Hoyas and hopefully get John Thompson III's team back into the NCAA tournament. But Georgetown struggled significantly in Big East play, and the 6-foot-8 forward out of Baltimore failed to help the former conference champs return to such prominence. Draft Decision: Bad.

Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut: One of the few true centers in this year's draft, Thabeet proved once again this season with his shot-blocking and rebounding skills that he's a defensive force. Though he couldn't get UConn past Michigan State in the Final Four, the 7-foot-3 Tanzanian should no doubt be one of the first three picks taken after putting up impressive numbers of 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game. Draft Decision: Good.

The offseason is a time for reflection.

It's a time for relaxation.

But mostly, it's a time for recovery.

Because after three weeks of heart-thumping, nail-biting NCAA tournament action, college basketball is supposed to go back into its cave and hibernate for the next seven months until it's time for a new season to start.

Less than two weeks after North Carolina cut down the nets in Detroit and won its fifth national championship though, things haven't completely come to a halt.

Amid the coaching changes and the early NBA draft entries that have taken place since April 6, there's been plenty of college hoops news to hold our attention.

Former Duke point guard Greg Paulus, for one, is looking to return to football, whether it's in college at Michigan or in the NFL with possibly the Green Bay Packers.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, whose son, Richard, left the Cardinals to join Billy Donovan at Florida as an assistant, is fighting an extortion case against the wife of his longtime friend and equipment manager.

And further south, Mississippi head coach Andy Kennedy is taking the blame for initiating a December altercation with a cab driver, earning himself 40 hours of community service and some time on probation rather than some time behind bars.

Yet of all the stories that have surfaced during the first three weeks of the offseason, who thought Isiah Thomas would be returning to college, not to finish his degree but to coach?

You'd think a guy would learn his lesson after shutting down the CBA, nearly tearing apart the New York Knicks organization while sexually harassing a team executive and almost overdosing on sleeping pills.

Obviously, the Hall of Fame point guard hasn't.

Instead, he's headed to Miami, a city full of distractions (i.e. crime, drugs and prostitution) with the hope of luring some of the top recruits in the country to a Florida International program that's only reached the NCAA tournament once - and that was almost 15 years ago.

"I think we can get good players from across Florida and around the country to buy into our plan to make this a top-tier basketball program," Thomas said in a statement after being hired as head coach. "I'm committed to growing something here, and strongly believe that over time, we'll put a team on the floor that everyone at FIU can be proud of."

If Thomas believes he's going to accomplish those goals in the five years he signed on for, he's living in his own Magic Kingdom.

The Panthers, to set the record straight, have lost 20 games in each of the last four years, and they haven't secured a winning record since the 1999-2000 season, finishing 16-14 that year.

"At the end of the day," Thomas said, "people know the kind of person that I am."

You mean the one that tried to cover up his own overdose by telling the authorities that his 17-year old daughter required the sleeping pills, when in reality, it was him?

Such blind arrogance can only be comical for so long.

After all, when it comes down to it, not even Thomas knows what he's really getting himself into.

And neither does Florida International.

But at least athletic director Pete Garcia will have Thomas' first-year salary to hand the NCAA when the school is hit with its first recruiting violation.

Alright people, tonight is the night we put the 2008-09 college basketball season to bed. So before you wake up tomorrow morning, a national champion will crowned in Detroit. But will it be preseason favorite North Carolina cutting down the nets at Ford Field or will a determined Michigan State team pull off one more upset to claim the title? Check back here for some post-game analysis and final thoughts on this year's NCAA tournament.

Championship Game: North Carolina 89, Michigan State 72

We're hours away from the 2009 national championship game, but before North Carolina and Michigan State tip off Monday night at Ford Field, here's five things to consider about the matchup (also in picture form here) we've been waiting five months to see.

UNC's 3-point shooting

If North Carolina wants to cut down the nets in Ford Field on Monday night, Roy Williams will need his shooters to find their rhythm early and often. Against Villanova in the national semifinals, the Tar Heels got off to a hot start and never cooled off, finishing the game with a 50-percent clip from three thanks to a 5-for-7 performance from wingman Wayne Ellington and a 2-for-4 effort from point guard Ty Lawson.

Michigan State's frontcourt

Michigan State handled Connecticut's physical and intimidating frontline Saturday in its national semifinal win, and the Spartans will have to do it again Monday night against North Carolina. If Goran Suton (pictured) and Raymar Morgan can match the intensity of Tyler Hansbrough and the rest of the Tar Heel big men, Tom Izzo's team will have a chance to pull off another stunning win in the Motor City.

UNC's transition game

When you have a point guard as quick as Ty Lawson, you have little choice but to run. Since returning from a toe injury that kept him out for the ACC tournament and North Carolina's first-round game vs. Radford, the 5-foot-11 speedster has been the difference for the Tar Heels' offense, and if he can create easy runouts off of Michigan State turnovers, UNC could cruise to its fifth national championship.

The Spartan faithful

North Carolina may be the favorite to win Monday night's national championship game, but there's no question which team will have the home-court advantage. With Ford Field looking like a belated St. Patrick's Day party on Saturday night, Michigan State will hope its "Sixth Man" can carry it to a national title only 90 minutes away from its East Lansing home.

The officials

They shouldn't decide the outcome of the title game Monday night, but they'll certainly be a factor. Both North Carolina and Michigan State will have to judge how the officials decide to call the game and adjust their defensive game plans accordingly. Whichever team can figure out how tight or loose the game is being called could gain an early advantage.

To check out my latest power rankings, click here.