College basketball lost two coaching giants last month. Lute Olson died August 27, John Thompson died three days later.
Both were giants in the literal sense. Olson was 6-4, Thompson 6-10. But of course I mean the term in the more figurative sense. Both men coached multiple teams into the Final Four, both won an NCAA title and both are members are the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
And both squared off against Mike Krzyzewski in some consequential games. Quantity? Not so much. Quality? Very much so.
Let’s start with Olson.