Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Michigan's John Beilein aren’t just competing for a piece of the Big Ten regular-season title.
The two intrastate coaches are also among 15 finalists for the Naismith coach of the year award, which was released on Wednesday.
Izzo has guided the No. 6 Spartans to a 23-5 record and has defending Big Ten regular-season champions in the driver’s seat of the conference race with a 14-3 mark with three conference games to go.
Beilein and the No. 9 Wolverines are 24-4 and sit a game behind Michigan State in the standings at 13-4.