The NCAA Coach of the Year has been promoted. The Russian basketball player played a huge role in this.
Nikita Biryukov March 25, 2024, 18:00 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
How Vladislav Goldin is involved in Dusty May’s move to Michigan.
On March 19, the most famous tournament in college basketball, March Madness, began. 68 teams began their journey in the tournament and literally a week later only 16 remained. Let’s delve into the world of the NCAA in more detail and touch on the topic of one of the most interesting teams for us – Florida Atlantic, in which the Russian basketball player Vladislav Goldin.
Let’s start from the beginning: Florida Atlantic University head coach Dusty May announced he will be leaving Florida after six years with the club. Under May’s leadership, the team achieved the most important achievement in its history: reaching the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Although before that, he had only been to March Madness once: in 2002. At the same time, in a great season, Dusty became the coach of the year in college basketball according to CBS.
How many Russians are there in the NCAA?
Ours are in the NCAA. Russians playing in American universities
Where is May going? The head coach was offered a position at the University of Michigan. The coach agreed and signed a contract with the team for five years. Dusty will receive $3.75 million and Michigan is a university with a solid track record in the NCAA. The team was proclaimed champion in 1989 and, in addition, in the last 11 years it has twice stopped short of the championship: in 2013 and 2018.
What does Russian have to do with this? Goldin has been one of Florida’s key basketball players during May’s tenure leading the team. At the same time, Vlad opened up incredibly last season, and this year he hasn’t slowed down and has progressed even more. He 15.7 points (second on the team), 6.9 rebounds (best on the team) and 1.6 blocks (best on the team). It is impossible not to notice the influence of the Russian on the team’s play on defense, since without him on the court it can be extremely difficult for the Owls to keep the paint intact.
Vladislav Goldin (right), 2023/2024 season
Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
In this year’s March Madness, Florida had to face the Northwestern Wildcats in the first round. During the main time of the match, the teams failed to identify the strongest, and in extra time the “wild cats” were stronger – 65:77. The Russian played a key role in Florida tying the score in regulation time. At the end, he became the most productive player on the team: 19 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
We do not claim that it was thanks to the Russian basketball player that May was promoted to a more serious university by NCAA standards, but Vlad definitely played his role. And a very considerable one. I can only wish him success in his coaching career and that our young talent prospers and still enters the NBA. There is a goal, which means you must move towards it.
More about Vlad Goldin:
Goldin is back in March Madness. Should we expect Vlad to enter the NBA?
