It’s that time of year again, and we’re talking which coaches are facing the most pressure coming into this season. Here is our first official College Basketball Hot Seat!
1.) Tom Crean, Indiana
This should come as no surprise to anyone. The Hoosiers may need to make a Sweet 16 run just to save Crean’s job, which has many thinking back to Ben Howland’s final season at UCLA, when he was fired despite winning the conference.
2.) Dave Rice, UNLV
Recruiting may be the life blood of a program, but coaching is the brain’s of the operation, and UNLV has consistently been at a disadvantage here in Rice’s tenure. With the talent he’s assembled, in what looks to be a bit of a down Mountain West, this team should compete with SDSU for the conference crown. Otherwise…
3.) John Groce, Illinois
It’s tough for Groce, given the insane amount of injuries his program has suffered from in the past 12 months. Still, the Illini missed the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, the first time that’s happened since 1992. While he may get a bit of a pass this season due to the limited bodies he’ll have to work with, he’ll need to show serious improvement on the recruiting trail to rebuild the faith he once had from the fan base.
4.) Josh Pastner, Memphis
Another situation where a coach can recruit all he wants, but it isn’t turning into anything. At least the media has fallen out of love with picking the Tigers as a preseason break out team. If Pastner can’t get Memphis into the NCAA Tournament picture, does he get another shot next season?
5.) Travis Ford, Oklahoma State
One NCAA Tournament win since 2009, despite having McDonald’s All-American talent stay for multiple seasons in Stillwater. Ford seems to have lost the trust of his administration, and barring a breakout season from the Cowboys, that could be his impending downfall.
