Back in April we had a way to early look at the ACC Baskebtall hotseat rankings. As we close on the non-conference portion of the schedule, some coaches are starting to fell the heat. Who are they?
We go from coldest to hottest.
0 – Ice Cold Seat
1 – Still cool
2 – There’s smoke
3 – Getting Warm
4 – On Fire
5 – Start working on the resume
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke = 0
Coack K has a top 5 team, and is in his final season at Duke anyways. Obviously no hotseat here.
Tony Bennett, Virginia = 0
Tony Bennett does not have a vintage Virginia team at just 7-4, but he’s fine. Virginia would need to miss the NCAA tournament for multiple years before “hotseat” would even be brought up.
Hubert Davis, UNC = 0
Hubert Davis is in his first year at UNC. The Heels have been inconsistent, but still look like one of the ACC’s better teams. He’s fine.
Leonard Hamilton, FSU = 0
This is not a normal season for Florida State who currently sit 6-4. Hamilton has had so much recent success that he’s isn’t going anywhere for now until he’s ready.
Mike Young, Virginia Tech = 0
The Hokies have gotten off to a bit of a slow start, but does anyone think this isn’t still a top 5 ACC team? They looked real good against St. Bonaventure. Hokie fans are still fully on board with Young.
Earl Grant, Boston College = 0
Earl Grant is only in his first year of a major rebuild at Boston College where the Eagles have started the year 6-5.
Steve Forbes, Wake Forest = 0
Steve Forbes has Wake Forest racing to an 11-1 start. Forbes is probably the ACC COY if it were today. Not a hint of hotseat talk here.
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse = .5
It’s become a rite of basketball season, Syracuse starts slow barely gets into NCAA tournament and then starts pulling upsets. Syracuse has started really slow this year (maybe too slow), and when that happens a few whispers always begin.
Josh Pastner, Georgia Tech – 1.5
For now Josh Pastner has a recent ACC Title to keep him off any hotseat, but currently 5-5 and missing on every HS recruiting target so far in this year’s class makes one wonder if Pastner just caught lightening in a bottle last March. For now he gets the benefit of the doubt.
Jim Larranaga, Miami = 2.0
An 8-3 start has quieted things on Jim Larrinaga being on the hotseat, but it’s still been 3 straight losing season. A 4th definitely lands Larranaga back on the hotseat or worse with a new AD in town.
Brad Brownell, Clemson – 2.5
Brad Brownell seem headed to the hotseat, but his team is one of the few positive surprises in the ACC. The Tigers are 8-4, and if they could have closed out a couple of games would be in great shape heading into conference season. For now Brownell is not in too bad of shape. That can change quickly.
Kevin Keatts, NC State = 2.5
NC State fans are getting frustrated with Kevin Keatts. He’s never won a NCAA game, and this year’s 7-4 start has a series of blown late game leads and a home loss to Richmond. Keatts is 5 years into his tenure, and the Wolfpack program seems stuck in neutral.
Chris Mack, Louisville = 3
Chris Mack is starting to feel some heat. Already this season Louisville has lost to Furman, DePaul, and Western Kentucky. Louisville should not be going 0-3 against those 3 teams – ever. There’s a growing sentiment in the Louisville fanbase if Mack doesn’t make the NCAA tournament, that this should be his last year at Louisville.
Mike Brey, Notre Dame = 3.5
Mike Brey and Notre Dame beat Kentucky, but otherwise there isn’t much else to look towards. The Irish are likely headed to their 5th straight season of missing the NCAA Tournament. Brey has been at Notre Dame since 2000 and things feel stale in South Bend.
Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh = 4
Pittsburgh has opened the season 4-7, and despite a recent win over St. Johns the Panthers look like the ACC’s worst team. That’s really saying something this year too. Three full years into his Pitt tenure he’s never had a winning record, and it doesn’t look like it’s happening this year.
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