Since conference play hasn't started yet this is early but I was curious what other basketball openings we might be competing with for coaches.
This might be a good year to be looking for a coach.
Unless someone retires the six blue blood jobs aren't likely to be open and with the exception of UConn and Georgetown the next tier jobs (Arizona, Louisville, Michigan State, Villanova, Syracuse, Florida) are all in pretty good shape as well.
In October Athlon listed 9 coaches that were on the hot seat and 6 coaches whose seats were getting warm.
http://athlonsports.com/college-basketball/9-college-basketball-coaches-hot-seat-2016-17
The 9 hot seat coaches were:
Kim Anderson, Missouri - We know how this has turned out.
Mike Anderson, Arkansas - They are 9-1, ranked 44th, and predicted to finish the regular season 21-10 (10-8).
Brad Brownell, Clemson - They are 7-2, ranked 30th, and predicted to finish the regular season 18-12 (10-8).
Pat Chambers, Penn State - They are 6-5, ranked 123rd, and predicted to finish the regular season 12-19 (5-13).
John Groce, Illinois - They are 9-3 ranked 66th, and predicted to finish the regular season 18-13 (8-10).
Jeff Lebo, East Carolina - Doesn't matter, lower level program and conference.
Richard Pitino, Minnesota - They are 11-1 ranked 47th, and predicted to finish the regular season 21-10 (9-9).
Lorenzo Romar, Washington - They are 4-5 ranked 97th, and predicted to finish the regular season 13-7 (7-11).
Bruce Weber, Kansas State - They are 10-1 ranked 31st, and predicted to finish the regular season 20-11 (9-9).
The six they listed as getting warm are:
Steve Alford, UCLA
Orlando Antigua, USF
Jim Christian, Boston College
Ernie Kent, Washington State
Craig Neal, New Mexico
John Thompson III, Georgetown
There might only be a handful of jobs open this spring that are clearly better than ours.
I never root for Illinois but after the Braggin Rights game I might this year. I hope they win just enough to keep Groce another year. I think Mike Anderson will get at least another year and Alford has UCLA 12-0, ranked 9th, and predicted to finish 28-3 so the only blue blood job on their list shouldn't be open.
This might be a good year to be looking for a coach.
Unless someone retires the six blue blood jobs aren't likely to be open and with the exception of UConn and Georgetown the next tier jobs (Arizona, Louisville, Michigan State, Villanova, Syracuse, Florida) are all in pretty good shape as well.
In October Athlon listed 9 coaches that were on the hot seat and 6 coaches whose seats were getting warm.
http://athlonsports.com/college-basketball/9-college-basketball-coaches-hot-seat-2016-17
The 9 hot seat coaches were:
Kim Anderson, Missouri - We know how this has turned out.
Mike Anderson, Arkansas - They are 9-1, ranked 44th, and predicted to finish the regular season 21-10 (10-8).
Brad Brownell, Clemson - They are 7-2, ranked 30th, and predicted to finish the regular season 18-12 (10-8).
Pat Chambers, Penn State - They are 6-5, ranked 123rd, and predicted to finish the regular season 12-19 (5-13).
John Groce, Illinois - They are 9-3 ranked 66th, and predicted to finish the regular season 18-13 (8-10).
Jeff Lebo, East Carolina - Doesn't matter, lower level program and conference.
Richard Pitino, Minnesota - They are 11-1 ranked 47th, and predicted to finish the regular season 21-10 (9-9).
Lorenzo Romar, Washington - They are 4-5 ranked 97th, and predicted to finish the regular season 13-7 (7-11).
Bruce Weber, Kansas State - They are 10-1 ranked 31st, and predicted to finish the regular season 20-11 (9-9).
The six they listed as getting warm are:
Steve Alford, UCLA
Orlando Antigua, USF
Jim Christian, Boston College
Ernie Kent, Washington State
Craig Neal, New Mexico
John Thompson III, Georgetown
There might only be a handful of jobs open this spring that are clearly better than ours.
I never root for Illinois but after the Braggin Rights game I might this year. I hope they win just enough to keep Groce another year. I think Mike Anderson will get at least another year and Alford has UCLA 12-0, ranked 9th, and predicted to finish 28-3 so the only blue blood job on their list shouldn't be open.
