Questions abound, but these are the coaches (in alphabetical order) that we\u2019re most focused on heading into the season:<\/p>\n
Adrian Autry, Syracuse<\/p>\n
The correct answer is probably Hubert Davis, but I also wonder if the tire fire raging on the football side gives him some cover, particularly if North Carolina has to marshal resources to make an expensive change. As for Autry: No such escape from the klieg light. Syracuse can\u2019t afford for apathy to set in on men\u2019s basketball. Retaining talent and bringing in transfer portal help actually amps up the pressure: If Autry can\u2019t demonstrate profound improvement with that, why wait any longer? \u2014 Brian Hamilton<\/p>\n
It reminds me of the situation Kyle Neptune and Villanova faced last season \u2014 the successor to a Hall of Famer entering Year 3 with no NCAA Tournaments to show for it. We saw how that turned out at Nova, with the school firing Neptune last March<\/a>. Syracuse is coming off its worst season since the 1960s and at risk of a fifth consecutive tourney-less season, and there\u2019s a hint of fan apathy<\/a>. My colleague Brendan Marks writes that the pieces are there to be better<\/a> (including the son of Carmelo Anthony), so it\u2019s a prove-it season. \u2014 Mark Cooper<\/p>\n Hubert Davis, North Carolina<\/p>\n In the last three years, he\u2019s missed one NCAA Tournament and made another as an 11-seed. That\u2019s not acceptable at North Carolina. There are other coaches on the hot seat, but none with the amount of attention as UNC. \u2014 CJ Moore<\/p>\n I was trying to think of someone else, to differ from the crowd \u2026 but the answer is Davis. Yes, he made the national championship game (and ended Mike Krzyzewski\u2019s career) in his debut season, but the Tar Heels\u2019 inconsistency simply isn\u2019t tenable. Simply put, UNC should never be on the brink of missing the NCAA Tournament twice in three seasons. Davis has a top-25 roster this season<\/a> (that costs top-25 money, it should be noted), and it\u2019s about time that North Carolina gets back to its typical standard. I hesitate to say Davis has to win a certain number of games to keep his job, but if the Tar Heels aren\u2019t comfortably in the Big Dance this season \u2014 and if they don\u2019t win a game or two \u2014 then North Carolina\u2019s boosters may force a move. \u2014 Brendan Marks<\/p>\n Blue-blood jobs rarely open in college basketball. However, UNC might have had one this past March if the Tar Heels had not won eight of their final 10 to sneak in the NCAA Tournament\u2019s back door. With an expensive roster featuring proven postseason contributors like Henri Veesaar and Kyan Evans, plus coveted collegiate newcomers in Caleb Wilson and Luka Bogavac, Davis must win at a level commensurate with his prestigious gig. \u2014 Jim Root<\/p>\n Though maybe the auspicious debut season of Chapel Bill makes everything else at UNC look not so bad by comparison. But seriously, the North Carolina coach can\u2019t have a non-NCAA team and a barely NCAA team in two out of three seasons and feel comfortable. It\u2019s time to get going. \u2014 Joe Rexrode<\/p>\n The combination of North Carolina\u2019s brand plus the team\u2019s lack of success puts Davis under the most pressure this season. I am very concerned about the team\u2019s offense after losing much of its scoring last year. \u2014 Matthew Ho<\/p>\n \n Arizona State went 13-20 last season \u2014 its worst record in Bobby Hurley\u2019s 10 seasons in charge. Christian Petersen \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n Bobby Hurley, Arizona State<\/p>\n Casual college hoops fans are no doubt perplexed at the fact that Hurley\u2019s been able to hang on for so long given his record (168-151 in 10 seasons), his reputation for crashing out and the fact that ASU has missed the NCAA Tournament five of the last six years. Reality is, his name draws a lot of attention. The Sun Devils are projected to be<\/a> one of the worst teams in the Big 12. If they are, how much longer can he hang around in Tempe? \u2014 Lindsay Schnell<\/p>\n In nine seasons, Hurley and the Sun Devils have struggled to put together consistent, successful seasons, going 83-104 in conference play and only making the NCAA Tournament three times, most recently in 2022-23. Arizona State brought in seven transfers, highlighted by Marcus Adams Jr. (Cal State Northridge) and Moe Odum (Pepperdine). It\u2019s a pivotal season for Hurley, but his roster has major concerns and playing in a gauntlet like the Big 12 will do him no favors. \u2014 Tobias Bass<\/p>\n Pat Kelsey, Louisville<\/p>\n There are high expectations for Louisville in Kelsey\u2019s second year. After a promising first season that ended with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss, Cardinals fans will want to see the program make considerable strides this season. \u2014 Justin Williams<\/p>\n Rick Pitino, St. John\u2019s<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2203353892.jpg\")
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