Which college basketball coaches are under pressure? Hubert Davis, Adrian Autry and more

Apparently ‘busy’ can mean many different things.

Because when we asked our men’s basketball staff to identify the coach under the most pressure this season, the answers – and interpretations of the question – varied dramatically.

Of course, some went for the red-hot seats. (Unfortunately, as usual, the ACC deserved multiple mentions.) But others picked coaches whose teams should be good this season… and who might take some heat if they aren’t.

It’s also worth noting: this list is not exhaustive. Can Dan Hurley make UConn a national title contender again, say, months after almost walking away as coach? How does Duke’s Jon Scheyer follow up on an all-time roster (and collapse into the NCAA Tournament) without Cooper Flagg? Can Kevin Young make good on BYU’s basketball investment and maximize AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 recruit? And what will Steven Pearl look like when he takes over from his father at Auburn, especially afterward losing his first exhibition match?

There are a lot of questions, but these are the coaches (in alphabetical order) we are most focused on heading into the season:

Adrian Autry, Syracuse

The correct answer is probably Hubert Davis, but I also wonder if the tire fire on the football side gives him any cover, especially if North Carolina has to marshal resources to make an expensive change. As for Autry, there is no such escape from the klieg light. Syracuse cannot afford apathy in men’s basketball. Retaining talent and securing a transfer portal actually increases the pressure: if Autry can’t demonstrate deep improvement with that, why wait any longer? — Brian Hamilton

It reminds me of the situation Kyle Neptune and Villanova faced last season: replacing a Hall of Famer who entered Year 3 with no NCAA Tournament appearance to show for it. We saw how that turned out at Nova, when the school fired Neptunus last March. Syracuse is coming off its worst season since the 1960s and is at risk of a fifth consecutive tournament-less season. hint of apathy from the fans. My colleague Brendan Marks writes that the pieces are there to get better (including Carmelo Anthony’s son), so it’s proving season. — Mark Cooper

Hubert Davis, North Carolina

In the past three years, he has missed one NCAA Tournament and made another as an 11-seed. That is not acceptable in North Carolina. There are other coaches on the hot seat, but none with as much attention as UNC. — CJeome

I tried to think of someone else, to stand out from the crowd… but the answer is Davis. Yes, he made it to the national championship game (and ended Mike Krzyzewski’s career) in his rookie season, but the Tar Heels’ inconsistency simply isn’t sustainable. Simply put, UNC should never be on the verge of missing the NCAA Tournament twice in three seasons. Davis has a top-25 selection this season (that costs top-25 money, it should be noted), and it’s time for North Carolina to return to its typical standard. I hesitate to say Davis needs to win a certain number of games to keep his job, but if the Tar Heels aren’t comfortable in the Big Dance this season — and if they don’t win a game or two — then North Carolina’s boosters could force a move. — Brendan Marks

Blueblood jobs rarely open up in college basketball. However, UNC might have had one last March if the Tar Heels hadn’t won eight of their last 10 to sneak into the NCAA Tournament through the back door. With an expensive roster featuring proven postseason contributors like Henri Veesaar and Kyan Evans, plus coveted collegiate newcomers like Caleb Wilson and Luka Bogavac, Davis needs to win at a level commensurate with his prestigious performance. — Jim Root

Although perhaps Chapel Bill’s promising debut season makes everything else at UNC not look so bad in comparison. But seriously, the North Carolina coach can’t have a non-NCAA team and a barely-NCAA team in two out of three seasons and be comfortable. It’s time to go. — Joe Rexrode

The combination of the North Carolina brand and the team’s lack of success is putting the most pressure on Davis this season. I’m very concerned about the team’s offense after losing a lot of the scoring last year. — Matthew Ho

Bobby Hurley, Arizona State

Casual college hoops fans are no doubt baffled that Hurley has been able to last so long, given his record (168-151 in ten seasons), his reputation as a crasher and the fact that ASU has missed the NCAA Tournament five of the last six years. The reality is that his name attracts a lot of attention. The Sun Devils are expected to be one of the worst teams in the Big 12. If so, how long can he stick around in Tempe? — Lindsay Schnell

In nine seasons, Hurley and the Sun Devils have struggled to put together consistent, successful seasons, going 83-104 in conference play and making the NCAA Tournament just 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’s a pivotal season for Hurley, but his roster has major concerns and playing in a gauntlet like the Big 12 won’t do him any favors. — Tobias Bass

Pat Kelsey, Louisville

There are high expectations for Louisville in Kelsey’s second year. After a promising first season that ended with a loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Cardinals fans will be eager to see the program make significant progress this season. — Justin Williams

Rick Pitino, St. John’s

The Johnnies should once again be one of the most entertaining attractions of the regular season, but if you signed up for the Sweet Sixteen it would all feel like a waste of time. That’s the typical pressure of March, but they need to take care of enough business in a somewhat lean Big East to finish with a high seed and again minimize their chances of running into a John Calipari type on the tournament’s first weekend. — Erik Single

Kevin Willard, Villanova

The split with Maryland was messy and even hair-raising, despite a Sweet 16 appearance. Now that Willard has the tools he’s looking for, he might as well win. — Scott Daughterman