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Clearly, college basketball coaching is in flux.
Except for Duke, the ACC is leading college programs that have fallen on hard times, in most cases due to new or underperforming coaches.
Carolina travels to Syracuse Saturday in what looks a lot different than the heydays of the Tar Heels and Orange. UNC is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life for the third time in Hubert Davis’ four years as head coach. The ‘Cuse is having its worst season since the last two years of Jim Boeheim’s four-decade career.
They both likely need to win the ACC tournament to qualify for the Big Dance. The Heels can still get an at-large berth by winning out and beating a second Quad 1 opponent, either in the regular-season finale against Duke or the conference tourney in Charlotte.
Since succeeding Roy Williams, Davis has had a rocky tenure despite a 92-42 record, earning national and ACC coaching honors, reaching the 2022 Final Four and winning the ACC regular-season championship last year. The way his team is currently playing has left the roster unsettled regarding who will be transferring and who may be coming in.
Adrian Autry is in his second season and has continued Boeheim’s skid over his last two years. The Orange have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2021 and the program is going in the wrong direction with an 11-14 record and 5-9 in the ACC after a loss to last place Miami. They have been riddled with transfers such as Maliq Brown to Duke and will surely lose more players after this season.
The Hurricanes are in free fall after finishing first in the ACC in 2023 and reaching its first Final Four. Miami was coached by another septuagenarian Jim Larrañaga, who resigned in the middle of this season and under interim coach Bill Courtney the U is at the bottom of the ACC standings with Boston College and N.C. State.
Virginia’s beloved coach Tony Bennett, who led the Cavaliers to the 2019 national championship, resigned suddenly before this season and the Cavaliers have struggled under interim head coach Ron Sanchez. N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts saved his job by winning the ACC Tournament last year but is back in hot water this season with 9-15 and 2-11 records.
The ACC is not alone with traditionally great teams not keeping up to their standards. Kansas, for example, will still make the NCAA Tournament but is looking at the Jayhawks’ worst Big 12 finish under coach Bill Self. They do not have a projected NBA Draft pick in what would be the first time since 2019.
In the Big Ten, Indiana coach and former Hoosiers’ star Mike Woodson has announced his retirement at the end of another so-so season. The sport, in general, has lost a number of veteran coaches, who have pointed to the implementation of NIL and transfer portal as reasons.
Featured image via Associated Press/Ben McKeown
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
It is difficult for me to understand how Jim Phillips continues to have a job as ACC Commissioner. He should be fired today.