B-Ball Coaches on the hot seat

[Buff_since76]

I saw this on ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/bottom10120215/bottom-10-coaching-edition

[h=3]3. Jeff Bzdelik, Wake Forest[/h]

Offense: The perils of progress
Bottom 10 judgment: "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." Wake Forest has already won three more games than it did last season, one of the worst in program history. And before the season is out, the Demon Deacons may just win a few more. In a vacuum, that's a sign of progress. Besides, it's always too early to evaluate a coach after just two seasons. Jeff Bzdelik deserves time and space to build his program in his own image, and all that. Granted. But here's the thing: When Bzdelik was hired in 2010, he replaced Dino Gaudio, a coach who had overseen the program's rise to a No. 1 ranking in 2009 and a 44-18 record in two seasons. Sure, Gaudio's teams finished poorly, but they were more than competitive. Still, Wake AD Ron Wellman fired Gaudio after just three seasons at the helm and quickly installed Bzdelik, despite the former Colorado coach's 36-58 record in his three previous seasons.

Two seasons later, Wake is alone in last place in the ACC -- again. The Demon Deacons have now lost six in a row and nine of their last 10, including a 20-point home drubbing to Clemson on Saturday. If Wake Forest wins its last five ACC games (which, hint, ain't happenin'), Bzdelik would reach 24 total wins at the school -- as many as Gaudio had in 2009 alone. It's too early to write a memorandum on Bzdelik's tenure yet. He's the coach now, and he deserves more time. Even so, Wake's proud, hungry fans must agree that Gaudio deserved much the same.

 

[CVilleBuff]

Since that was written, Wake got a win over fellow cellar dweller Georgia Tech to get to 12-14 (3-9). I'm pretty sure Bzdelik gets another year, but he needs to beat Boston College at home and maybe Georgia Tech on the road to ensure that.

 

[tante]

how does Dino Gaudio not have a job right now?

 

[Buffnik]

[h=3]4. Herb Sendek, Arizona State[/h]

Offense: Where have you gone, James Harden?
Bottom 10 judgment: "Temporary Like Achilles." To his credit, Herb Sendek did something few coaches in Arizona State history have ever done, especially in the last 20 years: He made the Sun Devils nationally relevant. Still, James Harden's 2008-09 All-American campaign was the first and only time Sendek has taken ASU to an NCAA tournament, and following last season's 12-19 finish, his program desperately needed a step back toward the light. Instead, things have only worsened. Touted freshman Jahii Carson never suited up after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA, and halfway through an already bad season, leading scorer Kaela King was suspended and eventually dismissed for a variety of reasons, most of them to do with attitude. As such, the Sun Devils are 8-17 overall and 4-9 in one of the worst editions of the Pac-12 we've seen in decades. They sport losses to Pepperdine, Northern Arizona, Fresno State and a 64-43 drubbing at the hands of Utah (it's true). Sendek was always underappreciated at NC State, but if the fans in Tempe start to become restless, well, they have their reasons.
"Achilles is in your alleyway/He don't want me here/He does brag/He's pointing to the sky"

[h=3]10. Ben Howland, UCLA[/h]

Offense: An utter mess
Bottom 10 judgment: "Highway 61 Revisited." This is still the same coach that went to three straight Final Fours, right? There isn't some "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" stuff going on here, is there? No? Right. It's difficult to fathom the depths Howland and his Bruins have sunk to in his ninth year at the program, mostly because Howland had such a splendid run from 2006 to 2008. This season began with a Top 25 ranking and the preseason nod to win the Pac-12, but it wasn't long until forward Reeves Nelson -- the Bruins' best player last season -- was suspended and reinstated and suspended and finally dismissed for various conduct issues, all before the second week of December.
Since then, the Bruins have never quite recovered, never made any sort of late-season push, never really come together. A 14-11 overall record in a bad Pac-12 might be enough to keep, say, Craig Robinson safe, but the folks in Westwood rightfully expect much more, and it's been no surprise to see fans vocally abandon their once-loved coach as this disaster of a season wears on. It's doubtful UCLA will pull the trigger on Howland this offseason, not after a year spent taxiing between "home" venues while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovation. But the Bruins' messy start and subsequent mediocrity has been downright baffling to observe both up close and from afar.
"Well Mack the finger said to Louie the King/I got forty red white and blue shoe strings/And a thousand telephones that don't ring/Do you know where I can get rid of these things"

 

[GoBuffs!!]

Are you trying to pick on Bald guys?

4. Herb Sendek, Arizona State

Offense: Where have you gone, James Harden?
Bottom 10 judgment: "Temporary Like Achilles." To his credit, Herb Sendek did something few coaches in Arizona State history have ever done, especially in the last 20 years: He made the Sun Devils nationally relevant. Still, James Harden's 2008-09 All-American campaign was the first and only time Sendek has taken ASU to an NCAA tournament, and following last season's 12-19 finish, his program desperately needed a step back toward the light. Instead, things have only worsened. Touted freshman Jahii Carson never suited up after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA, and halfway through an already bad season, leading scorer Kaela King was suspended and eventually dismissed for a variety of reasons, most of them to do with attitude. As such, the Sun Devils are 8-17 overall and 4-9 in one of the worst editions of the Pac-12 we've seen in decades. They sport losses to Pepperdine, Northern Arizona, Fresno State and a 64-43 drubbing at the hands of Utah (it's true). Sendek was always underappreciated at NC State, but if the fans in Tempe start to become restless, well, they have their reasons.
"Achilles is in your alleyway/He don't want me here/He does brag/He's pointing to the sky"

10. Ben Howland, UCLA

Offense: An utter mess
Bottom 10 judgment: "Highway 61 Revisited." This is still the same coach that went to three straight Final Fours, right? There isn't some "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" stuff going on here, is there? No? Right. It's difficult to fathom the depths Howland and his Bruins have sunk to in his ninth year at the program, mostly because Howland had such a splendid run from 2006 to 2008. This season began with a Top 25 ranking and the preseason nod to win the Pac-12, but it wasn't long until forward Reeves Nelson -- the Bruins' best player last season -- was suspended and reinstated and suspended and finally dismissed for various conduct issues, all before the second week of December.
Since then, the Bruins have never quite recovered, never made any sort of late-season push, never really come together. A 14-11 overall record in a bad Pac-12 might be enough to keep, say, Craig Robinson safe, but the folks in Westwood rightfully expect much more, and it's been no surprise to see fans vocally abandon their once-loved coach as this disaster of a season wears on. It's doubtful UCLA will pull the trigger on Howland this offseason, not after a year spent taxiing between "home" venues while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovation. But the Bruins' messy start and subsequent mediocrity has been downright baffling to observe both up close and from afar.
"Well Mack the finger said to Louie the King/I got forty red white and blue shoe strings/And a thousand telephones that don't ring/Do you know where I can get rid of these things"

 

[Goose]

Are you trying to pick on Bald guys?

Dammit Nik, why do you hate my people?

 

[Buffnik]