It seems that every year the beginning of college basketball season brings up the debate of various coaches around the NCAA being on the ""hot seat."" The patience of loyal fans has worn thin for these underachieving coaches, and their cry for change plays a big role in decisions made by their respective universities. This season is no different than any other, with a long list of potential coaching vacancies.
Despite excessive media attention for a relatively minor infraction, the list has to begin with Bob Knight at Texas Tech. His personal list of reasons to be fired grew longer after his ""slap heard around the world"" in the Red Raiders second game of the season. Yes, they are 4-0, but it's only a question of how tolerant the athletic department at Texas Tech will be of Knight and his coaching ""techniques."" Compared to his other actions, this seems relatively mild. But, he's already been fired from one coaching job for misbehavior, so keep an eye on Knight's season.
Moving to the Big Ten, both Minnesota and Michigan need to produce or start looking for new head coaches, as both Minnesota's Dan Monson and Michigan's Tommy Amaker will need to make drastic improvements this season to keep their jobs.
Monson and the Gophers went 16-15 last season and don't return any starters from last year's squad. The inexperience of this team could hurt Monson, and combined with his consistent underachievement as head coach, Monson may be unemployed before long. A run to this season's NCAA Tournament may be his saving grace, but that could be a long-shot considering the strength of the Big Ten.
Amaker faces similar job insecurity after eight sub-par seasons at Michigan. Michigan's basketball program has been through lots of scandals and NCAA sanctions, but that excuse doesn't work in Ann Arbor, Mich. anymore. The Wolverines have played well in the NIT tournament the past few seasons, including winning it once and making the championship game another time, but any fan knows the NIT is nothing compared to the Big Dance. The fans want results, and they want them now.
Michigan returns everybody but Daniel Horton, so if Amaker can't win this year, Michigan fans will be calling for change. If there aren't noticeable improvements, Amaker could be ousted in Ann Arbor.
This season, the coaches' hot seat doesn't exclude some of the nations higher profile coaches. Despite a history of success within their repective programs, both Maryland's Gary Williams and Kentucky's Tubby Smith have been mentioned in such discussion.
It seems highly unlikely that Kentucky would rid themselves of Smith any time soon, given what he has accomplished in the program. Smith's job seems safe considering he has compiled an incredible 241-71 record at Kentucky, yet he hasn't guided the Wildcats to the Final Four since 1998, and some Kentucky fans are growing impatient.
Williams' job at Maryland also seems relatively safe for now, but some fans were apparently spoiled by his initial success with the Terrapins, which included a national title in 2002. Now, Williams' Terps have failed to make the Big Dance in two consecutive seasons, and were ousted from the NIT in the first round last year.
Different variables could pop up throughout the season, but these five coachs could have to answer some questions throughout the NCAA basketball community if their teams don't perform this season.
