It’s crunchtime on sideline for these coaches
This week, leading to the start of the men’s basketball season, USA TODAY Sports college basketball reporters Nicole Auerbach and Eric Prisbell will offer their predictions for 2012-13. Today’s focus: Coaches with the most to prove.
Auerbach’s picks
Jeff Bzdelik, Wake Forest
A 21-42 record over two seasons — including just five Atlantic Coast Conference wins — isn’t going to endear you to your fan base. The Demon Deacons have a way to go to get back among the elite teams in the conference, but will their fans be patient with Bzdelik if he has another losing season?
Ben Howland, UCLA
After a scathing Sports Illustrated piece last season that painted the program as one lacking discipline, Howland faced a PR nightmare as well as a disappointing season. A cause of Howland’s problems — Reeves Nelson — is no longer on the team, and Howland also added arguably the nation’s top recruiting class. But if Shabazz Muhammad is ruled ineligible to play and the Bruins don’t live up to their high expectations, Howland will be the target of a great deal of criticism.
Herb Sendek, Arizona State
During a down year in the Pac-12 last season, Sendek’s squad went 1021, its worst record since his first season at Arizona State in 2006-07. Two of Sendek’s assistants left in the offseason, and leading scorer Trent Lockett transferred to Marquette. But Sendek has experienced players and some transfers who can contribute, and he’ll need all of those pieces to try to get the Sun Devils to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009.
Bruce Weber, Kansas State
His fall from grace at Illinois happened quickly as a 2-12 record to close out last season sealed his fate. But Weber has landed in a pretty good spot in Manhattan, taking over a team with a deep roster that went 22-11 last season. Weber gets a fresh start, and a strong season at K- State would help the bitter end of his tenure at Illinois fade faster.
Prisbell’s picks
Bill Carmody, Northwestern
Simply put, this team is likely deeper and better than any in Carmody’s tenure, which began in 2000. Even in a Big Ten laden with national contenders, that means it’s time for Northwestern to crack through that glass ceiling and make the NCAA tournament for the first time.
Travis Ford, Oklahoma State
Ford has been successful in Stillwater, reaching the NCAA tournament in the first two of his four seasons. With Le’Bryan Nash and Marcus Smart, expectations are particularly high this season. Predicted to finish third in the Big 12, the Cowboys are expected to make an NCAA tournament run.
Kevin Ollie, Connecticut
UConn men’s basketball is not inherently an elite program, but Jim Calhoun made it so. Ollie was a wise choice to succeed Calhoun, but giving him a one-year contract handcuffs him in recruiting and ratchets up the pressure.
Craig Robinson, Oregon State
Much like his brother-in-law, President Obama, Robinson has a four-year record on which to run. And among Robinson’s issues is that he has yet to piece together a winning conference mark. This team has considerable talent, but the Pac-12 is bouncing back and is stronger.