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NCAA Basketball: 15 head coaches on early hot seat for 2020-21 season

By Joey Loose

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 04: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers talks with Head coach Richard Pitino of the Minnesota Golden Gophers before the game at Assembly Hall on March 04, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 04: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers talks with Head coach Richard Pitino of the Minnesota Golden Gophers before the game at Assembly Hall on March 04, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – MARCH 01: Head coach Richard Pitino of the Minnesota Golden Gophers  (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – MARCH 01: Head coach Richard Pitino of the Minnesota Golden Gophers  (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

4. Richard Pitino (Minnesota)

There have been a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT title, but Minnesota hasn’t exactly been a well-oiled machine under Pitino. The Golden Gophers have finished under .500 in three of the last five seasons, including this past year, despite competing in a really tough Big Ten. How much of this falls on Pitino?

There are pros and cons to parting ways with Pitino in the near future, though it’s hard to say which side is winning on any given day. Predecessor Tubby Smith was fired in 2013 even after an NCAA Tournament appearance and first-round win. Pitino has had just one season above .500 in league play. He also has a buyout that isn’t ridiculous, even if his contract does have four more seasons. Another unsuccessful season and the Golden Gophers might be looking for a new coach in 2021.

On the other hand, how does father Rick play into all of this? I’m not insinuating that Minnesota should retain him because of his father’s hiring at Iona. It’ll be interesting to watch if the return of his father to college basketball will help or hinder his coaching career moving forward. Barring a surprise season where the Golden Gophers are competitive at the top of the Big Ten, I suspect Pitino will be on the chopping block by this time next season.

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