ACC Basketball: 5 biggest storylines of 2020 offseason

5) Make-or-break seasons for Brad Brownell, Jim Christian, Josh Pastner?

Manning was one of a handful of coaches in the ACC that ended the 2019-20 season on the hot seat and, so far, he’s the only one that has been let go. That means Clemson’s Brad Brownell, Boston College‘s Jim Christian, and Georgia Tech‘s Josh Pastner are all preparing for make-or-break seasons for them.

Brownell has been in this position before. He was widely thought to be coaching for his job going into the 2017-18 season but, after finishing third in the ACC that guiding the Tigers to the Sweet 16 that year, he was rewarded with a six-year contract extension. He will be halfway through that extension in 2021 and the results since have underwhelmed. That NCAA Tournament appearance was Clemson’s only one under him since 2011, his first season, and they have gone 36-29 over the last two seasons without an NCAA berth.

Christian is the one most likely to be let go, as Boston College cited the desire for stability during the COVID-19 crisis as the reason for retaining him this offseason. He will only have one year left on his contract when the 2020-21 season ends and is 25-85 in conference play during his tenure. That will have to change in a big way.

Pastner is the one undoubtedly facing the highest expectations. He took the Georgia Tech job with both sides knowing a rebuild was in the works. Now entering his fifth year in charge without having reached the postseason in any of the previous three, the time for Pastner to capitalize is now – especially considering the roster he has built. The Yellow Jackets return almost everyone from last season’s team that finished in fifth in ACC play thanks to a top 20 defense. He could very well be gone with no NCAA Tournament berth in 2021.

The ongoing status of these coaches fighting for their jobs continues to be one of the more intriguing storylines in the ACC going into the 2020-21 season.