NCAA Basketball: Bellarmine, Big Ten, and hot seat in roundtable questions

3. Who is the next power conference head coach you think will get fired?

Stevenson

Well, I was considering Mike Hopkins but I think the contract is too big for him to get bought out so I’m gonna go with Bruce Webber. I feel like there is one I’m missing but Kansas State has been terrible this year and has fallen off the last couple of years.

Tineo

Either of the two worst Big 12 teams could easily have Bruce Weber or Steve Prohm in the hot seat. However, considering the success of the program during his early run with the program, Mike Brey is a hot name to be exiting his University.

Notre Dame was a consistent tournament team, including two elite eights. They missed the tournament just twice from 2007-2017. However, they have missed three straight and are looking at a fourth in 2021.

Zacher

There are a handful of coaches who are dangerously close – or are already on – the hot seat, from Notre Dame’s Mike Brey to Kansas State’s Bruce Weber to Marquette’s Steve Wojciechowski.  But I have a feeling that it is only a matter of time before Iowa State puts an end to the Steve Prohm era.

It feels like so long ago since Fred Hoiberg had the Cyclones competing for the Big 12 regular-season titles for four-straight years – and, to Prohm’s credit, he also kept Iowa State in the mix for his first two seasons.  His first year – where the Cyclones reached the Sweet 16 in Georges Niang’s senior campaign – might be the only thing keeping Prohm’s job afloat.

It’s really difficult to ignore how mediocre the Cyclones have been otherwise.  After going 24-11 and reaching the Round of 32 in Prohm’s second season, the Cyclones endured their first losing season since 2008-0, going 13-18 and finishing in the basement of the Big 12.  The following year, they reach the NCAA Tournament and get bounced in the opening round by a lower seed – and then go 12-20 the following season.

Now, Iowa State is sitting in dead last in the Big 12 with a 2-14 record and on a 10-game losing streak.  They are just one of nine (currently playing) teams in the country who have yet to win a conference game – and they’re the only power conference school to be winless in conference play.  Their only wins are over Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Jackson State by an average of 16 points.  They own losses to South Dakota State, TCU, Mississippi State (by 31 points), and Kansas State (at home) – the same Kansas State team that lost to Div. II Fort Hays State.

Prohm’s lone saving grace may be the fact that he is bringing in Tyrese Hunter, the third-highest rated recruit in program history, next season – but if the Cyclones go the rest of the season winless in Big 12 play, I would not be shocked to see Iowa State come open.  It’ll be difficult, too – the Cyclones have four scheduled games remaining, with three coming against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Baylor.  Their currently scheduled season-closer – at home against TCU – may be their – and Prohm’s – only hope.

Zinkula

DePaul’s Dave Leitao may have been granted an extension last season that runs through 2024, but there’s reason to think his time is running short. Despite a promising start to last season, the Blue Demons only finished 16-16. This year, DePaul is only 3-9 (1-9 in Big East play).

DeWayne Peevy took over as the school’s Athletic Director last August and could understandably want to make his own hire. Leitao’s contract extension did not include a buyout, making a coaching change less burdensome financially.