NCAA Basketball: 4 head coaches who needs to win big in '23-24 season

NCAA Basketball: 4 head coaches who needs to win big in 2023-24 season

By Caleb Hall | Sep 17, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 17: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts during the second half against the Saint Peter's Peacocks in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Kenny Payne the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

No. 1 Kenny Payne, Louisville Cardinals

Wins Needed: NCAA Tournament Bid

Kenny Payne’s first year coaching the Louisville Cardinals was worse than abysmal last season and any wins in year 2 will be seen as a positive. Louisville went 4-28 and it was their worst season in modern history for that program. Payne had never been a head coach before and it showed. Payne was also known for his stellar recruiting, and although his first class at Louisville is good, it is not the great class Cardinal fans were expecting. His 2024 class is also not off to a very good start.

Payne grabbed some transfers and top 100 recruits that will hopefully lead Louisville to more wins next season. However, if Louisville doesn’t make the tournament next year Payne will be in a lot of trouble.

The only way I can see Payne returning to Louisville in 2024-25 is if he wins 20 games and Louisville is one of the first 4 out in the bubble. Louisville is a top ten program in college basketball history, and even if Payne is a hometown guy Louisville won’t stand for mediocrity, especially not 4-win seasons.

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If Payne can have Louisville looking good and playing hard but in the end they miss the tournament then it’s a different story. But if Payne misses the tournament with less than 17 wins, it is very hard to see him returning to Louisville in 2024-25.

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