http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/bottom10120215/bottom-10-coaching-edition
Sweet, we can move from 3rd worst to 10th worst
10. Ben Howland, UCLA
Offense: An utter mess
Bottom 10 judgment: "Highway 61 Revisited." This is still the same coach that went to three straight Final Fours, right? There isn't some "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" stuff going on here, is there? No? Right. It's difficult to fathom the depths Howland and his Bruins have sunk to in his ninth year at the program, mostly because Howland had such a splendid run from 2006 to 2008. This season began with a Top 25 ranking and the preseason nod to win the Pac-12, but it wasn't long until forward Reeves Nelson -- the Bruins' best player last season -- was suspended and reinstated and suspended and finally dismissed for various conduct issues, all before the second week of December.
Since then, the Bruins have never quite recovered, never made any sort of late-season push, never really come together. A 14-11 overall record in a bad Pac-12 might be enough to keep, say, Craig Robinson safe, but the folks in Westwood rightfully expect much more, and it's been no surprise to see fans vocally abandon their once-loved coach as this disaster of a season wears on. It's doubtful UCLA will pull the trigger on Howland this offseason, not after a year spent taxiing between "home" venues while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovation. But the Bruins' messy start and subsequent mediocrity has been downright baffling to observe both up close and from afar.
3. Jeff [Redacted], Wake Forest
Offense: The perils of progress
Bottom 10 judgment: "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." Wake Forest has already won three more games than it did last season, one of the worst in program history. And before the season is out, the Demon Deacons may just win a few more. In a vacuum, that's a sign of progress. Besides, it's always too early to evaluate a coach after just two seasons. Jeff [Redacted] deserves time and space to build his program in his own image, and all that. Granted. But here's the thing: When [Redacted] was hired in 2010, he replaced Dino Gaudio, a coach who had overseen the program's rise to a No. 1 ranking in 2009 and a 44-18 record in two seasons. Sure, Gaudio's teams finished poorly, but they were more than competitive. Still, Wake AD Ron Wellman fired Gaudio after just three seasons at the helm and quickly installed [Redacted], despite the former Colorado coach's 36-58 record in his three previous seasons.
Two seasons later, Wake is alone in last place in the ACC -- again. The Demon Deacons have now lost six in a row and nine of their last 10, including a 20-point home drubbing to Clemson on Saturday. If Wake Forest wins its last five ACC games (which, hint, ain't happenin'), [Redacted] would reach 24 total wins at the school -- as many as Gaudio had in 2009 alone. It's too early to write a memorandum on [Redacted]'s tenure yet. He's the coach now, and he deserves more time. Even so, Wake's proud, hungry fans must agree that Gaudio deserved much the same.
