CBS hoops writer Matt Norlander doesn’t expect LP to be fired after this year

148-138 in 9 seasons. 61-66 @ South Carolina 22-48 in the SEC No other SEC school brings this loser back for year 5. Darrin Horn got fired after going 60-63.

Jack Veltri said:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-coaching-carousel-2026-hot-seat-watch-power-conferences/

The interesting part of his tidbit is "despite some behind-the-scenes snooping". Sounds like Donati put some feelers out and didn't like what he heard. It doesn't excuse the decision, but perhaps he is realizing this is a more difficult AD position than he first envisioned.

Abush said:

The interesting part of his tidbit is "despite some behind-the-scenes snooping". Sounds like Donati put some feelers out and didn't like what he heard. It doesn't excuse the decision, but perhaps he is realizing this is a more difficult AD position than he first envisioned.

Meaning no one wants this job. 😣

Gamecock1993 said:

Meaning no one wants this job. 😣

I think it means no one that Donati wants on a short list wants this job, which is what many of us have been saying for a while. Donati is going to have to earn his large paycheck with this hire and with baseball. Let's see if he's worth it. So far, unimpressed.

He said "something drastic needs to happen here" for Paris to get fired. What is more drastic than back-to-back 20 loss seasons?

will110 said:

He said "something drastic needs to happen here" for Paris to get fired. What is more drastic than back-to-back 20 loss seasons?

This is actually why I said a few weeks ago that we needed this team to consistently get blown out over the last month of games. Not because I want our school and our teams to be embarrassed, but because that was going to be the only drastic thing to force Donati's hand. Right now, the team is fighting for Paris, and that's a really bad sign for those of us that enjoy MBB.

I'd just love to know Donati's justification for keeping Paris around. "The buyout is too big" isn't much of a rationale to give the fanbase (or recruits) hope that Carolina basketball is a serious program. At least with Paul Mainieri he'd only been here one season and has a championship track record. I can see why PM got another year, though I disagreed with that decision at the time and continue to disagree now. Lamont Paris has two tournament appearances in nine seasons as a head coach, going one-and-done in both. He has an overall losing record at USC and has largely been uncompetitive in his three non-tournament seasons here.

will110 said:

He said "something drastic needs to happen here" for Paris to get fired. What is more drastic than back-to-back 20 loss seasons?

Back-back-BACK

Seems like a few national press folks have been leaked “tidbits” of the MBB situation so that all of us won’t be surprised when he’s back for another year. The huge buyout isn’t this AD’s doing but it IS his problem to solve.

I will be interested to see how much NIL Paris gets, who he is able to recruit, who on the current roster returns, and how next season goes. If next year is a good one, will Donati extened, LP's contract??

I'll be saving myself some money, if Paris is back

He better sign a top portal class.

Typical.

Abush said:

This is actually why I said a few weeks ago that we needed this team to consistently get blown out over the last month of games. Not because I want our school and our teams to be embarrassed, but because that was going to be the only drastic thing to force Donati's hand. Right now, the team is fighting for Paris, and that's a really bad sign for those of us that enjoy MBB.

If the team is fighting for Paris, then Paris is an OK coach. Juice up the roster and we'll have a fighting chance. You cannot have it both ways. 😊😉

gsb16 said:

I will be interested to see how much NIL Paris gets, who he is able to recruit, who on the current roster returns, and how next season goes. If next year is a good one, will Donati extened, LP's contract??

Marcus Johnson could be really good, with some inside players. LP's problems are selling the program to potential recruits, + NIL money.

Huger said:

He better sign a top portal class.

That would just solve so many problems.

Abush said:

The interesting part of his tidbit is "despite some behind-the-scenes snooping". Sounds like Donati put some feelers out and didn't like what he heard. It doesn't excuse the decision, but perhaps he is realizing this is a more difficult AD position than he first envisioned.

Typical of our own fan base. Automatically conclude that we can't get any coach worth a damn to come to this God awful shi**** of a University.

Gamecock1993 said:

Meaning no one wants this job. 😣

Does our fan base think any coach in our history wants to come here? Seems all of you think we offer the worst job in Power 4 in this dump of a city with a terrible University that has to beg anyone to come.

AnsonCock said:

If the team is fighting for Paris, then Paris is an OK coach. Juice up the roster and we'll a fighting chance. You cannot have it both ways. 😊😉

He has 3 losing seasons out of 4, and the only USC coach with a worse SEC record than him is Newton. No one could sell me that Paris is a good coach anymore.

Saw he thinks LSU may keep McMahon as well.