Power Danger: Autry Likely Will Be More Like Payne Than Scheyer and Tang

There was no grooming comparable to most coaches working their way up the ladder from the bush leagues. Despite boasting zero college head-coaching experience, Jon Scheyer (Duke) and Jerome Tang (Kansas State) each won at least 26 games a year ago after hired to be in charge of a power-conference member. Meanwhile, Kenny Payne (Louisville) endured a painful campaign (4-28). They are among 25 active head coaches (some subsequently moving on) plus West Virginia interim pilot Josh Eilert for power-league members getting their starts as bench boss without serving as head coach for another college.

There is no rhyme or reason regarding first-year results. But if Syracuse's Adrian Autry assembles an average inaugural campaign, the novice head coach faces an overall record of 19-14 with losing league mark. Just ask dearly-departed Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) if first-year worksheets for mentors in this category usually generate positive headlines. For instance, all three newcomers in the Big Ten Conference two years ago registered losing league marks. In the previous 10 years, newcomer power-league mentors combined for an average record of 15-17 overall and 6-12 in league competition. Only nine active coaches on the following alphabetical list compiled a winning power-league ledger in his inaugural season sans benefit of toiling as a full-time college bench boss: