If all the skuttlebutt we hear from people is true, Golden doesn't have the rep to not lose the locker room if things do turn badly.
I honestly think this year goes two ways:
Out talent advantage and playmakers allow us to hold the ship together with one more loss over the next 5 until we hit the VT-UNC-FSU stretch, where we lose (at least) two of three. Most of the fanbase freaks out when it becomes apparent that 8-4 is enough to save Golden's job.
-or-
We drop at least 2 or more against Arky St, Neb, Duke, GT, and Cincinnati, in which case the VT-UNC-FSU stretch serves as the nail in the proverbial coffin. People bring up that Golden should be held to the same standards that Shannon was (7-5 or worse in his 4th year gets him fired), the University still struggles with the obvious, but, eventually, the 'R' word gets thrown around, forcing Donna and the BOT to act.