PITTSBURGH — Bob Driscoll hears the discontent in the streets and in the stands at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and he says he understands. He’s not happy with his men’s basketball team either.

The Providence College athletic director said yesterday that he’s disappointed in a veteran-laden team that’s 13-10 overall and 4-7 in the Big East. The Friars have lost five of six games and are in danger of missing the conference’s postseason tournament at Madison Square Garden for the second time in three years.

“My reaction is I’m disappointed we haven’t been better,” Driscoll said. “There are lots of reasons you can point to. We’ve had injuries and a few other issues but, at the end of the day, we’re judged on our record. It’s not what I wanted it to be.”

The main target for PC fans’ angst is clearly head coach Tim Welsh. Now in his 10th season, Welsh led the Friars to the NIT last season and began this year with hopes of returning to the NCAA’s for the first time since 2004. A season-ending foot injury to leading returning scorer Sharaud Curry greatly hindered the team’s attack but the rest of the Friars haven’t met expectations either. Driscoll said he’s supporting Welsh. But if the Friars don’t stage a turnaround over the next month, it is clear the A.D. may have to cut ties with the coach.

“I’m trying to focus on trying to win every game between now and the end of this season. I’m 100 percent in their corner,” is all Driscoll would say on a decision regarding Welsh’s future.

Welsh has one year left on his contract. In order to protect future recruiting classes, PC will either extend the coach’s deal or buy him out after this season. Asked if he would ever let a coach go during a season as has happened in recent weeks at LSU, Oregon State and other schools, Driscoll said “I don’t think that’s appropriate or fair to a coach or the players. It’s not my way. It’s not right and there are no quick fixes in that. I’m a teammate. I want to be there for all of my coaches.”

Welsh is simply focusing on getting the Friars over the hump in the Big East. His team has been more than competitive in virtually every conference game but late-game miscues have cost the Friars wins at DePaul, Notre Dame and St. John’s. The Friars have lacked low-post scoring most of the season and instead relied on some potent, yet inconsistent, 3-point shooting. Despite an emphasis on improved defense, PC is 13th in the Big East (allowing 72.5 points a game) through 11 games.

PC is 1-6 on the road and is about to enter its toughest stretch of the season. The next three games come against ranked foes, beginning with a visit to No. 22 Pittsburgh tonight. Twenty-third ranked Louisville and eighth-rated Georgetown are up next, Saturday and Monday at the Dunk. Four of PC’s final seven regular-season games come against ranked teams.

Driscoll, who is in his eighth year at PC, said at the start of this season that he felt the basketball program “has the capability and the potential to be a very, very good basketball team. We can compete in the Big East and hopefully go to the NCAA Tournament and win some games there.”

Driscoll spoke those words when he and Welsh both expected Curry to return from his foot injury. That didn’t happen and when the Friars dropped some close games and baffled their fans with poor home efforts against Seton Hall and West Virginia, the disgruntled crowd booed and fan message boards began dispensing names of prospective new coaches. Driscoll said he was surprised a bit at the reaction considering PC has lost only twice at home all season but he understands fan reaction.

“I understand it fully,” he said. “I understand the angst directed at me and at Tim. My expectation was that things were getting better. Right now that’s not happening. That’s the world we live in. Some people (would) boo Bill Belichick after the Super Bowl. That certainly doesn’t help our home court but there are expectations.”

As he has for virtually every game the last two seasons, Driscoll accompanied the Friars to Pittsburgh last night. He and Welsh are close personally and Driscoll has frequently called Welsh “my coach” on several occasions.

Driscoll would clearly love to see the Friars go on a three-game winning streak and dramatically alter the course of what has been an unsatisfying season. But whether that is a real possibility or folly remains to be seen.

“You have to be loyal, particularly in tough times. I preach that to my staff all the time,” said Driscoll. “It’s not easy but I want all my people to be loyal. The season is far from over.”PC at Pitt

• TIME: 7:30 p.m.

• SITE: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh.

• TV: Cox Sports (Cox Channel 3).

• RADIO: WEEI-FM (103.7).

• TEAM RECORDS: PC 13-10 overall, 4-7 in Big East; Pitt 18-5 overall, 6-4 in Big East.

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kmcnamar@projo.com