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| Billy Donovan is unlikely to leave a good situation
at Florida, but he might listen if Kentucky calls. (Travis Lindquist
/ Getty Images) |
1) Billy Donovan, Florida — The Florida head coach has other things
on his mind right now, but when the Gators' run ends he'll have to decide
whether to take a look at heading to Lexington.
Donovan has a terrific relationship with Florida AD Jeremy Foley and Foley
isn't about to let money be the determining factor for Donovan leaving
Gainesville. Look for Donovan ultimately to remain where he is.
Odds (if offered): Slim
2) Rick Barnes, Texas — The Texas coach was pursued heavily by NC
State a year ago, but he decided to remain in Austin despite the lure of
basically returning home.
Odds (if offered): 10 percent
3) Tom Izzo, Michigan State — He's a God in East Lansing and it
would be difficult to imagine him leaving.
Odds (if offered): 10 percent
4) Tom Crean, Marquette — One of the hardest-working guys in the
business, Crean would really be able to take advantage of the Kentucky name on
the recruiting trail. He's done a terrific job at Marquette, but going to
Lexington would be a huge boost.
Odds (if offered): 50 percent
5) Billy Gillispie, Texas A&M — There's no questioning the job
that the Aggies head man has done in turning around the program, but his
strength lies definitely with recruiting the Lone Star state. Also, remember
that he wasn't even the one who recruited Acie Law IV or Joseph Jones.
Odds (if offered): 30 percent
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| John Calipari would probably enjoy the spotlight in
Lexington. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images) |
6) John Calipari, Memphis — Cal has done an impressive job at
Memphis, but he likes attention — and he doesn't get any until the NCAA
tournament rolls around. That would change in Lexington — and so would his
ability to attract high-profile recruits.
Odds (if offered): 40 percent
7) Thad Matta, Ohio State — Greg Oden will be gone this year and
Daequan Cook and Mike Conley Jr. aren't all that far behind, but Matta is a
perfect fit for Columbus. He's low-key and doesn't mind playing second-fiddle to
football.
Odds (if offered): 5 percent
8) Jay Wright, Villanova — His name was mentioned prominently a year
ago after his team made a run at the Final Four and his personality would make
him an instant hit in Lexington. However, Wright is happy at 'Nova and he
doesn't have quite as much appeal as he did a year ago.
Odds: (if offered): 15 percent
9) Mark Few, Gonzaga — Just imagine what Few could do in Lexington.
He has helped turn Gonzaga into a legitimate power out west with unheralded
players. However, not quite sure he's the right guy for this job. Few will
likely take over for Ernie Kent when he leaves Oregon.
Odds (if offered): 50 percent
10) Mike Brey, Notre Dame — I can't imagine this one happening
because Brey still hasn't made the Big Dance two of the last three years. If he
gets offered the job, expect him to take about one breath before accepting.
Odds (if offered): 99 percent
I understand that Lon Kruger said he doesn't want to leave UNLV and while I
want to believe the Running Rebs' head coach, we all realize plenty of coaches
say that prior to taking another job.
What was Kruger supposed to say in the middle of an NCAA tournament run?
Sources indicate that Kruger and Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt are two names
that Michigan has identified as candidates to replace Tommy Amaker in Ann Arbor.
If Kruger does leave Vegas, it shouldn't take long for the Rebels to bring on
alum Reggie Theus, who has done a terrific job at New Mexico State the last two
seasons.
Oregon's Ernie Kent is campaigning for the job because he wants out of Eugene
— and the feeling is mutual.
Three names have emerged for the job to replace Royce Waltman at Indiana
State: Former Ball State and Houston head coach Ray McCallum, Sycamores
assistant Greg Lansing and Creighton assistant Kevin McKenna.
McCallum has already had two chances — he was 126-76 as the head coach at
Ball State and then was nearly 30 games under .500 in four seasons at Houston.
He is now on Kelvin Sampson's staff at Indiana.
Lansing, 39, is ideal for the job. He worked in Iowa for seven years and it's
his second stint at Indiana State. Heck, his wife was even a track star for the
Sycamores back in the day. McKenna is a long-time assistant under Dana Altman at
Creighton.
Harvard
Harvard is apparently targeting Bostonian Mike Jarvis — the former St. John's, GW, BU and Cambridge Ridge & Latin head coach.
The Crimson are focusing primarily on current or former head coaches —
other than Georgia Tech assistant John O'Connor, who previously worked under
Fran O'Hanlon at Lafayette.
Rick Boyages, a Massachusetts native who was the interim head coach at Ohio
State and now works for the Mid-American Conference, is said to be involved.
Another interesting name tossed around here is former Michigan head coach Tommy
Amaker.
Colorado
The Buffs are waiting on Air Force head coach Jeff Bzdelik.
Bzdelik's team is headed to New York City for Tuesday night's NIT semifinal
game against Clemson.
According to sources, Bzdelik is the top choice. Former NBA head man Alvin
Gentry, now an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, is in the mix, as is Old
Dominion head coach Blaine Taylor.
Four names have emerged for Marshall — and it could be that athletic
director Bob Marcum is waiting until Florida's run is over.
Gators assistant Donnie Jones is in the mix — as is Wake Forest assistant
Jeff Battle, Creighton assistant Brian Fish and Dan Dakich, who was fired
earlier in the month from Bowling Green.
Gregg Marshall made a trip to Tampa on Friday night and it appears as though
he's the front-runner for the South Florida job.
However, Winthrop is doing its best to keep Marshall. According to a pair of
sources, Winthrop is offering $400,000 per year, a 10-year deal and also
potentially naming the court after him.
South Alabama's John Pelphrey and broadcaster Fran Fraschilla could be in
play if Marshall's not the guy.
Other notes
UConn assistant Tom Moore, Ohio University head coach Tim O'Shea and a pair
of head coaches — Albany's Will Brown and Marist's Matt Brady — are in the
mix for the Quinnipiac job. ... Moore and Brown are also both involved at St. Bonaventure. ... Gonzaga assistant Bill Grier and UCLA assistant Kerry Keating
are names mentioned for Santa Clara, San Diego and Long Beach State. USC
assistant Gib Arnold is in the mix at Long Beach. ... Here's one guy who
Princeton should be looking at: Georgetown assistant Robert Burke, who spent
four years as a Tigers assistant under John Thompson III.