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 Iona trying to keep Ruland
Iona athletic director Rich Petriccione said Jeff Ruland and he agreed to tweak his contract to keep him at his alma mater. But that's only half the story. Ruland isn't too pleased with the current contract negotiations and the two sides are in a stalemate. The fact that the wording isn't what Ruland wants could lead to him getting involved with Seton Hall if Siena's Louis Orr doesn't pan out for the Pirates. But Ruland probably needs to make a move one way or the other fairly soon. Petriccione wants Ruland's next move -- after his eight-year deal -- to be the NBA.
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 Rutgers down to two candidates
The Scarlet Knights are expected to make a decision between Kent State's Gary Waters and Florida assistant John Pelphrey. The Scarlet Knights have been active over the last few days, interviewing Nets assistant Eddie Jordan, Kent State's Gary Waters and Florida assistant John Pelphrey. Richmond's John Bielein was the favorite, but he announced Tuesday he's staying at Richmond. |
 Tubby turns down S.C.
Rumors are running rampant at the Final Four about Tubby Smith's $2 million offer from the Gamecocks. But Smith is negotiating a new deal with Kentucky and is expected to stay with the Wildcats. South Carolina already has tried to woo Alabama's Mark Gottfried, but he's negotiating with the Tide. Arizona State head coach Rob Evans is still on a longer list. |
 Long-term reward awaits Williams
Maryland's Gary Williams is expected to sign a lucrative, long-term deal with the school in the next two weeks.
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 Dukes close to decision
The Dukes interviewed Robert Morris coach Danny Nee and former UMass coach Bruiser Flint on Monday and told both they would have a decision by either late Monday night or Tuesday morning.
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 Orr now atop Pirates list
The coaching search shifted to Siena's Louis Orr after Xavier's Skip Prosser told the school he would remain in Cincinnati, a source close to Prosser told ESPN.com. Orr was expected to meet with Seton Hall, possibly as early as Monday, according to another source close to the search.
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 Everhert staying at McNeese State
A source close to McNeese State coach Ron Everhert said he likely will stay at the school rather than go to Northeastern.
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 Longhorns want to keep Lanier
Texas is making a move to keep assistant Rob Lanier rather than letting him go to St. Bonaventure. Lanier is the perfect choice, but the Bonnies haven't been moving fast enough.
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 Drexel close to decision
Former UMass coach Bruiser Flint, UMKC's Dean Demopolous, former player Walt Fuller and St. Joe's assistant Matt Brady are on Drexel's short list.
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 Meyer among Wisconsin-Milwaukee candidates
Hampton coach Steve Merfeld interviewed at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Former DePaul coach Joey Meyer, who won the ABA 2000 regular season title with Chicago, is expected to be a candidate at UWM. So, too, is former Wisconsin assistant Shawn Hood and Arizona assistant Jay John.
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 O'Shea giving him a Good look
New coach Tim O'Shea is looking at former UNLV interim coach Max Good as a possibility for his top assistant. But Good is being wooed by Colorado for the same position and is interviewing for the head coaching job at Division III Bryant College (R.I.). Former Wisconsin assistant Shawn Hood is also a candidate.
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 Gottfried agrees to extension at Alabama
Alabama announced Tuesday that coach Mark Gottfried agreed to a contract extention. Sources said beforehand he was close to agreeing on a six-year, $700,000 contract to keep him with his alma mater. Gottfried was on the short list behind Rick Pitino to go to Louisville had Pitino not accepted the position. He's also been talked about around the SEC. Meanwhile, Gottfried is trying to keep his team intact. Sophomore Rod Grizzard and freshman Gerald Wallace keep telling Gottfried they're staying, but they're still getting harassed to leave. But the best pro prospect might be Erwin Dudley, who isn't flirting with leaving.
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 Tulsa back in the search mode
The Golden Hurricane is looking for its second coach in as many seasons after Bill Self left for Illinois last year. Tulsa tried to keep Peterson by flying to Minneapolis to meet with him Sunday but it was to no avail. Tulsa's list will likely include Winthrop's Gregg Marshall, former assistant Norm Roberts, Texas-San Antonio's Tim Carter, who was second to Peterson the last time, Washington State coach Paul Graham, Rice coach Willis Wilson, San Jose State's Steve Barnes, present Tulsa assistant John Phillips, and possibly Pepperdine's Jan Van Breda Kolff.
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 Dunn talking with Lions
Penn State coach Jerry Dunn had one year left on his contract but is in negotiations with the school after the Nittany Lions
reached the Sweet 16. Dunn is seeking somewhere between a five- to seven-year deal and is hoping to have it wrapped up next week. Dunn's name surfaced with a few jobs in the past few weeks.
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 Davis the main man
Mike Davis was one of the most popular coaches in the Hilton lobby Thursday night. Davis was loose and relaxed after landing the Indiana head coaching position. Davis coached the Hoosiers under a stressful situation, but still got them to the Big Ten tournament title game and a No. 4 seed
before Kent State beat the Hoosiers. Davis said he's glad he doesn't have to spend the Final Four looking for a job. Davis said his players hit a wall after beating Illinois in the Big Ten tournament semifinals. The Hoosers lost to Iowa in the title game. |
 Waiting for Knight's call
West Ark junior college coach Doc Sadler said he's still waiting for Bob Knight to call the two players -- 6-10 Jamal Holden and 6-8 Billy Pharis -- who signed with former Red Raiders' coach James Dickey in November. The two players are bound to Texas Tech unless they're not academically eligible. Texas Tech is actively pursuing recruits for its three open scholarships, but Sadler said it's odd that he hasn't heard from Knight and Holden and Pharis are waiting to hear from their new coach.
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 Wilkens should test draft process
Damien Wilkins, a struggling sophomore forward, is considering a jump to the NBA. He's expected to test the draft process by declaring but not signing with an agent. He probably should have a good circle of advisors with his father, Gerald, and uncle, Dominque, but that's not always the case. The N.C. State coaching staff is imploring him to return but they might lose this battle. N.C. State coach Herb Sendek has told friends in the administration that he's definitely staying at the school, despite widespread rumors sending him to jobs all over the country.
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 Sign here, Mr. Welsh
Keep in mind that coach Tim Welsh agreed to a seven-year deal with the Friars. He still hasn't signed it yet.
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 Surprise! Spoon
Charlie Spoonhour was in the Downtown Minneapolis Hilton lobby Wednesday and said he didn't know what was going to happen Thursday. He was hired 24 hours later by UNLV as its new head coach. He said he didn't know the job search was down to him and interim coach Max Good. Spoonhour will take with him his son, Jay, and former Saint Louis, Illinois and Minnesota assistant Derek Thomas -- who is a scout for the Atlanta Hawks. The Runnin' Rebels might also add former UMKC coach Bob Sundvold. That leaves Good and assistants Charles Cunningham and Dave Rice searching for new gigs.
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 La Salle update
St. John's assistant Kevin Clark is expected to interview for the La Salle head coach opening. Maine's John Giannini and Penn's Fran Dunphy could still be in the mix, as well.
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 So far, he's standing Pat
Pat Kennedy isn't going to leave DePaul and decided against
pursuing Rutgers or Seton Hall.
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Thursday, April 5
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