Moving out west, there is a ton of buzz about what Oregon is going to do -- or more specifically, what uber-alum Phil Knight is going to do. Knight has already spent a barrel of money building a new arena named for his late son, and word is that he is prepared to spend whatever is necessary to land a big-time hire. I've heard the school is initially focusing on four such names: Steve Alford, Tubby Smith, Billy Donovan and Jamie Dixon. I spoke with New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs on Tuesday, and he told me that he met with Alford earlier that day and the school is going to adjust Alford's contract, which currently runs through 2017, to give him added incentive to stay. Krebs also told me that nobody, including Oregon, has contacted him to request permission to speak with Alford. I spoke with someone else close to Alford on Tuesday who echoed that, so it looks like Alford is staying put.
It should surprise no one that Oregon is reportedly interested in Gonzaga's Mark Few, who is from the state and an alum of the school. There was a report from a local media outlet in Spokane that Few was leaning towards taking the job, but I don't believe he will. I spoke Tuesday night with someone who is close to Few, and he said he would be "shocked" if he left Gonzaga for Oregon or anyplace else. I've always felt that Few's loyalty to his alma mater was overstated, and the sudden change of athletic directors at Oregon can't help. Few really values his time with his family and he has a secure, happy lifestyle up in Spokane. If Few surprises everyone and takes the job, Zags assistant Leon Rice will most likely succeed him at Gonzaga.
Tubby Smith's name is going to be floated again this year because there is a widespread assumption that he is not all that happy at Minnesota. A source at the school told me that Smith is disappointed that the school has yet to build the practice facility it promised him, plus Smith does not believe the school backed him up enough this season by suspending some of his players for transgressions off the court. And as we all know, it is very cold in Minneapolis. Smith's name was linked to the vacancy at Auburn last weekend, but a source close to Smith told me that nobody has contacted Smith's representatives about any job. From what I'm told, Smith would not appreciate schools floating their interest in him through the media or other third parties, nor would he be inclined to take a job at Oregon if he knew the school preferred Alford.
At the end of the day, a lot of people believe Oregon could end up with Texas A&M's Mark Turgeon, who coached there briefly as an assistant. Another logical choice would be St. Mary's coach Randy Bennett, who will be red-hot after taking his Gaels to the Sweet 16. But those are barely-educated guesses.
