In this mornings DMN
3/31/15
In an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch,
VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin said no one had requested
permission to talk to Smart. "There is nothing to report at this
moment," McLaughlin said.
Two sources cautioned
that the contact might not signal that Smart was the final candidate. No
one quite knows what direction Texas athletic director Steve Patterson
will pursue in what is viewed as a top-10 college job.
If
Smart turns down Texas, CBS reported the Longhorns are likely to turn
their attention to Utah's Larry Krystkowiak and Xavier's Chris Mack.
Villanova's Jay Wright could be another possibility. Former NBA coaches
like Avery Johnson, John Lucas and Mike Dunleavy have expressed an
interest in the job, with Lucas and Johnson having strong contacts in
the state. Patterson's father, Ray, drafted Lucas when he ran the
Houston Rockets.
And what about Wichita State's Gregg Marshall?
The
search, which is officially less than two days old, began on a wacky
Monday with the focus on Marshall as the top Texas target. The narrative
changed quickly when Alabama athletic director Bill Battle landed by
school plane in Wichita, Kan., and spent eight hours before departing
alone. Broadcast reports indicated Alabama might be willing to pay
Marshall upward of $4 million, more than double his current salary of
$1.85 million.