The Search Just Went Nuclear

Memphis Fox Affiliate (Fox13) is reporting that Damon Evans and Jimmy Sexton met in Atlanta today. Sexton's only published basketball coaching clients are Mike Anderson of Missouri and Rick Stansbury of Mississippi State. It seems much more likely that Sexton is talking about Anderson.

The search has gone nuclear because most media outlets are reporting that Kentucky has just given the deed to the City of Lexington and 14 coal mines to Memphis Coach John Calipari. Reports place the value of the deal at $5-6.5 million per year. I think the technical term for a deal that large is "a shit load of money."

Various reports have Memphis asking for permission to speak with Mike Anderson while other reports say that they haven't asked yet. TigerSportsReport is the Rivals.com Memphis affiliate. They paint a pretty bleak picture for Memphis fans regarding both the incoming recruiting class and existing players as it relates to retention.

Per TigerSportsReport.com the Tigers would almost definitely lose unsigned commit Demario Cousins, a top 2 player in the country, and others. The site's editor feels that Memphis would be unable to lure Mike Anderson back to Conference USA from the Big 12 due to the lack of prestige and anticipated player departures. Per their site:

"If Calipari goes to Kentucky, who are on the short list to coach Memphis?

Memphis fans on the Commercial Appeal message board are clamoring already for Mike Anderson, the former UAB head coach who took Missouri to the Elite Eight this season.

That is highly unlikely, however. With seven scholarship players and a sour taste after Calipari leaving, the situation at Memphis would be a lateral move, at best, for Anderson. As he would be leaving the Big 12 for C-USA, it is realistically a step backwards for the highly regarded Anderson."

The Memphis Commerical Appeal adds that Tiger recruit Nolan Dennis has an addendum to his letter of intent that releases him from his scholarship and allows him to sign with Calipari at another school.

In barely news, FoxSports.com is reporting that UVA is set to hire Washington State's Phil Tony Bennett as their coach. ESPN now has the same story. The UVA search is interesting because I'm pretty sure that Parker Executive Search ran it for the Hoos, and they kept their process just as quiet as Damon has kept ours. Could a similarly out of left field, but absolutely qualified candidate emerge if the Mike Anderson talks collapse?

You think things are nuts now? Wait til tomorrow.

UPDATE: Yes. I've heard the rumor that there's a press conference on Wednesday. I do not believe that such an event is currently scheduled because my sources tell me we do NOT have a done deal. If we have a press conference on Wednesday, it's just coincidence. I also know about the rumored note to the UGA pep band asking them to be ready for a press conference, but I understand that there was no actual date on the note.

UPDATE 2: Dean Legge of DawgPost.com expects a hire this week. I do, too.


PWD