The (Other) Least Desirable Gig In College Basketball

Maybe I was using hyperbole with my headline yesterday — or maybe I just forgot about DePaul. I've read your plaintive emails, and I agree. The search for the Blue Demons' next head coach is proving just as pitiful.

You remember the DePaul gig. The one they've resorted to posting on the school's job board? It's no longer so far-fetched that they'll have to hire a student manager, or perhaps a sports business major, because no real coaches seem to want it.

Just like St. John's, DePaul seems to think it's a top program. And they've already announced they're willing to spend like it. So you'd think the big names would be lining up to interview.

•Tony Barbee was the only one to actually schedule an interview with DePaul. He signed with Auburn a few days before the interview.

•Jamie Dixon is completely happy at Pittsburgh, and it's likely that DePaul sources just floated that rumor to make people take notice.

•Ben Howland says he has "zero interest" in the DePaul job. Not "not enough interest," not "a little interest," but zero interest.

•Ben Jacobson? UNI locked him up. Same with Frank Martin and K-State.

I can't imagine Butler's Brad Stevens is going anywhere after this tournament run, nor Baylor's Scott Drew. Steve Alford? Not happening. And the worst part of this is, they fired Jerry Wainwright in January, so it's not as if they haven't had time to gauge the interest of potential candidates.

DePaul's search was pretty much narrowed to Steve Lavin, at least before he took the St. John's job. Anyone have a Plan B?

Plan B is likely talking to some lesser-heralded coaches, which is what Plan A should have been. DePaul is another one of those schools that has a few championship banners, and plays in a big conference, so they think they're still an elite program. But Ray Meyer is dead and gone, and the Blue Demons went 1-17 in conference this year.

Sometimes embracing mediocrity is preferable to reaching for the stars, when you're going to fall on your face where everyone can see.