Is Texas Head Basketball Coach Rick Barnes still considering the N.C. State coaching job? Thursday night, WRAL reported that Barnes, a Hickory, N.C. native, was staying at Texas and would turn down an offer from State that would approach $2 million. That was indeed right. Barnes considered State's offer and weighed the chance to return to the ACC, but in the end decided you don't mess with happy and Barnes is happy in Austin and decided to remain at Texas.
However, State is not taking no for an answer. The Pack wants Rick Barnes, and they came back with an even sweeter offer. So is Barnes still thinking State? State is making him think, and as long as Texas doesn't announce that he has a new contract, the door is always open. He is still expected to remain at Texas and of course, for big bucks, but I've always believed this in coaching searches, until you hear it from the Man himself, nothing is certain.
A couple of things: in Friday's Hickory Daily Record, Barnes' mother said that he was very happy at Texas. According to Mary Barnes, "This is the happiest I've ever seen him. He says he would like to coach an ACC school, but he's not going to leave Texas to do it." And Mrs. Barnes added, "I don't know of any school that could take him away from Texas right now. None of them."
The Texas Basketball Banquet is scheduled for April 10th. You would think that would be a target date for Texas to make its announcement, if one is to be made.
Meanwhile, even as the Barnes saga continues, State is expanding its search of what's considered A-list candidates. Memphis Coach John Calipari may be State's next target.
Calipari is one of those controversial figures who's been successful at UMASS and Memphis. His teams win and he's a relentless recruiter. His 1996 Massachussetts team was stripped of its Final Four appearance because of violations concerning star Marcus Camby. However Calipari was exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Also, his committment to academics has been questioned. But in an article in March 2000, in the Memphis Commerical Appeal, UMass A.D. Bob Marcum said that 70 percent of the players graduated while Calipari was coach there, and according to the official University of Memphis athletic website, players have also graduated while he's been at Memphis. He's talking to Memphis about a new deal, but is also known to be looking. The Oklahoma job is still out there too.
The pool of A-list candidates is shallow. John Brady of LSU would be one, and of course Tubby Smith, who makes much money at Kentucky, but who has drawn the ire of the vocal and passionate Wildcats fans. Does that sound familiar?
State wants to get the Coach who'll make the biggest splash. If that doesn't happen, then you'll be hearing more about Frank Haith at Miami and Billy Gillespie at Texas A&M, etc. Oh yeah, Nate McMillan of the Trailblazers is not a candidate. He makes a lot of money and he doesn't have a degree. On the other hand, Dereck Whittenburg does have a degree.
