alt=Ryan McDonaldAs college basketball’s postseason gets going, talk is already swirling about this year’s coaching carousel in the sport.
In the Beehive State, those discussions have been happening for quite sometime, as many Utah fans are unhappy with head coach Larry Krystkowiak while Utah State head coach Craig Smith appears to be someone who could be considered for a more prestigious job than the one he has in Logan.
But is that the talk about them nationally as well?
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello published a lengthy “Hot Seat and Coaching Carousel preview” in which he detailed potential candidates for jobs already open, jobs he’s watching that could open up, jobs to keep an eye on and coaches to watch who could fill positions.
Krystkowiak and Smith were indeed two people Borzello mentioned, as was BYU head coach Mark Pope.
Borzello listed Utah as one of nine jobs he is watching. He noted that the Runnin’ Utes are going to finish below .500 in Pac-12 play for the second year in a row, countering six straight seasons above .500, which included two trips to the NCAA Tournament, one of which Utah got to the Sweet 16.
Concluded Borzello: “I don’t see a move happening yet, but multiple industry sources have brought it up in recent days.”
In a section highlighting coaches of mid-majors to watch, Borzello noted that Smith has guided Utah State to two straight NCAA Tournament berths (the Aggies punched their ticket last year before it was canceled) and has the team near the top of the Mountain West Conference again.
“I could see the Minnesota native Smith getting in the mix for any Midwest job that opens, and I think he would be one of the top two candidates for Iowa State along with UNLV’s T.J. Otzelberger,” Borzello wrote.
While it was perhaps predictable to see Krystkowiak and Smith get mentioned, Pope was listed in the same section as Smith as a mid-major coach who could garner interest from bigger programs.
“Pope is going to be on the radar for most available high-major jobs until he takes one,” Borzello wrote. “He checks a lot of boxes: played in the NBA, high-major experience as an assistant coach, has had success at two spots as a head coach.
“He had BYU in the mix for a top-four seed last season and will have the Cougars dancing again this season. I could see him getting a call if Arizona opens — but he could also opt to wait and see what else comes open the next couple seasons.”