Nobody Lining Up For Kentucky Job? ... Maybe Jay Wright

Billy Donovan's tacit, if not exactly overt approval for Kentucky to contact him might be the best thing going for the 'Cats.

Until Monday, other top names associated with Kentucky's head coach search included John Calipari, Billy Gillispie, and -- shhh -- expatriate Rick Pitino.

It now appears unlikely that any of those candidates are interested in ushering in the next era of Kentucky basketball. Rick Pitino says he'd "never, ever leave Louisville to go to another college because they're my family,"John Calipari reinforced his initial statement indicating his disinterest in the job by signing a 5-year contract extension with Memphis, and the rumor mill -- an exceptionally well qualified one, source-wise -- is pointing strongly to the probability that Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie is headed to Arkansas.

Let's see: in the four days since Tubby Smith left Kentucky to become a Golden Gopher, two top candidates have made it clear that they're not interested in the job and a third is being strongly connected with an opening at a different (and competing) school.

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, whose information generally turns out to be pretty good -- although it's occasionally unsubstantiated -- throws Jay Wright's name into the ring:

My sources (and I know people hate that word and so do I, but if you can think of a better one, I will use it....maybe "conquistadores") tell me that Jay Wright's people have been contacted by UK (when I get contacted, I assume that Hubby will be considered "my people") and that an interview of some sort either has or will take place this week. Comcast Sports allegedly reported today that Nova's AD had been contacted about such a meeting (multiple people heard the report), but they now say no such report was made. However my conquistadore on Wright still suggests that the meeting will take place.

Jay Wright could be a solid fit at Kentucky. And it's a kharmically balanced option, as his Wildcats were defeated by Tubby's 'Cats in the first round of the '07 NCAA Tournament, which was Smith's last victory as head coach at Kentucky. Wright plays an up-tempo game, which the Big Blue Nation wants -- natch, demands to see after ten years of the defensive, grinding Tubbyball style. The 45-year old is also considered by most to be a coach on the rise; he took Hofstra to two NCAA Tournament berths before landing at Villanova, where it took him four seasons to get the "other" Wildcats to the Big Dance. In '06 Villanova earned a #1 seed in the Tournament for the first time in school history.

If Jay Wright were to be offered the Kentucky job and turn it down, what then? Jones goes on to list candidates such as Mark Few of Gonzaga and Tom Crean, but how likely are they to be considered? Jones sums it up thusly:

Bottom line is this.....the UK nation can be unified under one coach, Billy Donovan. Bring in the Gator to Lexington and UK basketball is more exciting than it has been in years.....after that however and the presumptive favorite splits. We are all on hold at this point until Billy makes a choice after his team finishes its run at a repeat championship. But until then, Mitch is working on other options....and Wright and Gillespie seem like the early leaders. But of course EVERYTHING can, and likely will, change.

Personally, I think there's a better chance that Adolph Rupp will rise from the grave to coach a new generation of Runts rather than Donovan leave Florida for Kentucky, but for Big Blue Nation's sake, here's to hoping.