GATHERING MOMENTUM

ESPN.com’s Andy Katz is also reporting Todd Lickliter will be the new Iowa Hawkeyes basketball coach.

The more I read up on this, the more it seems like a really good hire. Over at the mess boards some of the Frowny-Faced Deluded are complaining that Lickliter’s two Sweet 16 appearances aren’t significant and the Horizon League really isn’t a very good conference. I’ve been living in Horizon League territory for a while now and I can tell you that’s just a bunch of flapdoodle from a bunch of people who were hoping for Majerus or Crean. Here are some coaches who have come out of the Horizon League:

• Bruce Pearl
• Bo Ryan
• Dick Bennett
• Thad Matta, who, y’know, might be coaching in a game tonight
• Rollie Massimino

So, if this Lickliter stuff is true (and it’s sure starting to look like it is), I’d say the Hawks have done well for themselves. By the way, Todd Lickliter apparently picked up some meaningless award today, something about being the National Coach of the Year or something. Clearly, they should’ve hired Steve Lavin instead.

BUT IT’LL BURN YOUR TONGUE

SI.com’s Seth Davis is reporting that Todd Lickliter has been hired as the Iowa basketball coach. Shows what I know. If it’s true, that is, and there’s some circumstantial evidence that it might be.

(S)ELECTION DAY

On the same day my beloved North Central Conference gets fitted for a toe tag comes word that Iowa has apparently found a new head basketball coach, with a press conference expected by about this time tomorrow. Irresponsible speculation is our specialty around here, so let’s examine the possibilities–who’s the next guy for the Hawkeyes?

Kirk Speraw, head coach, Central Florida: Lots of folks are just assuming it’s him at this point. Speraw is a former Hawkeye player who comes endorsed by the last unquestionably good head basketball coach in Iowa City: Lute Olson. Personally, right now, I don’t think it’s him. Don’t ask me why; I just don’t. Speraw’s hiring would probably cause Iowa message boards to implode–”Oh, great, another guy named Kirk that nobody’s ever heard of”–and some people might even call that a bad thing.

Reggie Theus, head coach, New Mexico State: This would be a certain attention-grabber and, honestly, Theus may be the only candidate anybody out there has actually heard of. Theus has done okay for himself recruiting kids to come to Los Cruces; recruiting to Iowa City might be easier. However, this would be a “novelty hire” and everyone would more or less know that Theus wasn’t going to be a long-term answer in Iowa City.

Rick Majerus, professional head-coaching candidate: He’s been offered free burritoes for life by Panchero’s Mexican Grill if he takes the job. I only wish I was making that up. I don’t think he’s a serious candidate.

Steve Lavin, ditto: No burritoes for him, though.

Todd Lickliter, head coach, Butler: A last-minute possibility, but I’m not sure Iowa wants to tab a Missouri Valley coach again.

Lon Kruger, head coach, UNLV: Says he’s not a candidate. We all know what that means.

Tom Crean, head coach, Marquette: Supposedly being reported by a radio station in Omaha. I have my doubts, but I report what other people report, you decide what other people decide.

Somebody Else, somebody else: Here’s my pick. A total surprise candidate. I guess we’ll find out.

DON’T FORGET . . .

Ten Things You May Not Need To Remember, But You’d Better Not Forget:

1. Nominations for Cost Saver of the Week are due to Tammi in Human Resources no later than 3 pm Thursday.
2. For purposes of alternate side winter parking, a ‘day’ begins at 11 PM the preceding day.
3. Leaving the ‘Block non-ICP packets’ box unchecked in the Default Profile dialog box may leave you vulnerable to open-relay TCM/IPW attacks.
4. The next person who doesn’t wipe off the top of the mustard bottle after they’re done using it is gonna be eating a knuckle sandwich.
5. Just because you’re a Pre-Tribulationist doesn’t mean you won’t have cockroaches in your root cellar.
6. The restrooms are for customer use only, and the cashier does not give change for the bus.
7. Personnel are not allowed to punch in more than three minutes prior to the start of their scheduled shift without the approval of a manager.
8. Public displays of affection are prohibited on school grounds during all times when class is in session.
9. There is considerable disagreement over whether Native Americans constitute an example of a ’stateless nation.’
10. The ’slippery slope’ is a fallacy; the fact that a dividing line is difficult to draw does not mean that a line cannot be drawn at all.

AN ALTMAN IS HARD TO FIND

So who replaces Steve Alford? Cross Creighton’s Dana Altman off the list, as it appears he’ll be taking over at Arkansas.

Thus far there’s exactly one known candidate–the dude from Northwestern State. I think the UI athletic department can probably find some tape of his team.