Mean Green

The Memphis Commercial Appeal has a big package out today on John Calipari bolting for Kentucky that includes the obligatory list of "guys Memphis could look at" to be its next coach.

UNT coach Johnny Jones wasn't on the list, although that doesn't mean he won't be considered. Johnny was the interim head coach at Memphis before Calipari got the job and turned the Tigers into a national powerhouse.

The names mentioned include Southern California's Tim Floyd and UTEP's Tony Barbee.

I wouldn't be surprised if Jones got an interview, though. He talked with LSU before the Tigers hired their last head coach.

Jones has won at least 20 games in three straight seasons at UNT, which is pretty impressive. I wrote a story about Jones' chances to make the jump to a more prominent program at the end of last season, and most experts say he needs that one big NCAA Tournament run to push him over the top.

UNT was on course to have a chance to reach that goal before falling to Western Kentucky, which won in the first round of the NCAA Tournament again, in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tournament.

UNT is loaded for next season with its entire starting lineup returning and a couple of key recruits coming in.

Here's a link to the Commercial Appeal's story:

Memphis candidates