Who will take the UNC job? Probably someone who's already said that he won't.
The North Carolina opening was hard to avoid on Thursday inside Michael Jordan's house.
CHICAGO — In The House that Michael Jordan Built, His Airness’ alma mater was impossible to ignore.
Even with North Carolina having been eliminated a week ago.
Even with the perceived frontrunner for the job, Billy Donovan, out of sight as his current team (Bulls) readies to face his former team (Thunder) Friday in Oklahoma City.
As for the four college coaches present ahead of Friday’s Sweet 16 at the United Center, three have been linked in one form or fashion to the Tar Heels’ head-coaching vacancy.
As for the one who hasn’t?
“I’m from North Carolina,” joked Rick Barnes, who, at 71 years old and on a lifetime contract with Tennessee, is about as untouchable as it gets in college sports these days.
The others checked the boxes of what to say (T.J. Otzelberger, Nate Oats), while the one who may be most likely of the group to depart for Chapel Hill, Dusty May, somehow managed to never be directly asked about UNC.
Otzelberger was as definitive as can be in stating his desire to stay at Iowa State, echoing comments he made earlier in the week in Ames about how happy he is leading the Cyclones.
Let’s take a look at what each said, and what each means:
