Pitino's staff cut in half?

Rick Pitino's Louisville staff may have a different look next season.

Sources tell CollegeCarousel that assistant Ralph Willard, who came to Louisville last year after being the head coach at Holy Cross, could return back to Worcester this season, after they fired his replacement.

Also hearing that Louisville assistant Steve Masiello could interview for the Iona job, which was opened after Kevin Willard left for greener pastures. Masiello is not necessarily the leading candidate, which also includes Norm Roberts, who was fired by St. John's, and Richard Pitino, Rick's son who is an assistant at Florida.

Iowa will hire Siena's McCaffery

Iowa will hire Siena's McCaffery, sources tell CollegeCarousel.

Today, reports surfaced that St. John's was interested in Siena's Fran McCaffery. From the get-go, we felt Steve Lavin would be the John's first choice and that McCaffery would be a no-go.

As of 10:00pm tonight, we have heard word that Iowa plans to hire McCaffery to take the head coach job vacated after the firing of Todd Lickliter.

Expect official word from the university tomorrow.

Lavin and St. John's

CollegeCarousel is hearing that Steve Lavin and St. John's have more than a mutual interest in eachother. St. John's is expecting to interview Siena coach Fran McCaffery today, but sources close to both McCaffery and St. John's tell us that St. John's would rather have Lavin and that McCaffery isn't sure St. John's is actually the "place for him."

We would be surprised if any one other than Lavin ends up at St. John's. We do not expect McCaffery to get the job.

Stephenson close to committing?

Lance Stephenson, a highly-rated wing player out of the New York area, is closing in on a commitment. Now where to? That's the question. It's down to two, sources close to the situation tell CollegeCarousel. Kansas and Cincinnati will be the next destination for Stephenson. If you're a gambler, put your money on Stephenson to choose Cincinnati.

Where does this put Kansas with another highly-rated guard, Xavier Henry? That's the determining factor. It appears that Bill Self would rather have Henry, but Henry looks less certain on becoming a Jayhawk.