UA associate head coach Joe Pasternack is reportedly heading back to the head coach's chair, with multiple reports saying he'll take over for Bob Williams at UCSB.
While Pasternack also interviewed for the UNC Wilmington job, the UCSB position appears to be a better fit for his West Coast recruiting ties. The Gauchos are also an attractive program as the major sports team in that area and as members of the Big West, in which they have historically had success.
Pasternack is a New Orleans native who attended Indiana, but launched his career at Cal before taking over New Orleans as a head coach. That program flirted with downgrading itself to Division II and Division III status in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and Pasternack left in 2011 to take Archie Miller's spot on the UA staff when Arch went to Dayton.
Pasternack is known as a dogged recruiter who helped pull in many of UA's California and international players. UA coach Sean Miller mentioned him Thursday for helping in the recruitment of Lauri Markkanen. Pasternack also has been given the scouting assignment for many of UA's toughest opponents.
The announcement of Lauri Markkanen's leap to the NBA may have appeared curiously timed for 10 a.m. Thursday, but that was actually perfect for internet streaming in Finland (at 8 p.m.) where fans -- and any future Euro recruits -- could catch it.
Miller mentioned that he thought some Finns might have been watching the announcement and he also jokingly noted that Lauri has promised him to help recruit anybody else like him there who pops up in the future.
Zack Rosenblatt's story on Markkanen's farewell is attached if you haven't seen it already.
T.J. Leaf is leaving UCLA for the NBA as expected.
Oregon's presence in the Final Four might help convince future in-state talents to play for the Ducks.
Jordan Bell's Drew League experience is paying off.
Tyler Dorsey has become "Mr. March" but he was also pretty good on Feb. 4 at Eugene against the Wildcats.
Kenpom's system loves Nigel Williams-Goss and the Zags.
We've attached our Final Four coverage, which looks at the West's return to both host and be in the event, and some other items.
