Jarron Cumberland is like you: he doesn’t know who will be the next University of Cincinnati basketball coach.
“You haven’t told me anything,” said Cumberland.
Cumberland is of course more than an interested spectator. He is the reigning American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Cumberland said he had not yet made up his mind whether to return or not.
“I’m still looking at things,” he said on Friday.
Cumberland, a 6-foot-5 security guard, leads a strong group of returning players for the Bearcats. Last year he averaged 19.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Sports director Mike Bohn, who is leading the search, has not made himself available for comment. UC hadn’t interviewed anyone until Thursday evening. The Bearcats do not use a search company.
An updated look at what we learned about potential candidates for the Cincinnati Bearcats head coaching position:
John Brannen
Like Mick Cronin at UCLA, the NKU Norse head coach immediately emerged as the reported front runner, but no further developments were reported. Brannen is still considered one of the leading candidates. An interview would be a short drive for Brannen if the traffic wasn’t bad.
Frank Martin
The South Carolina head coach’s reported candidacy was short-lived. According to Jeff Goodman of the stadium, he moved from having a “key goal for the Bearcats” on Thursday night to deciding not to meet with the Bearcats on Friday – also via Goodman.
Darren Savino
The Bearcats’ deputy head coach conducted an informal team training session on Friday. Mick Cronin campaigned for Savino to be considered for the UC head coaching position and almost guaranteed Savino would join him at UCLA if he doesn’t get it. Goodman reported on Sunday morning that Savino is supported by many coaches.
Nick Van Exel
Little do we know that the Memphis Grizzlies assistant and former Bearcats Star Guard was left out of consideration. We know that former teammate Terry Nelson, UC’s radio analyst, said Van Exel contacted the school about the vacancy and “got the standard reply,” Thank you for your interest. “
Note: There may be other potential candidates, but no developments with other people have been reported since the search began.
Other names mentioned as possibilities, but no news yet:
Matt McMahon, Murray State head coach
Thad Matta, former Xavier and Ohio State head coach
Erik Martin, assistant coach from West Virginia Virginia
After Cronin is out, the search begins to replace him
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