Tim Floyd Reportedly Takes Arizona Job

Third Update: ESPN is reporting that USC coach Tim Floyd will be Arizona's next coach. ESPN's radio affiliate in Phoenix reports that the Trojan coach and Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood are finalizing a deal and an announcement is expected Thursday. Floyd coached USC for four seasons, including three NCAA tournaments and proved to be a highly effective recruiter. The Tuscon Citizen is reporting that Floyd flew in to discuss the job, but citing an unnamed source, says it is unclear if the coach was offered the job or even visited the campus. The paper reports that no press conference is yet scheduled for Thursday.

Second Update: ESPN SportsCenter just reported that Jeff Capel is now the leading candidate. Rumors are swirling, but we will sit on this and keep it updated throughout the day.

In less than 24 hours, the University of Arizona basketball coaching search has gone from frantic to favorable.

GoAzCats.com is reporting that Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood has locked down the next head coach. Speculation by media close to the situation is that it will be Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

Without revealing any names, the Rivals Web site had this to say about the search.

A press conference has yet to be scheduled, although it's believed that one could come as soon as Wednesday, although Thursday appears to be much more likely and it could even stretch to Friday.

From what we were told, details of the contract have yet to be completed, but that a verbal agreement has occurred and that there is heavy confidence coming from both sides on the deal getting done.

Arizona had backed itself into a corner when news hit the Internet that John Calipari was interested and eventually took the vacant coaching job at Kentucky. With Calipari gone and Rick Pitino uncertain, the coaching board was moving towards lesser known guys that wouldn't do what the Tucson faithful were hoping from their first secure coach since Lute Olson.