Starting with the sidebar stuff. Apparently there were reports that Pitt was already negotiating an extension with Coach Jamie Dixon. AD Jeff Long, via a spokesman, denied that. Saying nothing would happen until after the tournaments. Rather traditional stuff.

Arizona State flopped out of the PAC-10 Tournament last night (blowing a 15 point lead), and their coach expects to be fired.

An official decision on Evans is expected within days. Meanwhile, the search for his successor will come out from behind closed doors and back rooms.

According to sources within ASU’s athletic department, Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon is the Sun Devils’ leading candidate. Dixon has declined comment because Pitt will play in the NCAA Tournament.

Former ASU All-American Lionel Hollins, a Memphis Grizzlies assistant, also is high on ASU’s list. Hollins has told ASU boosters he would be interested if the job opened up.

Hollins plans to be in Los Angeles on Saturday for a luncheon honoring him as ASU’s newest inductee into the Pac-10’s Hall of Honor.

But hold everything. There are now rumors that Lon Kruger, UNLV’s head coach, might be a top candidate. That would set up the perfect, almost too good to bother verifying coaching domino.

Former University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins, rumored last week to be taking over at South Florida, is now being linked to the head coach’s job at Nevada-Las Vegas.

Sports reporter Ron Kantowski wrote in a column for today’s Las Vegas Sun that one scenario being floated in the gambling mecca has UNLV coach Lon Kruger leaving – possibly for Arizona State, to replace Rob Evans – and Huggins filling Kruger’s spot on the Rebels’ bench. Such a move would require a $1.5 million buyout of Kruger’s contract, Kantowski wrote.

Huggins could not be reached for comment. Kantowski wrote that he was seen on a flight from Las Vegas to Cincinnati Wednesday.

The column isn’t online at this time.

I mean, how perfect would that be for Huggins to be head coach at UNLV. Does it make any better sense?