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We expect Purdue leadership to sit down soon and map out a game plan for how it's going to proceed.
We asked Mike Bobinski Sunday night if he planned to hire a search firm to assist and he was non-committal. Not sure he's necessarily a search-firm guy, philosophically, but Georgia Tech did use one to make its basketball hire before he left - whether that was his call or university leadership's, we don't know - but our working assumption is that the relationship built between Purdue, Bobinski and DHR International during the A.D. search could bring them into the picture again.
In terms of names, we're going to tweak our list next week upon a week of reflection and knock some names like Brady Hoke off there and add some of the coaches who are clearly floating their names out there who might make some sense - Troy Calhoun and Bo Pelini, for example - just to recognize them as possibilities.
We do think Brock Spack will get a look, despite what he seems to think. Whether it's the first look, we don't know, but we'd think Purdue would do some legwork there at the very least, because he makes a lot of sense.
We do think Purdue has to at least take a long look at P.J. Fleck, both to investigate whether he'd even be interested and if he was, how well he'd fit at Purdue. Again, his style's not for everyone. But it has worked for him.
Some sources with some understanding Fleck believe he is going to very careful when the time comes to move, that he may hold out for the best situation possible, maybe a really premiere job.
Purdue's a better job than people will give it credit for - there's only 14 of these things in the Big Ten after all - but it's current state obviously is what it is.
Greg Schiano is another name that bears mentioning just from a profile standpoint. Some indication around him is that he will have his sights set pretty high. James Franklin isn't on the hot seat quite yet, but Penn State's going to be 4-3 after this weekend and you might see coaches like Schiano and Matt Rhule at Temple start posturing for when that time comes.
Les Miles … it is just very difficult to see that happening and a worthwhile conversation to have whether or not that's a direction Purdue should even consider, given Miles' age (62) and reputation for Flintstones offense.
Jeff Brohm, might want to keep an eye on that one.
Skip Holtz didn't have a great run at USF, but he's winning at Louisiana Tech right now with a big-time offense, knows the region up here and should have a tie to Bobinski from his Notre Dame days.
We mentioned Dino Babers in chat yesterday, but that was just an off-hand comment, not any sort of reporting. Babers would make a lot of sense but it wouldn't seem reasonable to expect him to leave Syracuse, especially after just one season.
We will do our best to cover this as it unfolds and break down various prospective candidates in the weeks and months to come, but right now, this is very, very early.
Something else that has to shake out over time: The job market.
What are other jobs are going to open that could affect Purdue? LSU won't. Different strata. Same for Texas and USC if they open.
Kentucky maybe. Baylor, if it opens, conceivably. Houston, when it opens, could be. Vanderbilt or Boston College, possibly. All ifs.
But in the Big Ten footprint, for whatever that's worth, there aren't many sirens going off, after Illinois, Rutgers and Maryland turned over last and Minnesota promoted from within (albeit in a lukewarm manner).
Crazy things happen sometimes, but as of right now, it looks like it might be a pretty favorable hiring climate for Purdue regionally and nationally. (staff)
The athletic combo forward has already visited LSU and is expected to take a trip to Iowa State following the Purdue visit.
We know Matt Painter saw Ewing a couple weekends ago and must have liked him, obviously.
Signing Ewing, should that happen, would seem like a pre-emptive strike against attrition.
Obviously, Caleb Swanigan is probably headed to the NBA if he has the season most expect him to. Vince Edwards, you never know. And Basil Smotherman could conceivably go the fifth-year route if he doesn't a great opportunity for himself at Purdue in 2017, you never know.
Signing a junior college player would give Purdue some experience up front at a time it might find itself short on it.
Not aware as of right now of any other visitors coming this weekend, but we'd be surprised if there weren't, just given the fact it's a Saturday afternoon in the fall and there's a fan event going on.
But we're not aware of other official visits, at least.
Purdue does get Felipe Haase - the big man from Florida, via Chile - in next weekend, or some time thereabouts. He's going to cram a lot of visits into a pretty short period of time, starting with Missouri this weekend, then Purdue, Pitt, South Carolina and Louisville to follow. Might not be traditional weekend visits, but split-weekend sorts of things just to get them all in.
Nothing new on Nojel Eastern. There have been reports Thad Matta went to see him. Ohio State has another point guard committed. How that affects interest on both sides, we don't know, but the Buckeyes are obviously still interested.
Sasha Stefanovic is very much in play for Purdue. Thing is, it would be difficult to have him on the same roster as Dakota Mathias and Ryan Cline because they're all so similar. But he's an offer-caliber, we think. (BN)
Not sure if Isaac Haas will participate after rolling his ankle in practice yesterday and not sure Spike Albrecht will be there, but heard he may be. Every year at this thing, whichever grad-student guard Purdue has has had class.
Anyway, we'll have coverage from the event afterward and, yes, a Wrap Video. Be still, your beating hearts. (BN)
Join us then.
A replay will be posted afterward.
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