Oregon keeping Kent, Arizona looking

Oregon has decided to retain head coach Ernie Kent for at least one more year, though he’s being asked to make staff adjustments, according to the Register-Guard in Eugene.

The Ducks apparently made a run at Gonzaga coach Mark Few, but he had several reasons for staying put. Despite boasting a highly rated freshmen class, Oregon went 2-16 and finished last in the Pac-10 by four games. The Ducks are in rebuilding mode. Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny, a good friend of Few’s, will only be the job for a few more months before former football coach Mike Bellotti takes over as A.D. Oregon will have a new basketball arena for the 2010-2011 season, but many still consider the job the fourth or fifth best in the conference.

Few’s name will continue to surface for high-profile jobs. Arizona likely has Few on its list, but this article in the Tucson Citizen reports that the Wildcats appear to be pursuing blockbuster names in college coaching with a wide-open wallet. We’ve heard Pitino, Calipari, Pearl, Izzo, etc.

The Wildcats’ job is one of the best in the country. Arizona has tradition, with 25 consecutive NCAA trips and a national title under Lute Olson, but the next coach might be in for a couple of tough seasons as the big three of Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger and Nic Wise — all juniors — figure to be NBA bound, leaving the cupboard fairly empty. There is also an NCAA investigation hanging over the program’s head (sounds a little like Indiana a year ago). And, as interim coach Russ Pennell said in this article, Arizona has basically had three difficult years recruiting because of coaching uncertainty.