Source says Few isn’t Arizona bound

The rumor mill went into overdrive Wednesday and it involved Gonzaga’s Mark Few. First, there was internet speculation that Few had accepted the job at Arizona. Then came a report that the Arizona’s job was Few’s if he wanted it. Then came a report that Few had declined and the Wildcats were focusing on Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel.

UPDATE 8:30 P.M.: By early evening, several media outlets were reporting that USC coach Tim Floyd was in Tucson visiting with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood. ESPN Radio 620 in Phoenix, citing multiple sources, reported that Floyd was Arizona’s choice. Here are some of the evening links: KTAR radio in Phoenix, Los Angeles Times , CBSsports.com , Foxsports.com and ESPN.com . (Note that the links listed in the extended post are from earlier today).

Read on for an unedited article I filed for Thursday’s S-R. This story could change, obviously, with the next phone call, so I’ll update it as necessary.

Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth told me nobody had called him to ask for permission to speak to Few, but the A.D. admitted that is a common courtesy that many schools simply ignore.

First, the links: The Register-Guard , Oregonian , CBSsports.com (first and third item are Few-related), East Valley Tribune , Tucson Citizen , Foxsports.com , Daily Oklahoman , Norman Transcript .

By Jim Meehan

Staff writer

Gonzaga men’s basketball coach Mark Few has been linked to two Pac-10 coaching jobs, but he isn’t going to Oregon and sources indicated he won’t end up at Arizona .

It’s believed Oregon made a run at Few as a possible replacement for Ernie Kent, but Few opted to stay put, multiple sources told The Spokesman-Review. The Ducks announced Wednesday that Kent will return next season with a new addition, Mike Dunlap, on his staff. The Register-Guard of Eugene also reported that Oregon tried to lure Few back to his alma mater.

Few apparently is prominent on Arizona ’s list and that the job was his if he wanted it, CBSsports.com reported. However, a source told The Spokesman-Review Wednesday afternoon that Few “isn’t going there. He’s not going to take it.”

That would seem to mesh with a report on the East Valley Tribune’s Web site. The Arizona newspaper reported that Few had rebuffed Arizona and Oklahoma ’s Jeff Capel had emerged as the leading candidate for the Wildcats’ job. The Norman ( Okla. ) Transcript reported Wednesday afternoon that Arizona is interested in Capel, but reports that Capel is in negotiations to leave OU appear to be erroneous.

Few has compiled a 264-66 record in 10 seasons at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have made 11 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, the last 10 with Few as the head coach. Gonzaga was 28-6 this season and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in Few’s tenure.

Few, who didn’t return a phone message, is expected to be at the Final Four in Detroit to watch GU seniors Micah Downs and Jeremy Pargo compete in the slam dunk competition Thursday and Josh Heytvelt play in an all-star game Friday.

The Wildcats are replacing interim coach Russ Pennell, who stepped in when Lute Olson resigned in late October.

Arizona is generally regarded as one of the top programs in the country. The Wildcats have made 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the nation’s longest active streak. This year’s team advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to Louisville .

However, the Wildcats have endured a rocky few years. Talented juniors Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger and Nic Wise played for Olson as freshmen and for Kevin O’Neill as sophomores when Olson was on a leave of absence. Olson was expected to return this season, but resigned just weeks before the season opener.

The three Wildcats figure to test the NBA Draft waters, which could leave the program in rebuilding mode. Also, the program is under NCAA investigation after Arizona self reported violations from an elite recruiting event known as the Cactus Classic at the school’s McKale Center .