Matt Painter is staying at his alma mater. Painter isn't leaving Purdue for Mizzou. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch cited a source Wednesday saying that Painter had told Missouri AD Mike Alden he was "in." He wasn't. (The Post-Dispatch reporter has since apologized.)
In a statement to the press, Painter said: "At the end of the day, my heart is at Purdue, and this is a place where I want to win a national championship."
So who's next?
The Star's Blair Kerkhoff covers just about every potential candidate, including VCU's Shaka Smart (is North Carolina State waiting on him?), Butler's Brad Stevens (not likely), and BYU's Dave Rose (Kerkhoff is a fan). There are more names -- everyone from ex-Iowa State coach Tim Floyd to now ex-Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl to Minnesota coach Tubby Smith.
Sports By Brooks reports that Smart is the new No. 1 candidate. Also on Alden's radar, according to Brooks: Richmond's Chris Mooney
and Tulsa's Doug Wojcik.
If the last few days are any indication of how the search will go, we'll know soon enough who is No. 2.
Here's ESPN's take on Painter's decision.
