Since North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after its season ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, there has been speculation that the Tar Heels could try to lure Billy Donovan away from the Chicago Bulls. After Friday's news that Tommy Lloyd, one of UNC's top candidates, agreed to an extension with Arizona, attention has shifted even more so to Donovan.
The Bulls' head coach was asked about the Tar Heel job after it opened up. Donovan didn't deny interest in the role (subscription required), but he did say his "main focus" was on the Bulls.
Now that Lloyd is no longer an option for UNC, the school could make a strong pursuit after Donovan, who led Florida to back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.
It's been over a decade since he coached at the collegiate level, as he left the Gators in 2015. If he has any interest in returning to that level, he may not want to pass this kind of opportunity up if the Tar Heels come knocking (if they haven't already).
Tommy Lloyd is no longer an option for UNC
Michigan head coach Dusty May has also been floated as a possibility for North Carolina, but he has refused to speak directly about the job opening. He's talked about how happy he is where he's at, but that doesn't mean he won't consider leaving for UNC. If the Wolverines' season ends on Saturday against the Wildcats in the Final Four, speculation will build.
What if UNC prefers Donovan over May? Or what if the Tar Heels do have May next on their list, but he decides he wants to stay in Michigan? Does North Carolina have someone else in mind?
Right now, there are too many questions and not enough answers. There should be new information in the coming days about the direction UNC wants to take, especially once the college basketball season ends. The longer that the Tar Heels go on without a new coach, the worse it will look for a supposed top program.
Will UNC make a strong push for Billy Donovan?
On March 24, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that there was "growing speculation" that Donovan could step away (subscription required) from the Bulls at the end of the season to "re-evaluate what he wants from the profession."
It's worth noting that Cowley reported that before news broke that the Tar Heels fired Davis.
As Bulls fans know, he's dealt with a lot this year alone, losing both his father and mother-in-law in the span of eight days. It would be completely understandable if he took a step back. You have to wonder, though, how UNC's interest changes things for him, if at all.
It's a developing situation that you should've already been monitoring, but especially now that Lloyd isn't an option for North Carolina.