Big East Daily Links: March 28, 2015

Reported situation unfolding with Butler coach is sad, painful | News-Sentinel.com - As I walked out of my hotel into the lake-effect flurries floating incessantly over the Lake Erie shoreline Friday night to grab a bite to eat, I felt a pang in my stomach and a pain in my heart. The pang could be remedied by a jaunt down the hillside to a nearby Denny's, but the pain - which had grown worse since first receiving a text that Butler men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann had been in contact with the University of Tennessee regarding its coaching job - wasn't going to be remedied anytime soon. That's because, if, and at this time of year, and in regards to this topic, that word can't be emphasized enough, the reports are true, that pain is not going to subside for awhile.

Bobby Hurley is the right fit for DePaul | WeAreDePaul.com ($$$)

DePaul sets sights on Drew, Hurley as coaching search winds down | Chicago.SunTimes.com - With the search coming down to Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew and Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley, DePaul could announce a men's basketball coach next week. Both are scheduled to interview this weekend for the job vacated two weeks ago by Oliver Purnell, according to sources. School officials are said to be eager to complete the hiring process, though several candidates remain on a short list if Drew or Hurley don't work out. DePaul hired Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search to aid the process.

Kenisha Bell, Tia Elbert, and Hannah Grim are leaving Marquette women's basketball | AnonymousEagle.com - On Thursday afternoon, Marquette announced that freshmen Kenisha Bell, Tia Elbert, and Hannah Grim have been granted releases from the women's basketball program and will be transferring following the end of the spring semester. The move was first reported by @BreakdownGBB, a Twitter account tied to a website that tracks Minnesota girls basketball, and all three women are Minnesota natives.

NCAA Basketball: Bentil has blossomed at Providence | SouthCoastToday.com - Take one look at Ben Bentil's chiseled, athletic frame and you'd think he was born to play college basketball. That would be wrong. Five years ago, Bentil left his home country of Ghana through an exchange program and landed in Philadelphia. He knew no one in the United States. He was simply chasing a dream, one that had nothing to do with basketball.

Danny Hurley is one of the top candidates for the St. John's head coaching job | RumbleInTheGarden.com - The Johnnies' coaching search is suddenly in full swing. After it was reported earlier this week that Steve Lavin and St. John's were close to an extension, the school and the five year head coach "mutually parted ways," leaving a program that has made the postseason four out of the last five years very bare.

Eric Paschall will visit Villanova next week | VUHoops.com - Fordham Rams wing Eric Paschall will take a visit to Villanova next week, per SNY's Adam Zagoria. The Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year is exploring a transfer following the firing of head coach Tom Pecora, though he has not ruled out a return to Fordham just yet.

Xavier v. Arizona: So very, very close | BannersOnTheParkway - Xavier was my dad's team before it was the team of Joel, Bryan, and I. He talks about Pete Gillen, Brian Grant, Tyrone Hill, and the start of a tradition of excellence. It was the team of the next generation of us before we passed it on to our kids. In a million different driveway games on a thousand different days we were Gary Lumpkin, Lenny Brown, and James Posey, always winning a national championship on a last second three pointer by Joel masquerading as Lenny. Now, our kids take up the mantle, and somewhere in their stories will feature a big man from Cleveland and a much smaller man from Indiana.

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