NC State, anyone?

Shaka Smart is probably the biggest name out there for the NC State job but the Athletics Department at VCU will likely rework his contract.

Jim Valvano, if you remember, took a pay cut to coach NC State. That's right. He was making more at Iona. NC State is in the ACC, a power conference. At one time, the school was on par with both North Carolina and Duke. A tri-school rivalry, if you will. Whoever comes in to NC State can restore the basketball program back to what it was.

Here's this tidbit from Gary Parrish at CBS Sports.

N.C. State is searching for a replacement for Sidney Lowe. Sources have told CBSSports.com that the school has seriously pursued many candidates already -- among them Texas' Rick Barnes, Arizona's Sean Miller, UCLA's Ben Howland, Xavier's Chris Mack, Memphis' Josh Pastner and Texas A&M's Mark Turgeon. All have decided to pass on the opportunity to work under athletic director Debbie Yow, whose reputation within the coaching community is hindering her ability to find a marquee coach.