Tommy Lloyd seemed like the favorite to be the next head coach at North Carolina, but his contract extension, which was agreed upon on Friday, killed that dream for the Tar Heels.
While Lloyd being out of the mix throws a huge curveball in the coaching search, UNC must pivot quickly, potentially having to cast a wider net as they look to not only find the right guy, but situate this in time that the new staff has time to figure out the roster for next season.
Sure, there are some candidates who fans won't want anything to do with, but there are some enticing names that still could be in the mix.
So, who are those potential candidates?
UNC might need to cast a wider net in its head coaching search
Let's just get the obvious out of the way: if Dusty May wanted the job at North Carolina, it would be his.
Let's also get this obvious factor out of the way: there's no way that May, who has guided Michigan to the national championship game in just his second season at the helm, is leaving Ann Arbor this offseason.
While May, similar to Lloyd, would be a pipe dream, the reality of the matter is, it isn't happening.
Putting that aside, here are some other candidates UNC should at least be considering (in alphabetical order):
Mark Byington is a proven winner.
From Georgia Southern to James Madison to Vanderbilt, the dude just wins. The 49-year-old wasted no time getting Vanderbilt back to being NCAA Tournament contenders, leading the Commodores to 27 victories this season. Under his watch, Vanderbilt produced a top-10 offensive attack, averaging 85.7 points per-game.
Let's remember: his rosters at Vanderbilt have been a mix of transfers and lower-level high school recruits. Imagine what he could do with more resources to go out and acquire top-tier talent.
UNC is looking for a proven winner, and Billy Donovan certainly fits that bill.
A former two-time national champion at Florida, Donovan had a ton of success in his coaching career at the college ranks, but there are some questions that come along with the now 60-year-old.
For starters, the dude hasn't been at the college ranks in over a decade, coaching in the NBA ever since his time at Florida came to an end. While college athletics are a lot like the pros now, is Donovan a long-term answer for North Carolina?
Additionally, Donovan has indicated on multiple occasions that he will not entertain any other jobs until after the Chicago Bulls season comes to an end on April 12. Can UNC afford to wait, especially with the transfer portal opening on April 7?
Drew has been at Baylor for the past 23 seasons, as he took a program that was in complete shambles and turned them into national champions.
While his resume is impressive, the last few seasons have been a bit disappointing in Waco, especially after the program's national championship run in 2021.
There hasn't been much chatter about Drew in this search thus far, but he might end up being one of those outside the box types of candidates. Let's face it: Baylor isn't pouring in the resources you need to win games, something North Carolina could definitely provide him with.
He probably isn't the top choice at this point, but there could be mutual interest from both sides.
McCasland is a tremendous coach, but his style would absolutely infuriate Tar Heel fans.
Based on slow tempo and elite-level defense, McCasland would remind fans of the torture of watching Tony Bennett-led teams at Virginia. He is a guy that UNC could definitely be considering, but it would take a lot to get him away from Texas Tech.
McCollum is another proven winner, dating back to his head coaching days at the Division II level.
Similar to McCasland, there has to be concerns regarding the slow tempo style McCollum brings to the table. In order to thrive at North Carolina, the next head coach has to be able to adjust to playing at a faster pace, something McCollum has not done throughout his career.
His coaching style works in other spots, but it just might not be the right fit in Chapel Hill.
Others that shouldn't be ruled out
If you're truly casting a wide net in order to find the right candidate, you have to at least kick the tires on Alabama's Nate Oats.
Oats does come with some baggage, but man can the dude coach.
Due to his daughter playing volleyball at UNC, Michael Malone has also gained some traction in these discussions. Malone might be eyeing another NBA opportunity, but if the chance to coach in Chapel Hill presented itself, he might be intrigued by the idea.
T.J. Otzelberger has been phenominal at Iowa State, and has done that with limited resources to work with. Given his age (48) and past success, he might be a guy UNC could have significant interest in as this all plays out.
Here's a wildcard for ya: has anyone at least called Jai Lucus to see if he'd have any interest? Lucas has the feel of being the next budding star among the coaching ranks in college basketball.