Woodson return unlikely
Curious about new coach; Marshall hot name for job
Like everyone else, soonto-be University of Memphis graduate Avery Woodson is interested to see whom the school hires to replace coach Josh Pastner, who was named the head coach at Georgia Tech on Friday.
But Woodson, who has made visits to VCU and Butler since deciding last month to transfer, told The Commercial Appeal on Sunday that he doubts he’ll return to Memphis — no matter who it hires.
The school’s search for a new head coach stretched through its third day Sunday with no sure sign that it’s nearing completion. But Memphis officials have told the team that they expect to make a hire quickly with just two three-day spring evaluation periods remaining over the next two weekends.
Asked if he might reconsider his decision to transfer depending on whom Memphis hires to replace Pastner, Woodson said, “I doubt I come back, just being honest. I haven’t decided on where I’m going yet, though.”
Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall remained the hot name for the job Sunday.
Marshall, who turned down a reported $4 million-per-year offer from Alabama last April to remain at Wichita State, hasn’t said publicly whether he would consider the Memphis opening.
But he hasn’t said publicly that he isn’t interested either, perhaps lending some credence to a Wichita, Kansas, television reporter’s tweet Sunday night in which he expressed concern that Marshall might indeed be considering the Memphis job.
“I’m really starting to worry about Gregg Marshall and Memphis,” the tweet from KWCH Channel 12’s Jeffrey Parson read.
Marshall, who’s led the Shockers to a Final Four and a Sweet 16 appearance over the last four seasons, is making $3 million per year and is slated to make $3.5 million in 2018.
He had been making a reported $1.85 million per year before Alabama came calling last spring.
Would he consider Memphis when he’s already turned down $4 million from Alabama?
“Memphis is a better basketball job than Alabama,” ESPN’s Jeff Goodman tweeted over the weekend, a view that would seem to support the idea that Marshall might consider the Tigers.
As for Woodson, the Waynesboro, Mississippi, native said he’s considering making a visit to Ole Miss this weekend. And while he said it’s doubtful, he didn’t completely shut the door on a return to Memphis, where he likely would’ve been a big contributor next season for a team that needs perimeter scoring help.
Woodson, who will be eligible immediately next season at another school as a graduate transfer, averaged 9.6 points as a junior — fifth-most on the team — and his 77 3-pointers (on 43-percent shooting) this year were the fifth-most by a Tiger in a single season.