My preferences would be in order:
Calipari
Few
Dixon
Is it legal for boosters to chip in cash to hire a new coach? If so I would think that Artie "Bottomless Pockets" Moreno and Sarver would be willing to pay top dollar for a guy like Calipari, who could bring guys like Tyreke Evans, Derrick Favors, and possibly John Wall with him. We would actually be able to tell Gaddy and Moser, sorry no room for you.
Again this is all wishful thinking, I can dream can I.
Not going to happen, Cal would bring in a couple good players with him in 2009 but not top 10 McDonald's AA caliber kids. He would obviously help in player rentention as well, although that should be Jim Livengood's first priority every day over the next few months. Keeping players like Wise, Withey, and Horne could help bridge the gap significantly.
Broken out in tiers I'd go like this:
No-Brainer
John Calipari - Built and currently runs one of the top 5 programs in the country despite bbeing in a mid-major conference. Money is going to be the issue in getting him here, but he all but took the NC State job (before NC State's AD lowballed his assistants) a couple years ago so it's not like leaving Memphis is unheard of.
Would Win Big, But Aren't Perfect
Jamie Dixon - Terrific coach, but as a program we probably more often than not always be looked upon as UCLA's little brother. Money won't be a problem, whether or not he wants to leave Pitt and be judged against his buddy Ben Howland for the rest of his career are the issues in getting him to AZ.
Mark Few - West Coast, has won for a lot of years and runs the third best program in the West despite being in a low-end conference at a small school in a random town. Money again won't be a problem, but whether Few wants to ever join major college hoops instead of having his own little fun thing in the WCC remains to be seen.
Bruce Pearl - Up-tempo offense, has done an amazing job at Tennessee and seems to be motivated to move up the totem pole which inevitably means dumping the football school he's currently at. There some questions about the character of his program and recruiting (which probably can be said about everyone in the SEC) but we can afford him especially with Fulmer needing to be replaceed pretty soon.
From here on out Arizona will be rolling the dice...
History Indicates a Winner, But There's Reason for Skepticism
Lon Kruger - proven winner mostly, but also throws in losing seasons here and there. Plays a boring, thuggish oh offense and promotes goonery on defense. Has west coact ties and we could outspend UNLV. Would almost assuredly take the job if offered.
Scott Drew - proven recruiter and what he has done at a nearly impossible situation at Baylor has been nothing short of miraculous. But has he really won? #12 seed and one and done isn't exactly anything to write home about although they should be better this season.
Jeff Capel - Took over Kevin Sampson's mess at OU and has a top 10 team already in Norman. The Duke connection concerns me, I want a guy who's here for awhile and not somebody who's going to bolt for Durham the minute K retires in the next several years. He's a fine recruiter though and would be a nice fit with Livengood and some other booster's Oklahoma connections.
Who Knows?
I doubt it gets this far as Arizona has the money and resources to convince at least one of the previous mentioned names to come to Tucson, but just in case it does I'd assume they target a small school guy on the way up. Chris Lowery, Randy Bennett, Bill Grier, Anthony Grant, and Sean Miller come to mind in such a scenario.
