Tuesday chat -- bball coach, UNI and spring football

There is quite a bit to talk about in our corner of the sports world.

Iowa's basketball search continues with rumors focusing on a new coach being named as early as next Monday. I could see that happening in a few scenarios, as in UTEP's Tony Barbee. In others, I'm not so sure. Baylor's Scott Drew is still pretty busy. Dayton's Brian Gregory is still going in the NIT (tonight against Cincinnati).

Those are names that are out there. We'll see how it goes.

When I was a freshman in the fall of 1985, I watched UNI lose to University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the UNI-Dome. I graduated in December 1989 but stayed around CF that spring semester waiting for my future wife to graduate. Or course, that spring the Panthers won the AMCU 8 championship and earned its first berth in the NCAA tournament.

Twenty years later, UNI is in the Sweet Sixteen and is the talk of the nation.

Iowa spring football kicks off Wednesday. Coach Kirk Ferentz will give an update on his team 12:30 that afternoon. I think there are spring position battles worth noting, including right offensive tackle, left corner, middle linebacker and kicker.

We'll begin the chat at noon and go for an hour Tuesday afternoon. Please join Iowa basketball beat writer Scott Dochterman, columnist Mike Hlas (who's on the road with UNI) and me (Iowa football).