Braswell Unlikely Prospect at UNLV

Bobby Braswell spent Monday answering his e-mail, not questions about his coaching future.

“You’re lucky I answered the phone,” said Braswell, the Cal State Northridge basketball coach.

Braswell in recent weeks has been besieged by inquiries, professional and personal, after leading Northridge to its first NCAA tournament appearance.

But not until the Matadors’ returned from Dayton, Ohio, where their season ended Friday with a 99-75 loss to Kansas in a Midwest Regional game, did he have the opportunity to respond to messages.

He said he received 31 e-mail messages Monday, mostly offering congratulations.

“Alumni, and everybody and their mother,” he said.

Braswell reportedly is coveted by other schools. But, as has been the case while rumors have swirled, he declined to discuss his future.

“I don’t have anything for you,” he said. “Not for [publication].”

Most notably, Braswell’s name has surfaced as a candidate for the coaching vacancy at Nevada Las Vegas. But it is unlikely he will be hired there.

Braswell reportedly is not among the school’s top candidates, and those close to him say UNLV wouldn’t be the right fit for the highly disciplined coach. The school is on NCAA probation because of violations stemming from the recruitment of Lamar Odom in 1996.

Braswell recently remarked, “I don’t know if UNLV would be ready for Bobby Braswell.”

UNLV will not discuss its hiring plans, but the school reportedly is interested in candidates with more experience than Braswell, coach of Northridge for five years.

Rumors heated up after Rick Pitino, the former Boston Celtic and Kentucky coach, removed his name from consideration for the UNLV job earlier this month. Other reported candidates include Texas Christian Coach Billy Tubbs and Purdue’s Gene Keady, although Keady has hinted he would like to remain coach of the Boilermakers.

UNLV also is considering retaining interim Coach Max Good, a former assistant who took over when Bill Bayno was fired in December.

Good is popular with players, who became more vociferous after Utah Coach Rick Majerus withdrew from the running last week. At least three UNLV recruits have threatened to transfer if the current staff is not retained.

For his part, Braswell just wants a breather.

Dick Dull, Northridge athletic director, said the school has not received any inquiries about Braswell. But that doesn’t mean potential employers won’t contact Braswell directly.