College Basketball: ESPN Dallas Reporting Larry Brown Is SMU's New Coach

Yes, that Larry Brown. The Hall of Fame Larry Brown. The gypsy coach with an NBA and NCAA ring. He of the much-traveled suitcase. Per Jason King of ESPN:

The only holdup involves Brown's assistants. Sources said that Brown has offered Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich a "coach-in-waiting position." Jankovich is leaning toward accepting the job, but he's also conflicted about leaving a Redbirds squad that returns every key player from last season's 21-14 team.

This is news that will shake up the college basketball world. If there is anyone who could lure highly-ranked recruits to a lackluster program, it is the NBA and NCAA championship coach formerly of ... well, just about everywhere.

Brown is also a good friend and mentor to coach John Calipari. Coach Cal served under Brown at Kansas between 1983 and 1985, although Calipari was off to Pittsburgh by the time that Brown led Danny Manning and the Jayhawks to a national title in 1988.

Former Billy Gillispie assistant Jerrance Howard, currently formerly an assistant at Illinois and current Calipari assistant Rod Strickland are also reported to be joining Brown's staff.