Liberty athletics director Jeff Barber is in Detroit at the Final Four, and undoubtedly, he’s “bumping into” folks who might be interesting the vacant LU men’s basketball post, most recently held by Ritchie McKay. Friday, McKay was officially unveiled as the associate head coach on Tony Bennett’s staff at Virginia.

So who is on the short list right now? There are three names I’m hearing from sources I trust. That’s not to say other names might not emerge after this weekend. But some quick notes on the three names I’m hearing the most right now:

BRAD SOUCIE

CURRENT POSITION: Interim head coach at Liberty

EXPERIENCE: 14 years as an assistant coach at Portland State, Colorado State, Oregon State, New Mexico and Liberty; was McKay’s lead assistant at each stop.

PROS: Knows the Liberty program and system well. Devout Christian who fits in well in the school’s atmosphere. Liberty’s players like Soucie and know him. Solid recruiter who has helped pull in another strong class. Several prep coaches have expressed their admiration for Soucie and how he interacts with high school athletes. Will likely keep current staff in place if hired, allowing for continuity for a program coming off its best season in a dozen years.

CONS: No head coaching experience.

DALE LAYER

CURRENT POSITION: Assistant coach at Marquette

EXPERIENCE: Nearly 30 years, including 16 as a head coach at Queens College (N.C.) and Colorado State.

PROS: Despite being a “West Coast guy” for a number of years, Layer has recruiting inroads in the Southeast, especially in Florida. Has coached at high levels and helped Marquette advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament this season. Having spent a season at Liberty, he knows the landscape of the school and the athletics department. Good chance, too, that Layer would retain most of the coaching staff, helping with continuity.

CONS: Struggled in his final few seasons as head coach at Colorado State and went 31-71 in Mountain West play.

WILLIS WILSON

CURRENT POSITION: Analyst for the Houston ISP Sports Network

EXPERIENCE: Head coach at Rice from 1992-2008; was an assistant at Stanford, among other programs, before arriving in Houston

PROS: Liberty guard Jesse Sanders initially signed a letter of intent to play for Wilson at Rice before he was let go after the 2008 season. When the coaching change was made, Sanders re-opened his recruitment and enrolled at Liberty. So it’s safe to say that Sanders wouldn’t mind playing for Wilson. Wilson was Rice’s winningest—and losingest—coach, thanks to his 16-year tenure. He produced 25 professional players while at Rice. Would be a pipeline to the Houston area, where Liberty has pulled recruits in the past.

CONS: Went 3-27 in his final season, but that’s as much of a product of a school that’s way above its head in basketball as anything. No ties to Liberty, other than the Sanders connection.

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A couple of other names that have been rumored can probably be striked. I’m hearing that former Arizona interim coach Russ Pennell is not interested in moving across the country and won’t be a candidate. Washington assistant Cameron Dollar was a name brought up two years ago before McKay was hired. But he’s a West Coast guy with West Coast recruiting connections who would likely want to stay on that side of the country. The Nevada job is open now that Mark Fox has headed to Georgia. If Ken Bone heads from Portland State to Washington State, PSU would be a natural fit for Dollar, who recruits that part of the country. PSU has a history of hiring young coaches (McKay included among them).