Chris Collins is the first confirmed interviewee for the Northwestern vacancy per Teddy Greenstein, while Jeff Goodman of CBS says that Collins to the Cats is "all but done".

Brett Reed has been successful at Lehigh thanks to zero-star-recruit-turned-superstar C.J. McCollum. Is there any reason to believe something separates him from other successful mid-major coaches, both as a coach and to NU's administration?

Nate Taphorn, the less highly touted of two incoming recruits, won't reconsider his commitment after Bill Carmody's firing, unlike Jaren Sina.

Bryce Drew has two Horizon League titles in two years in charge of the school he linked his name with on a 1998 buzzer beater. Could he have the same success if he opted to leave for Northwestern?

Jaren Sina will be free to look at other programs after Northwestern fired the coach he signed up to play for. But will he actually go elsewhere?

SoCon Champs, so what? Let's take a gander at the low mid-major coaching czar.

Iowa has a very good team this year, but they won't make the tournament because of a soft non-conference schedule. The new Northwestern coach, whoever he is, shouldn't make the same mistake.

Northwestern didn't make the NCAA Touranment, but some teams that are vaguely like Northwestern are in it. Plus, some teams with coaches Northwestern wants!

Tavaras Hardy was Bill Carmody's lead assistant - and his most talented recruiter. Is there any chance Jim Phillips opts to promote the former Northwestern center to head coach?

Multiple reports indicate that Chris Collins would be interested - perhaps very interested - in filling Northwestern's coaching vacancy after the firing of Bill Carmody, and that he'd enjoy tackling the challenges the program faces.