Two top candidates for Kentucky opening emphatically shut down rumors

Hurley's words came shortly after the Huskies won their second straight national title by defeating Purdue, 75-60.

Fourth-seeded Alabama and top-seeded UConn squared off in the Final Four on Saturday, with Hurley's crew taking an 86-72 decision.

Oats took over the Crimson Tide ahead of the 2019-20 season and after going 16-15 in the pandemic-altered campaign, he's led the program to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. It's the first time that Alabama has had four March Madness berths in a row since 2006 during the Mark Gottfried days.

The team went 26-7 (16-2 in the SEC) in 2020-21 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to 11th-seeded UCLA in the Sweet 16. Alabama was a No. 6 seed two years ago after a 19-14 (9-9) campaign and lost in the first round of March Madness against Notre Dame.

Led by now Charlotte Hornets star rookie Brandon Miller, Alabama finished a program-best 31-6 (16-2) last season to finish No. 1 in the final AP poll and earn a top seed in the NCAA Tournament before being upset by fifth-seeded San Diego State in the Sweet 16.

When Hurley talked with reporters about the Wildcats gig, he joked that a move to Kentucky would put a serious strain on his relationship with his wife, Andrea, who's a New Jersey native.

"Oh my God, Kentucky or anywhere that's going to take her further from New Jersey," he said, according to a report by ESPN's Pete Thamel. "I mean, we just went to Rhode Island, which I had to drag her to, and then to Connecticut. I got her closer. And now further? I can't afford a divorce right now, too. I just started making money."

It was reported Sunday night that longtime Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari was finalizing a five-year deal to join the University of Arkansas.