Indiana's Final Four

Age: 39

College record: 93-39, four seasons

Current school: Xavier

NCAA tournament appearances: Three

Strengths: Miller has posted three consecutive years of at least 20 wins at Xavier. The Musketeers have advanced further in the NCAA each year, this season reaching the Elite Eight.

Weaknesses: There's a huge buyout - reportedly $2 million - tied to getting Miller away from Xavier. That could be too hefty for a school that has had to pay off several contracts in the past eight years.

Age: 55

College record: 521-191, 21 seasons

Current school: Louisville

NCAA tournament appearances: 13 (one championship (1996), five Final Fours (1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2005)

Strengths: Perhaps the Cinderella in this bracket in that he represents IU fans' fantasy coach. He'd be the big splash some folks crave, bringing an exciting brand of basketball. Pitino resurrected Kentucky after it was hit hard by the NCAA. He's taken three schools to the Final Four.

Weaknesses: IU would have to pay a lot of money to get Pitino.

Age: 39

College record: 127-62, six years

Current school: Wright State

NCAA Tournament appearances: Three

Strengths: Brownell has the strongest ties to the state. He's from Evansville, played at DePauw and was an assistant at Evansville and the University of Indianapolis. He's had four 20-win seasons in his six seasons.

Weaknesses: After stops at UNC-Wilmington and Wright State, he would be making a major jump to the Big Ten.

Montgomery's experience might give him the edge over Brownell, but I think it's time for the Hoosiers to go young. With possible NCAA sanctions, Brownell would be given the time - not much, granted - to rebuild the program.

Miller's buyout is large, but he'd still be cheaper than Pitino.

Miller would be the final choice over Brownell based on the Xavier coach's experience in the NCAA tournament.

And like Matta, who made the move from Xavier to Ohio State, Miller is ready. He recently said he wasn't planning on going anywhere, but until IU makes a hire, anything is possible.

PREDICTION:

Miller

 Age: 61

College record: 574-244, 18 seasons

Current school: Stanford, assistant to the athletic director.

NCAA tournament appearances: 12 (one Final Four, 1998)

Strengths: Montgomery has guided teams to winning seasons in 25 of 26 years during stops at Montana and Stanford. His last Stanford team went 30-2 in 2004. The Cardinal had 10 consecutive seasons of at least 20 victories from 1995-2004 and made the NCAA tournament each year.

Weaknesses: His age might be a concern if IU's looking for a long-term solution. After all those years out West, he will have to establish stronger Midwest recruiting ties. For all his regular-season success, Stanford tended to fade early in the NCAA tournament.