Steve Alford says he’s not going anywhere.
“I am absolutely 100 percent not going to Indiana,” he told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman following UCLA’s 86-75 loss to Kentucky in the Sweet 16 in Memphis thanks to a career-high 39 points from Kentucky freshman point guard De’Aaron Fox. “Staying at UCLA. I am happy. Love it here. Have a great class coming in, and brand-new practice facility. Obviously, I love my alma mater.
“Committed to UCLA. I am not going to talk to Indiana. I am staying a Bruin.”
If Alford is truly out of the picture, other potential candidates for Indiana include Dayton’s Archie Miller, Xavier’s Chris Mack, whose team is in the Elite Eight, Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall and Butler’s Chris Holtmann, whose team lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16.
Alford has been heavily linked to his alma mater Indiana, which has all but said it wants to replace Tom Crean with someone with ties to Indiana and the Bob Knight Era.