First, it was a guy that people talked about for the Indiana job, and who most fans were happy to see stay in the pros. Then it was a guy who had the Indiana job, and who most people were happy to see go. Funny how that works out.

Kelvin Sampson is close to finding his first full-time gig since getting the big boot out of Bloomington. The job: help Scott Skiles condescend to NBA players. Milwaukee Bucks players, specifically.

While I won’t spend too much time analyzing the state of the Bucks, or what these hires do for them, I will say quickly that the organization must really think they need regimented player development above all else. Skiles’ demeanor is far closer to the traditional college coach’s — he’s more the tyrant who can run all aspects of a program than he is the Phil Jackson-esque, philosophizing nuts and bolts NBA strategist. Sampson is pretty much the same thing, though he does seem to get along with players better.

Anyway, enough about this. Godspeed, Kelvin. May the wind always be at your back, and may your Palm Treo always be buzzing.

Kelvin is out the door and Dan is not our man, so that can only mean one thing: It’s coaching search time! Here’s a look at the candidates that could land in Bloomington. We’ll give you the pros, the cons and the bottom line. This morning: Scott Skiles.

Pros: IU wouldn’t have to pay relocation fees; Skiles has a home in Bloomington. Once fought Shaquille O’Neal in practice as a member of the Orlando Magic. Also, he played at Michigan State and was born and raised in Indiana. That should count for something. I guess.

Cons: Zero college coaching experience. Didn’t last long at either NBA coaching job. His brash, impish and downright authoritative demeanor probably won’t make him much of an effective recruiter. Not very fan friendly. Did I mention he has no college coaching experience?

Bottom line: It’s not that Skiles isn’t a good coach; I think he’s serviceable enough. It’s that’s there’s too many other good, available coaches with college experience to seriously consider Skiles. However, it’s about the only name the mainstream media has thrown out as an interviewee for the committee. So who knows. This I do know: If IU hires Scott Skiles, we might acquire the rights to firescottskiles.com and have it redirect here. Please, I beg of you committee, no Skiles to IU.

This afternoon, Big A will break down Scott Drew.

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In a report published this afternoon, The Chicago Sun Times says that IU will contact the former Chicago Bulls coach as the Harry Gonso led committee launches its search for a coach.

Indiana University is expected to contact former Bulls coach Scott Skiles as it launches its coaching search, according to a source. Skiles was born in LaPorte, Ind. and led Plymouth High School to the 1982 Indiana state championship.

He’s maintained a house in Bloomington, Ind., where he is now and lives during the NBA’s offseason. The Bulls fired Skiles on Dec. 24. He went 165-172 and helped turn around a laughingstock of an organization into a playoff team that advanced to the second round last year. Skiles would not comment on the possibility of coaching Indiana.

All in all, I’m indifferent to Skiles. He does have that “state of Indiana” connection that some of the old timers so desperately crave, but he’s also never recruited. And as we know, that’s a big part of winning in college basketball. Just ask Mike Davis. I’m sure PostmanE and PostmanR could give a more detailed insight of Skiles as a coach (since they’re both avid Bulls fans), but it seemed to me that after some short lived success in Chicago, he essentially crashed and burned. My question for you ITH’ers, does Skiles strike you as a realistic possibility? Or would the fact that he’s never been a head coach in college turn you off to the idea?

This is unrelated to his coaching ability, but please, don’t take a picture of Scott Skiles.

Thanks to ITH reader Craig for the tip. Reminder: Don’t forget to join the Inside the Hall NCAA Tournament Pick ‘Em Challenge by clicking here.

We’ve all been guilty of it. We are finished with Kelvin Sampson, done, finito, that’s it. As you read this, Sampson could win the Big Ten, blow out Purdue by 40, capture a national title, and cure lupus (does lupus have a cure already?) and everyone would still monolithically demand Sampson’s head on a silver platter. And rightfully so.

But for all the unanimous consent to fire on this site, and among ESPN’s chosen local interviewees, last night’s game showcased an atmosphere, and a fanbase, still totally confused and weirded out by what’s happening right in front of them. I watched on TV last night, and it was clear from the Dolby 5.1 that the pregame crowd hadn’t made up its mind to boo Kelvin Sampson, nor had they decided to show solidarity with the embattled coach. Sampson was just sort of there most of the game — drawing angry comments from myself, PostmanR, and my girlfriend, all the while coaching IU to its best win of the season in front of an emotional and raucous home crowd.

Just how the hell are we supposed to feel about that?

I still don’t know. And it was clear from the Kel-vin Samp-son cheer last night — clear from friends on campus who say opinion on KS is split — that I’m not alone. No one who loves IU basketball is totally sure how to feel about all this.

For me, it’s a mixture of sadness, anger, doubt, excitement, revenge, righteousness, forgiveness. It’s hard to say goodbye to someone who knows he needs to leave. It’s hard to force him out when you watch him hug his kids. It breaks the heart to see him cling for dear life in the face of certain failure. And then you remember what he did in the first place — the stupidity and arrogance — and it brings you back to the angry, vengeful thoughts you first had.

And that’s what it is right now. That mixture. That confusion. We’re on the tail end of something, and if the above paragraph was any indication, things aren’t going to be easy to synthesize anytime soon.

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