DETROIT – So much for Tim Floyd going to Arizona.
Or Memphis.
The USC coach said he’s staying put at Southern Cal.
Floyd, 55, interviewed with Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The meeting came a day after Floyd asked Trojans players at the team’s banquet — including freshman forward DeMar DeRozan — to wait on the NBA draft and remain at USC.
“I listened, I heard what they had to say,” Floyd told the Times. “But there is something really special about building your own traditions and your own history.”
He added of the Arizona and Memphis options: “At the end of the day I have a great situation here.”
Memphis is seeking someone to replace John Calipari and is reportedly looking at Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl.
Arizona needs a successor to interim coach Russ Pennell. Sean Miller of Xavier, Mark Fox of Nevada and Jeff Capel of Oklahoma are all options, according to Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com“They’re going to hire a great coach. They’re going to have a great program for many, many years to come no matter who they bring in because of their tradition and their history ,” Floyd told the Times.
