REPORT: Travis DeCuire, Jim Les, Eric Musselman, Russell Turner the first four Cal coaching interviews

College basketball analyst Jordan Schultz has four names that Cal will interview first for their head coaching vacancy. Make of it what you will.

Here are the names to look at:

Eric Musselman, Nevada Wolf Pack head coach: Musselman had a solid season of success with Nevada and also has NBA experience with the Kings and the Warriors, so he is a Northern California type of coach. Cal will probably be looking for a coach that will not leave at the first sign of a new opening. Based on the other names here, I’d have to guess Musselman is the favorite, even if he comes with notable baggage.

Travis DeCuire, Montana Grizzlies head coach: DeCuire was the runner-up for the job last time, and by all accounts was the guy before Cal swooped in and grabbed Cuonzo Martin. DeCuire did alright in his first year in Montana, but he hasn’t done quite as well in subsequent seasons. DeCuire does come from the school of Mike Montgomery, so he could be a dark horse. The big mark against him last time was coaching experience. He has it now,

Jim Les, UC Davis Aggies head coach: Les has proven himself to be a capable coach with the Aggies, leading them to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance this season. But he’s 53, has never coached beyond mid-major level, and has two NCAA tournament appearances in over 15 years. This would be an uninspiring hire.

Russell Turner, UC Irvine Anteaters head coach: Irvine was also part of the Cal coaching search last time, and has done a good job in making Irvine the most consistent program in the Big West, with two conference titles in four years and always a top four finish. If I had to choose between Turner and Les, I’d heavily lean Turner, but I’d prefer to take neither.

These are probably not the final interviews (there’s already a mention of sleeper), but this is the way things are going at this juncture. What do you think of the early names?