The 2008 Final Four is here and the coaching convention is in full swing in San Antonio. We catch up on the absolute latest news on the coaching search at Marquette as well as Providence. Other happenings include a player transferring out of Villanova and a preview of an all-star game this weekend featuring several 2008 Big East recruits.

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Here is a FULL update with Big East recruiting news as well as the latest on the Big East rumors on the coaching carousel as well as news on a transfer out of Seton Hall.

At this point, it might be safe to assume Providence and Marquette are narrowing their focus on candidates for their open positions.

Villanova might be closing in on a big name on the 2008 recruiting trail while former Marquette targets and a commit might be looking at Indiana now. Honors for a Rutgers and a UConn commit on strong seasons and a potential late target of Rutgers commits elsewhere…

All these and more in today’s news and notes.

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The coaching carousel news is plentiful today as Marquette begins to form a candidate list to replace Tom Crean and Providence begins to take a look at their list of Plan B candidates. Could Okalhoma State throw some big money at a Big East coach?

The recruiting fallout from Tom Crean’s decision has been documented, now you wonder about the possibility of transfers, one big man looks to be leaving, although it is likely unrelated to the Tom Crean news.

The transfer and roster situation at UConn could come to a head shortly. A seldom-used Rutgers freshman decides to move on. West Virginia’s players have raised the bar for next season after their success this year.

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Connecticut might have one Rice High School alum leaving the program, but one is arriving this fall and a current Rice junior is looking in UConn’s direction as well. UConn is also looking on the west coast for a top win, who would also like to visit Syracuse in the near future as well.

So far two Marquette signees from November have publicly stated they will look for a release from their letters of intent. DeShawn Painter has a couple Big East schools on his list as he looks to make a move to Hargrave Military Academy for next season. The Booker T. Washington junior talks to a current Georgetown player on his future direction.

Also, updates on Maurice Sutton, Paris Bennett and Devin Ebanks from around the web this morning.

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The Tom Crean news and the Providence College coaching search dominates today’s News & Notes in the Big East…

It was a Shocking Development (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) for all close to the Marquette basketball program when the news of Tom Crean leaving for Indiana broke yesterday. Players, recruits, fans and the Marquette administration were caught off guard by the decision that Crean had held very close to the vest through the process. MU Was Caught Flat-Footed (Journal-Sentinel) by the news and at least one recruit, Tyshawn Taylor Wants Out (Journal-Sentinel) of his letter of intent.

As for candidates to succeed coach Crean, Buzz Williams, a current assistant, will likely be the popular choice among the players. Williams was recently the head coach at New Orleans before leaving to join Crean’s staff. He has also recruited many of the players currently committed.

Other names certainly to be discussed include Washington State’s Tony Bennett, whose father is a Wisconsin coaching legend, Dick Bennett. Sean Miller is the hot name for all the current openings and the Marquette position seems to be the Big East version of Xavier in terms of a similar school setting and atmosphere. Marquette grad and Chicago Bulls interim coach Jimmy Boylan could be a candidate and others will certainly arise as the Marquette contingent prepares to head to San Antonio this weekend.

While the Marquette coaching search is just beginning, the search at Providence could be over as the Friar administration has made an offer to George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga. The Providence Journal is reporting that Larranaga is Struggling with the Choice of accepting the job at his alma mater or stay at George Mason where he is the school’s all-time winningest coach. Is Larranaga Going, Going Gone (Washington Times) from George Mason? An answer is expected, either way, sometime today.

And, that answer has come as Larranaga Says No To Providence (Providence Journal) and the Friars will move on to Plan B as they ready to ascend to San Antonio for the Final Four fesitivities. Kevin McNamara speculates they are likely to look at Davidson’s Bob McKillop, Brown’s Craig Robinson, UMass’ Travis Ford, Arizona’s Kevin O’Neill and Ohio U’s Tim O’Shea. But this race is now wide open.