[KChiefs1]

I believe it's down to these two guys:

• Central Missouri’s Kim Anderson

Why is Missouri interested?: Anderson, 58, has strong ties to the Tigers. He was a star player from 1973-77 under Norm Stewart and served as his assistant coach for 11 seasons at MU during two stints. Anderson led the Mules to the NCAA Division II national championship last month.

Under Anderson, Central Missouri has made three NCAA D-II Final Four appearances since 2007. His record is 274-95 overall and 168-78 in conference play.

Anderson, who also spent two years as an assistant commissioner for the Big 12 in charge of basketball, might not be considered the splashy hire some fans hoped for, but his credentials are rock solid and many believe he could lock down Missouri’s borders from a recruiting standpoint.

Why Missouri might look elsewhere?: The biggest perceived knocks are Anderson’s age — he’ll be 59 in May — and concerns about his ability to recruit at the Division I level. The right staff to aid in that recruiting process would be a critical piece to the puzzle for Anderson.



• Ben Howland

Why Missouri might be interested?: Howland, 56, isn’t coaching, but he arguably has the most glowing resume of any of Missouri’s presumed targets. He has taken three programs — Northern Arizona, Pittsburgh and UCLA — to the NCAA Tournament.

Howland, along with active coaches Tom Izzo of Michigan State and Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, has taken a team to the Final Four in three consecutive seasons (UCLA, 2006-08). And Howland, the 2002 national coach of the year, reportedly wants to get back into coaching.

Why Missouri might look elsewhere?: Howland missed the NCAA Tournament in two of his final five seasons at UCLA and went 2-3, never making it past the round of 32, in the three appearances during that span. Plus, it’s fair to wonder if he’s a long-term solution for the Tigers or another coach who’d be destined for a short stay in Columbia, like Mike Anderson, who left for Arkansas after five seasons, and Haith, who bolted for Tulsa after three.