The frontrunners to become the next NC State basketball head coach appear to be McNeese State's Will Wade and Tennessee's associate head coach in former beloved Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey. Kevin Keatts was fired on Sunday morning following his eighth season at the helm in Raleigh.

Exactly 345 days ago, NC State was celebrating its first ACC tournament championship in decades, the precursor to a miraculous Final Four run. That postseason surge earned Kevin Keatts a contract extension and an automatic raise, seemingly setting him up for future success in Raleigh.

Justin Gainey is "flattered" at the thought of being a candidate for the NC State coaching vacancy, but insisted his focus rests with Tennessee basketball as the Vols head into the postseason.

Justin Gainey loves NC State and has long kept his eye on the Wolfpack as a former player and coach, but he said he is focused on Tennessee after NC State coach Kevin Keatts was fired Sunday. "As far as me and my involvement on everything,