Missouri Tigers: Shaka Smart, Brad Stevens and 10 Coaching Candidates for Mizzou

When Mike Anderson bolted from Missouri to be the Arkansas Razorbacks' new head basketball coach, the Tigers were left with a huge void to fill.

They courted Matt Painter of Purdue for quite awhile, but he eventually got a new deal to stay at his alma mater.

So, the Tigers are back to the drawing board.

Whoever they get will get paid upwards of $2 million, so it's a good position that many coaches should want to take.

Here are 10 possibilities to succeed Anderson and lead the Missouri Tigers basketball team in 2012 and beyond.

10. Scott Sutton

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DENVER - MARCH 19: Head coach Scott Sutton of the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles conducts practice on the eve of the first round of the Men's NCAA Basketball East Region at the Pepsi Center on March 19, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pe

Sutton has been the head coach at Oral Roberts University for 12 years, compiling a 223-154 record.

He's also led the Golden Eagles to three NCAA Tournaments.

He'd be a solid backup plan if all the other coaches on this list fall through.

But, Missouri should try to hire several other coaches first.

9. Randy Bennett

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Head coach Randy Bennett of the Saint Mary's Gaels gestures during a semifinal game of the Zappos.com West Coast Conference Basketball tournament against the Santa Clara Broncos at the Orleans Arena March 6, 2011 in Las Vegas, N

Bennett has already passed up the Utah head coaching job this offseason.

But, Mizzou is willing to pay more and is a more prestigious job than Utah.

So, it's at least worth a shot to see if Bennett will bring his career 208-112 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances to Columbia.

8. Melvin Watkins

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DALLAS - MARCH 09: Head Coach Melvin Watkins of the Missouri Tigers watches play against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship Tournament at American Airlines Arena on March 9, 2006 in Dal

Watkins is the associate head coach at Missouri.

He's been with Missouri since 2004 and served as an interim head coach at the end of the 2006 season.

If Mizzou wants to keep Mike Anderson's system of full court presses and fast-paced play going, Watkins is the ideal candidate.

He knows the system better than anyone else does.

7. Gregg Marshall

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SPOKANE, WA - MARCH 16: Head Coach Gregg Marshall of the Winthrop Eagles directs his players from the sideline during their first round game against Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Memorial Arena on March

Marshall has led the Wichita State Shockers to the NIT Finals this season.

He also has seven NCAA Tournament appearances under his belt from his time at Winthrop.

He'd be a decent hire because he's been recruiting in the Kansas/Missouri area for a few years now, trying to gather talent for his Wichita State teams.

6. Chris Mack

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CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 18: Head coach Chris Mack of the Xavier Musketeers tosses the ball to a referee during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Quicken Loans Arena on March

Mack would be a good hire for the Tigers.

But it will be difficult to lure him away from Xavier, his alma mater.

He also has very strong ties to the Ohio area, having spent most of his life there.

He's shown he's a good coach though, with a 50-17 record in his two years at Xavier.

He also led the team to the NCAA Tournament both years.

5. Ben Jacobson

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ST. LOUIS - MARCH 26: Head coach Ben Jacobson of the Northern Iowa Panthers reacts after a foul is called against one of his players in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during the midwest regional semifinal of the 2010 NCAA men's basket

Jacobson's Northern Iowa team knocked Kansas out of the NCAA Tournament last season.

That alone makes him endearing to Mizzou fans.

He also has a 109-56 record in five seasons at UNI.

He'd likely make the move to Mizzou if the job is offered to him.

4. Buzz Williams

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 25: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half the east regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Prudential Cente

Williams is more likely to end up at Oklahoma than at Missouri.

He has strong ties to the Oklahoma area, where he went to college.

But all of this speculation is assuming he leaves Marquette.

The only reason he'd want to leave Marquette is if he decides he wants to coach in a conference where he can finish higher than eighth on a consistent basis.

3. Bruce Pearl

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts in the first half while taking on the Michigan Wolverines during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 18, 201

Yes, Pearl will be under heavy scrutiny from the NCAA for the rest of his career.

But one more mistake and he’s probably out of college basketball for good.

So, it’s reasonable to think that he will be on his best behavior for whatever team hires him next.

Plus, he’s still a great coach and an excellent recruiter (even when he’s not cheating). Mizzou could do a lot worse than Bruce Pearl.

Everyone deserves a second (or third) chance, right?

2. Shaka Smart

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 27: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams reacts during the southwest regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Alamodome on March 27, 2011 in San Antonio, Te

Smart is the hottest coach on the market right now.

Everyone with a coaching opening is waiting for VCU's magical Final Four run to end so they can make a play for Smart.

Though he has no real ties to the Missouri area, Smart has gained enough fame during this year's tournament that he will have no problem recruiting wherever he goes.

He's going to get a big payday from someone.

Missouri would be smart to make sure they are the ones paying Smart next season.

1. Brad Stevens

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 26: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Butler Bulldogs reacts during their game against the Florida Gators in the Southeast regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 26, 2011 in New Orle

What's better than Smart's Final Four appearance?

How about Stevens' back-to-back Final Four appearances at Butler?

Stevens has proven he can recruit well and get the most talent out of his players.

He's teams are smart, energetic and poised in the clutch.

Either Smart or Stevens will be advancing to the National Championship game this year.

I'd like to recommend that Missouri sign whichever coach wins the Butler-VCU Final Four matchup.