Multiple names that are connected to the Orange head coaching job were in action on day one of the NCAA Tournament.
The Syracuse University men's basketball program continues to search for a new head coach in the wake of firing Adrian Autry last week.
Autry went 15-17 this season, finishing 49-48 in his three-year tenure in charge of the program.
New athletic director Bryan Blair addressed the fanbase for the first time on Thursday, saying that the university is already into the hiring process for a new head coach.
It is possible the new head coach of the Orange was on the floor on Thursday, leading a team in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. Let's take a look at some of the rumored candidates and how they are doing or how they did.
Josh Hodgson and the South Florida Bulls
--The 11th-seeded Bulls lost to sixth-seeded Louisville 83-79. They were the winners of the American Conference championship over the weekend to earn their spot in the field of 68.
--South Florida entered the game as 4.5-point underdog and trailed by 10 (37-27) at halftime.
--The Bulls shot 1-of-17 from beyond the arc in the first half and were not much better from deep in the second. South Florida finished 5-of-33 from three-point range.
-Hodgson is now being considered as a top candidate for the Boston College and Providence job. Previous reports have indicated he's the leader in the clubhouse at Providence. It's also been reported that he turned down the Syracuse job, but perhaps the two sides can re-engage.
-While the Bulls season comes to an end, Louisville will advance to face the winner of Illinois and Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Gerry McNamara and the Siena Saints
McNamara, who starred at Syracuse as a player and won the national championship with the Orange in 2003, is now the head coach at Siena University in Albany. In just his second year at the helm of the Saints, he clinched the school's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2010.
Though he's a very popular candidate, he has declined to address his connection to the SU job thus far.
The No. 16 Saints lead top-seeded Duke 43-32 at halftime. The 11-point lead was the largest of any No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed in the history of the tournament.
Siena led the game as late as six minutes to go.
The Saints could not hang on and fell 71-65.
Josh Schertz and St. Louis
Schertz is another popular candidate for the job, though he just signed an extension at St. Louis. Can SU get him to change his mind?
The Billikens destroyed Georgia 102-77.
St. Louis now prepare for their Saturday matchup against No. 1 Michigan. Tipoff is set for 12:10 p.m. ET
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