COLLEGE BASKETBALL Stallings, Wilson have second interviews at OSU

The two candidates met with university president Karen Holbrook.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings and Rice coach Willis Wilson visited Ohio State's campus Tuesday and interviewed a second time for the vacant head basketball coaching position, according to published reports.
Both candidates met with athletic director Andy Geiger, former Ohio State players on a search committee and other school officials, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Stallings and Wilson also met with university president Karen Holbrook, who will decide which candidate is hired.
Vanderbilt spokesman Andre Fourshee said he could not confirm if Stallings had interviewed because he had not been in touch with the Commodores head coach.
Wilson and Geiger did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
Ohio State sports information director Steve Snapp declined comment.
"We're in the same position that we have been," Snapp said. "We will not comment on any aspect of the search until it's over."
O'Brien ousted June 8
Ohio State has been looking for a head coach since firing Jim O'Brien on June 8. O'Brien was dismissed after Geiger said the seven-year coach of the Buckeyes admitted he gave a recruit $6,000 in 1999.
NCAA and Ohio State investigators also are looking into allegations that former Buckeyes player Boban Savovic received thousands of dollars and had bills, housing and food paid for by a woman who worked for a couple who were Ohio State boosters.
Stallings, 43, was a finalist when O'Brien was hired in 1997. He is 85-69 in five years at Vanderbilt, going 23-10 last season with a trip to the NCAA tournament's round of 16.
Stallings has deep roots in the Big Ten. He played at Purdue and was an assistant coach for the Boilermakers under Gene Keady.
After working as an assistant coach to Roy Williams at Kansas for five years, he was hired as the head coach at Illinois State in 1994 and had a record of 123-63 in six seasons before moving to Vanderbilt.
Wilson's background
Wilson, 44, has a record of 168-176 in 12 years as the head coach at Rice, his alma mater. He has never taken the Owls to the NCAA tournament, although they were 41-21 the last two years.
Wilson was among the finalists at Illinois a year ago before Bruce Webber was hired.
Wilson spent eight years as an assistant at Rice and one year at Stanford under Mike Montgomery. Geiger is a former athletic director at Stanford.
Stallings and Wilson have each been hampered in recruiting because of the stringent admissions requirements at their schools.
Others known to have interviewed for the Ohio State job include Penn coach Fran Dunphy and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons. Cleamons is a former Ohio State player who has won eight NBA championship rings as a player and coach.
It is not known whether any other candidate has been called by Ohio State for a second interview.