Maybe the college basketball world was due for a relatively quiet coaching carousel.

After all, in 2006, there were 61 coaching changes among the roughly 330 Division I schools (it's up to 341 now). Among those were 14 in power conferences, including half of the Big 12 as well as Indiana, N.C. State and Washington State (which did quite well in elevating Tony Bennett to the top job).

In 2007, there were 62 more openings. Eleven of those were from the BCS conferences, with Kentucky the biggest prize out there.

So far this season, there are only 25 changes (seven in power conferences). The Indiana gig is open again, and a total of 17 top jobs remain open. Other than IU, the big names remaining --- California, Louisiana State, Oregon State, Providence and South Carolina --- aren't all that big.

In the last 20 years, those five schools have combined for five Sweet 16s and one Final Four (Louisiana State two years ago). And yes, I realize that timeframe cuts out the 1987 runs of Providence (Final Four) and Louisiana State (regional final). The point remains: There isn't much out there.

A lot of times, one opening can trigger a whole lot of openings. Last year, all sorts of jobs were tied together. The Tubby Smith-Billy Gillispie-Mark Turgeon-Gregg Marshall-Randy Peele chain tied together Minnesota, Kentucky, Wichita State and Winthrop --- and ex-Minnesota coach Dan Monson landed at Long Beach State.

There was another thread connecting Liberty (Ritchie McKay), New Mexico (Steve Alford), Iowa (Todd Lickliter) and Butler (Brad Stevens). All but McKay had a choice of leaving their old job in that process.

So far, no huge dominoes. The only "by choice" thread is James Madison hiring Matt Brady from Marist. Erstwhile Louisiana State coach John Brady has already resurfaced at Arkansas State, proof that a Final Four appearance means something.

Maybe things will change in the next few weeks. By then, the carousel will probably slow down --- if it ever speeds up in the first place.

--- Patrick Stevens