Providence vs Syracuse: Race for Hodgson Heats Up

0:00On March 17th, National Analyst Jeff Goodman says Providence holds a slight edge over Syracuse in the race for South Florida head coach Brian Hodgson. Both biggie schools want the Western New York native to fill their coaching vacancies. Hodgson has posted a 70-win 36-loss record over three seasons, including two at Arkansas State and one at USF. Earlier this week, insiders confirmed Hodgson remains a top target for both programs. Providence recently parted ways with its coach, while Syracuse fired Adrian Otrie after three years. Meanwhile, South Florida finished 25 wins and 8 losses this season, claiming both the American conference regular season and tournament titles. Analysts point to money as a big factor. Providence could offer at least $10 million in name, image, and likeness funds for next year's roster, compared to about $8 million at Syracuse. Their expectations and roster commitments, like keeping freshmen key and Anthony, might complicate things for the orange. Hodgson also has a strong offer to stay with the Bulls, who play Louisville on Thursday

1:04in Buffalo as the number 11 seed. Some experts argue he could win more consistently in the American conference than in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference. Both teams are interviewing other candidates, so the search continues. Keep an eye on how Hodgson's tournament run plays out. It could sway his next move.