Indiana basketball is still trying to wrap up this season with a late push into the NCAA Tournament. But a bigger focus for the program remains the head coaching search for a successor to Mike Woodson.

With news that Woodson will step down at season’s end, already a few top options for Indiana have confirmed their future plans. Former Butler head coach Brad Stevens, now a top executive for the Boston Celtics, is staying with the prominent NBA franchise, and Michigan head coach Dusty May is sticking with the Wolverines with a new deal.

So, where does that leave the Hoosiers who are reportedly swinging for a big-time, proven winner with NCAA Tournament pedigree? ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reports 2 sitting head coaches, including 1 in the Big Ten, could be the next top options.

Borzello cited “talk” from the early days of IU’s job search that UCLA head coach Mick Cronin and Baylor head coach Scott Drew could be targeted. Both have extensive experience in March Madness, but a massive buyout for Cronin and the perception Drew is content at Baylor (he turned down Kentucky last offseason) are current hurdles.

Beyond those 2 options, Borzello labeled Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger as an “intriguing option” and “arguably the best viable candidate” without a major buyout. In a recent extension, Otzelberger’s buyout dropped from north of $10 million to $4 million if he leaves the Cyclones.

Otzelberger has led Iowa State to 3 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including an AP Top 10 finish last season. He has a 91-42 overall record in Ames, and the Cyclones were 9th in the latest AP Poll.

If Otzelberger isn’t in the picture and big-time buyouts are avoided, Borzello pointed to Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams and Creighton head coach Greg McDermott as other names to watch moving forward.

In the meantime, Indiana is coming off of 2 ranked wins in its last 3 games and entered the week in the “First Four Out” section of Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology update for ESPN. With 4 games to play before the Big Ten Tournament, the Hoosiers have a great shot to build toward a potential bid.