When it comes to college basketball, my expertise is … well … limited.

Credibility destroyed. Shoot. Let me start again.

When it comes to college basketball, I know Hofstra hoops, I know that 65 teams (and counting) make the NCAA Tournament, and I know that my bracket is horrendous.

I don’t know much about Mike Rice, Robert Morris, or the Boston College basketball program.

That being said, I’d like to offer Rice some advice: DON’T GO ANYWHERE!

At least not yet.

This is all speculation; no confirmations, there’s no CAA deepthroat feeding my inside info, and I’m not BFFLs with Jack Hayes. But I’ve heard that Rice fits with Hofstra.

Problem is, I don’t know how much of an upgrade the Pride position is over RMU. Yea, the Pioneers play in the Northeast Conference. Still, Morris has been to the tourney lately, (and looked good doing it), Hofstra has not. Furthermore, the CAA is not a major conference; we’re talking one bid, just like the NEC, that’s it.

If I’m Rice, I wait for the dominos to fall. Wait for St. John’s to make a move. See who they poach a coach from. Just think - they could go Al Skinner, meaning Boston College will be vacant. Rice could get a look; if he doesn’t, wait for BC to do their poaching.

Rice’s stock is high right now, and he needs to cash in. As was seen with Pecora’s move from decent mid-major to worse sort-of-major, the Pride program may not be in the right state right now to be a major stepping stone. Jay Wright may be the exception, not the rule. So why should Rice jump ship from a Tournament team to an invitational (as in CBI) team?

What I’m saying is if Rice waits, he’ll get an upgrade - if he wants it -and it won’t be the secluded LI team in the middle of the CAA.

Quickly, on Pecora … You think he regrets his decision? As Seth Greenberg stays in Virginia Tech, and Paul Hewitt says he isn’t leaving Georgia Tech, the Red Storm’s list for possible coach replacements is getting dangerously close to “Please, Mark Jackson, come coach us!” territory.

Had Pecora waited, told Fordham give me a week (I doubt an 0-fer A-10 team has any big name guys knocking on their door), he could have went to a desperate St. John’s and taken a gig that was a clear step up from Hofstra; not, as I said yesterday, a lateral move.

As reported by Newsday yesterday, Tom Pecora is leaving the Mack Sports Complex and heading over to the A-10 to coach Fordham.

Here are a few thoughts on both Pecora’s tenure at HU, and where Jack Hayes should look to hire his successor:

• Pecora’s run at Hofstra was overrated. If you talk to a program outsider, they’ll point to the 20-win seasons, and appearances in the CBI. Problem is, the program was on that level when Pecora first arrived, and didn’t make any significant stride forward.
• The move for Pecora is completely lateral. Yes, Fordham is an A-10 team, but they are bottom of the barrel. Moreover, the Atlantic 10, while deep, has no respect when it comes to the NCAA Tournament committee (see: 2 A-10 teams in the NIT semis). It’s not secret Pecora wants to get to the Dance … the A-10 is anything but an automatic ticket.
• I’ll be interested to see the effect this has on Jenkins next season. The soon-to-be-senior can already be mentioned in the same breath as Antoine Agudio in terms of program greats, and with another superstar season, could be paired up with Speedy and Stokes. Jenkins’ supporting cast has been minimal at best while he’s been at Hofstra, yet he’s always in contention for conference player of the year. Jenkins’ best career move would probably be to transition to point guard, as combo guards rarely get a shot in the NBA; the next coach at Hofstra would be smart to consider coaxing Jenkins to make the switch.
• As far as next in line at Hofstra, they should look local, and outside of the program. A guy like Tim Cluess at C.W. Post could be a perfect fit. Hofstra already has a reputation in international recruiting, and the next logical step would be to try to rival St. John’s (although they haven’t scored any of the big NYC products lately) in Long Island and NYC recruiting. Cluess has his finger on the pulse of Long Island basketball; pair him with an assistant from the city, and Hofstra could again look to surge to the top of the CAA.