5 best (realistic) head-coaching candidates for Michigan basketball

We are less than a week into the Michigan basketball head-coaching search, but it seems clear at this point that a pie-in-the-sky hire like Jay Wright or Billy Donovan isn't happening.

Even Shaka Smart from Marquette and T.J. Otzelberger Iowa State aren't realistic options. Smart isn't leaving Marquette after what he's built. Otzelberger has an $18 million buyout that Michigan isn't going to pay.

So while it's nice to think about those hires, let's talk about candidates that Michigan basketball would actually be able to hire and here are the five best and most realistic candidates for the Wolverines.

Niko Medved

Colorado State head coach Niko Medved has been mentioned since the start of the Michigan head-coaching search. He's reportedly modeled himself after John Beilein and he's won 20 games or more in four of his past five seasons with the Rams.

However, in 11 seasons, he's reached the NCAA tournament twice and his first win came on Tuesday night against Virginia. That win had Michigan basketball fans buzzing on social media. There's also plenty of chatter that Medved would be interested in the job if offered.

Dusty May feels like the favorite. He'd be a perfect hire, but Medved would be ideal too. He's got three D-2 transfers on his roster. He's won at least 17 games at three different schools and while he's got just one conference championship, if the Wolverines want to find another John Beilein, this might be the closest thing.