ESPN Men's Basketball

Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Bruce Pearl is expected to talk to Tennessee in person in Chicago either Friday or Saturday, but the exact time of the meeting with UT officials has yet to be scheduled, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com.

Pearl's Panthers lost to Illinois in the Sweet 16 Thursday night in Chicago. Pearl was staying in Chicago to see his son play basketball in a tournament.

Pearl is close with Washington Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld, a former Tennessee star and ex-Milwaukee Bucks GM. Grunfeld is a fan of Pearl and could have influence with the Vols.

Tennessee has already talked to Charlotte's Bobby Lutz, UAB's Mike Anderson and Creighton's Dana Altman.

Speculation about Texas Tech's Bob Knight has all but ended with sources from Texas Tech saying that he's staying in Lubbock.

The Volunteers are expected to move quickly on the new head coach, looking to name him before the Final Four and as early as Monday or Tuesday of next week. The holdup will be talking to Pearl. Once that is done then the Vols can move forward.