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Sources: Wichita State's Gregg Marshall plans to visit Alabama on Friday

Wichita State basketball coach Gregg Marshall has a tentatively planned family trip to Tuscaloosa on Friday to check out Alabama, sources told Yahoo Sports.

But Wichita State administrators and boosters are actively fundraising in an attempt to forestall Marshall's trip and keep him as the coach of the Shockers, sources said.

Gregg Marshall gives instructions to Wichita State players during their Sweet 16 loss to Notre Dame. (Getty)
Gregg Marshall gives instructions to Wichita State players during their Sweet 16 loss to Notre Dame. (Getty)

Alabama is prepared to offer Marshall nearly $4 million annually to become the next coach of the Crimson Tide, according to sources. Wichita State is striving to raise Marshall's compensation to more than $3 million annually in hopes that that would be enough to end the coach's interest in Alabama. Marshall currently is making $1.75 million per year, after receiving raises each of the past two years.

Crimson Tide athletic director Bill Battle flew to Wichita, Kan., on Monday and met with Marshall. Since then the situation has gotten quiet, but could heat up again if Marshall brings his family to see the Alabama campus and city of Tuscaloosa.

If Marshall elects to stay at Wichita State, Minnesota coach Richard Pitino is a potential fallback candidate at Alabama. There has been contact between the two camps, sources said, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the Crimson Tide had expressed interest in Pitino earlier this week.

If Pitino were to go to Alabama, he might not be able to take his full staff with him. Assistant coach Dan McHale is a candidate for the vacant Eastern Kentucky head-coaching job, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Other candidates could be considered at Alabama as well.

Marshall was an initial candidate at Texas but that courtship ended quickly, sources said. Texas now is in talks with Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart, who has interest in the job. Smart has been seeking input from trusted friends and advisers in college basketball regarding the Texas job for several days, sources said.