By Arnie Stapleton
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS - Marquette might be in for a major makeover despite losing just one senior from its first Final Four team in 26 years.

The two men most responsible for the program's resurgence could cash in elsewhere, leaving the program to begin another rebuilding phase.

All-American Dwyane Wade is thinking about turning pro and Tom Crean's name pops up for just about every big coaching vacancy, including North Carolina's.

Indeed, these are nervous times at the small Jesuit school in Milwaukee, even though center Robert Jackson is the only senior on a team that went 27-7 and reached the Final Four before being blown out by Kansas in the semifinals.

Alumni, fans and even Wade's teammates hope the Golden Eagles' 94-61 loss to the Jayhawks on Saturday night might at least keep Wade from bolting to the NBA this summer.

"I'm sure in the back of his mind he'd like to get back to the Final Four next year and win it," forward Scott Merritt said.

The 21-year-old Wade has a wife and 1-year-old son to support, and he might find it too difficult to wait another year before pursuing NBA riches.

"I'm known for having a great season, but I didn't go out a winner," he said. "So, it will be a tough decision."

Crean also might have a hard time staying put if the right offer comes along. Unlike Roy Williams of Kansas, Crean doesn't mind the public pondering of his future.

"It's flattering sometimes to see your name," he said.

But his boss is flustered.

Athletic director Bill Cords was the first to notice Crean's talents, plucking him off Tom Izzo's staff at Michigan State to replace Mike Deane in 1999. Crean has gone 83-41 and restored Marquette as a national power.

So, Cords hates to hear Crean's name bandied about, and it angers him that other schools think the 37-year-old coach will come running.

"We're used to this. It's come up before. All the big-money people, and he wasn't interested," Cords said, shaking his fist.

Crean said he loves working for Cords and the Rev. Robert Wild, the university president, and he swears he couldn't have a better group of players. Cords knows, however, that it would be tough to keep Crean out of Carolina blue if the Tar Heels came calling.

Crean's players dismissed suggestions they had played their last game for him.

"He's a great coach. Any great coach is going to get offers every year," sophomore point guard Travis Diener said. "I don't think anyone in the Marquette program is too worried about that.

"I think he's happy where he's at. I trust he's going to be here for my career."

Perhaps, but the Golden Eagles and their fans also hope Wade will be around for his senior season.

"One more year! One more year!" the crowd shouted when he came out Saturday night after a 7-for-15, 19-point effort. That followed one of the best NCAA tournament performances ever, a triple-double in Marquette's upset of top-ranked Kentucky that put the team in the Final Four for the first time since it won the 1977 championship with coach Al McGuire.

"We didn't finish the job," Wade said. "We wanted to be national champions and we're just one of the best four teams in the country."

"We will be back," forward Todd Townsend promised.

Whether Crean and Wade will be there to lead them is another story.