Hoops notes: The Arizona men’s basketball team will hire a new coordinator of basketball operations to replace Jack Murphy by Thursday night.

UA associate head coach Jim Rosborough said Arizona would interview candidates Thursday before a panel of the three assistant coaches (Miles Simon, Josh Pastner and Rosborough) as well as media relations coordinator Richard Paige and trainer Justin Kokoskie before making a decision on the hire.

UA head coach Lute Olson will meet with the possible candidates as well. NCAA rules prevent the Wildcats from hiring anyone prior to tomorrow, assuring a fair process of application for potential candidates.

Rosborough said it’s important for Arizona to hire someone to fill the position as soon as possible because the season is nearing.

“”We’re up against it here,”” he said.

Rosborough didn’t say if the candidate would come from inside the program but said that having knowledge of the way things are done at Arizona would be beneficial.

Murphy left to take a video coordinator job with the Denver Nuggets. Reggie Geary held the basketball operations position last year before leaving to become an assistant coach with the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBDL.