FAYETTEVILLE — A new basketball coach is expected to be named at Arkansas perhaps as soon as today, but whom it will be remained uncertain Saturday night.

Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles, who is conducting the search, talked to Creigthon’s Dana Altman and Memphis’ John Calipari during a trip to Atlanta where coaches have gathered for a convention and the Final Four. Broyles spent Friday there and returned to Fayetteville around 5 p. m. Saturday.

It’s unlikely that Broyles would have returned if he did not have an agreement in principle with a coach or was on the verge of finalizing a deal.

A source close to the situation conf irmed that Altman and Broyles met Friday.

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Memphis spokesman Lamar Chance confirmed that Athletic Director R. C. Johnson had given Arkansas permission to talk to Calipari on Saturday. A source said that Broyles and Calipari did meet.

Another name linked to interest in the Arkansas job Saturday was former Stanford Coach Mike Montgomery, who was fired in August after two years with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. It could not be determined if he talked with Broyles.

Broyles did not return messages. He issued a statement through sports information director Kevin Trainor.

“We had a productive trip to Atlanta,” Broyles said in the statement. “It is clear that many talented and proven head coaches are intrigued by our coaching vacancy. We are continuing along in the process and are hopeful to fill the position soon.”

Calipari and Altman fit the criteria that Broyles set last week when he said he wanted “a proven, experienced head coach... who’s already been successful and who will bring a winning record.”

Calipari, 48, has a 374-134 overall record in 15 years as a college coach at Massachusetts (1988-1996 ) and Memphis (2001-2007 ). He has made nine NCAA Tournament trips, took UMass to the Final Four and has taken Memphis to the Elite Eight the past two seasons.

Memphis’ crowds averaged 14, 527 at the 18, 500-seat FedEx Forum this season.

Calipari also coached the New Jersey Nets (1996-1999 ) and was fired.

Graduation rates have improved at the same time Calipari has made Memphis nationally competitive again. But most Arkansas fans remember him for talking down about the Razorbacks program four years ago.

The Tigers rallied in the final minute to beat Arkansas 72-67 for their first victory in six trips to Fayetteville. It was the last game in the contract, and afterward, Calipari said he did not want to renew the series because “you cannot build a program playing regional games.”

The inference was that he was pushing Memphis toward national prominence while Arkansas was a program with only regional strength and appeal.

Calipari agreed to a new contract last week that runs through 2012. The amount of the raise was not announced. He was making $ 1. 525 million on the previous deal and he will receive a $ 2. 5 million payout if he remains at Memphis through 2010.

Calipari said after Memphis lost to Ohio State in the Elite Eight a week ago that he had “no interest in any other job” and “you don’t leave unless the [school’s ] commitment changes.”

The motivation to relocate might be that Conference USA was watered down severely when its best programs bolted for the Big East two years ago.

Altman, 48, has led a more lowkey existence in the highly regarded Missouri Valley Conference. His record is 260-141 in 13 years at Creighton, a private school in Omaha, Neb., and he’s 343-208 in 18 seasons as a Division I coach with eight NCAA Tournament trips.

Altman is 2-7 in the NCAA Tournament at a school that is somewhat limited in recruiting because of its academic standards.

A report surfaced last week that Altman had been offered the Iowa job and a $ 1. 3 million package. Altman told the Omaha-World Herald in response to the speculation, “I’m not going to say anything.”

The World-Herald reported that Altman earns between $ 1. 25 and $ 1. 4 million.

Creighton’s streak of nine consecutive 20-victory seasons is a Missouri Valley record.

Attendance for home games averaged a league-record 15, 909 this season at the Qwest Center.

Altman also has coached at Kansas State (1991-1994 ) and Marshall (1990 ).