Derek Kellogg wastes little time admitting that this two-week stretch is the best of his life.

Kellogg got the job as the head coach of his alma mater at UMass and one week ago today, his wife gave birth to their first child, Maximus Antonio Kellogg.

``It’s the greatest two weeks of my life and also the craziest two weeks on top of that,” Kellogg said.

Ditto for his wife,

Kellogg, who was a part of the glory days at UMass, said it’s surreal looking out on the campus from his hotel room. Kellogg was back in Amherst this past weekend to host a couple of potential transfers.

Kellogg will also hire former Pepperdine coach Vance Wallberg and bring along Andy Allison as the director of operations and Shyrone Chatman from Memphis (he was the assistant to the recruiting coordinator at Memphis). He will also keep Adam Ginsburg, who worked for former UMass coach Travis Ford and was responsible for landing the majority of the players on the team, on the staff.

Kellogg raved about the play of his perimeter guys – and for good reason. The trio of Chris Lowe, Ricky Harris and Wake Forest transfer Anthony Gurley should give the Minutemen a trio of guards who match up with just about anyone in the A-10.

``They work so hard and have such a good demeanor,” Kellogg said. “The biggest thing I’ve noticed is their maturity.

GOTTFRIED IN HOLDING PATTERN

You’ve got to feel for Alabama coach Mark Gottfried.

The Crimson Tide coach expected to lose senior Mykal Riley, but it could wind up being a mass exodus in Tuscaloosa with Richard Hendrix, Ron Steele and Alonzo Gee all testing the waters and declaring for the NBA Draft.

``We have to hold three scholarships,” Gottfried said. “My approach is we’re going to find a way to be good with them or without them, but we have to prepare to play without all of them.”

``In my mind right now, we’re preparing as if all three are gone,” he added. ``That’s what you have to do.”

None of the trio of underclassmen are projected as first-round picks at this point, according to two NBA executives.

If all three return, the Crimson Tide could legitimately contend for the SEC title with a starting unit that features a healthy Steele at the point, Gee and sophomore Senario Hillman on the wings and Hendrix and one of the top freshman big men in the country, JaMychal Green, up front.

ARIZONA LOSES MILES SIMON, MAY LOSE ANOTHER ASSISTANT

Kevin O’Neill is history – and Miles Simon is gone as well.

The guy largely responsible for bringing a national title to Arizona was let go this past week.

Look for former Arizona State assistant Russ Pennell, who is currently an AAU coach in Arizona, to come on board officially in the next day or so. According to sources, Lute Olson is also trying to bring on former Metro State coach and current NBA assistant Mike Dunlap.

Olson may also have to replace his top assistant Josh Pastner, who is being pursued by Memphis coach John Calipari. Sources told FOXSports.com that the pair met in Los Angeles last week and that Pastner will likely make a decision whether to remain in Tucson or head to Memphis in the next week.

RANDOM NOTES: Buzz Williams hired his former boss at Colorado State, Dale Layer, to help him at Marquette. …The guy that Williams replaced, Tom Crean, got a nice pickup at Indiana with the commitment of South Kent (Conn.) junior wing Maurice Creek. … DeMatha (Md.) wing Naji Hibbert has committed to Texas A&M, according to Scout.com’s Evan Daniels.