Xavier contacts USC's Horn

Xavier and South Carolina basketball coach Darrin Horn have had contact about the Musketeers' head coaching position, a source told The Post and Courier this morning.

They discussed the job at some point Wednesday, although the nature and seriousness of the conversation isn't clearly known at this point.

Horn, 36, just finished his first year with the Gamecocks after coming from his alma mater, Western Kentucky.

South Carolina raced out to a 20-6 start before falling in four of its final five games, including its first SEC Tournament game and a first-round NIT game against Davidson.

Horn grew up in Lexington, Ky., which is about 90 miles southwest of Cincinnati and Xavier. Much of Horn's family still lives in Kentucky.

Horn might have some sincere interest in the job with three Sweet 16 appearances since 2004, the Atlantic 10 school has elevated itself from mid-major status in recent years but he might also be angling himself to leverage an extension and raise from South Carolina.

Horn is in the middle of a five-year contract that would pay him about $800,000 a year through the 2012-13 season.