After missing on VCU's Shaka Smart, Marquette has identified Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin as one of its top targets.

Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin is drawing interest from Marquette, sources told ESPN.com Randy Sartin/USA TODAY Sports

Sources told ESPN.com that Martin and former UCLA coach Ben Howland are two top-tier candidates to replace Buzz Williams, who left for Virginia Tech last week. Sources told ESPN.com that Howland is extremely interested in the job while it's unclear whether Martin would seriously entertain discussions from Marquette.

Martin played and was an assistant coach at Purdue before spending three seasons as the head coach at Missouri State. Martin replaced Bruce Pearl in 2011, taking the Vols to a pair of NIT appearances before making the Sweet 16 this season. Tennessee lost to Michigan on Friday night.

Howland took UCLA to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 2006 to 2008, but was fired after last season and sat out this season.