Minnesota Fires Tubby Smith

[Rudi]

Tubby Smith is done at Minnesota.

Smith, who has spent the past six seasons with the Gophers, was fired on Monday afternoon, sources told CBSSports.com. His tenure ends with a 124-81 overall mark and a 46-62 record in Big Ten play.

Smith, 61, won his first NCAA tournament game at the school this past week against UCLA, but new athletic director Norwood Teague -- who along with associate AD Mike Ellis was responsible for hiring Shaka Smart at his last stop -- decided to go in a different direction and buy out the remaining years of his contract.

Smith made the NCAA tournament in three of his six seasons at Minnesota and was knocked out in the first round in both 2009 and 2010. The team started off 15-1 this season, but lost 12 of its last 18 games and barely made the NCAA tournament as an 11-seed. Smith arrived in 2007 from Kentucky, where the fan base grew frustrated in the latter years of his tenure due to early exits and a lack of success on the recruiting trail. Smith won the national title in 1998 -- his first season as a head coach in Lexington.

There will be those who say that Minnesota should be content going to an NCAA tournament every other year, but Teague and Ellis clearly want to take this program to the next level -- and hire someone that fits their style. That's exactly what happened with Smart and VCU.

Expect Teague to take a shot at persuading Smart to rejoin him, but it's a longshot. Also expect names such as former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders to be tossed around, but I'd be surprised if these guys don't delve into the coaching ranks. Remember, the Teague-Ellis duo is as familiar with college coaches as any administrative duo in the nation after starting up the Villa 7 years ago. Look for these guys to also see if Marquette coach Buzz Williams, who was involved with Villa 7, is interested in making a move.

Minnesota will lose its top two frontline guys in Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams from a team that finished 21-13 this season. Guards Andre and Austin Hollins return.

SOURCE: CBSSprots

 

[Senser81]

Kind of surprising. Minnesota beats UCLA and fires their coach. Pitt loses to Witchita State and gives their coach a 10-year extension.


Tubby's tenure in Minnesota has definitely been underwhelming. They've never been a contender, really.

 

[Primetime]

Pretty surprised by this. Most Gopher fans I know fully supported Tubby.

 

[SuperKevin]

Tubby is an awful recruiter and will never be able to get a middling program in a major conference to take that next step. He'd be better suited going to a midmajor program where the talent level is equal across the board

 

[Mogriffjr]

Minnesota believing they can get better? Bringing the LULZ...

 

[SuperKevin]

Minnesota believing they can get better? Bringing the LULZ...

They'll bring in one of these recruiters with loose interpretations of the NCAA rules

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Minnesota believing they can get better? Bringing the LULZ...

That roster has four guys who will get a shot to play in the pros.

They should've been better.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

I'd take Tubby down here at USF. I love coach Heath, but, one good year, followed by a complete abortion of a season does not help build a program. Tubby isn't a miracle-worker, but, he could probably make the winters down here more enjoyable. I can only watch so many bad games through January and February.

 

[Agent]

Damn. I thought UK did Tubby wrong but Minnesota fucked him over. The man couldn't recruit at Kentucky but I thought he was doing pretty good at Minnesota. His nickname used to be Ten-Loss Tubby.

A 20-10 season just isn't good enough for the gophers I guess.

 

[Sharkweather]

Would be cool to see him back in Athens except Mark Fox still has a job somehow.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Could see a greaser like Bruce Pearl winding up at Minnesota.

 

[Senser81]

A 20-10 season just isn't good enough for the gophers I guess.

Not to single out Tubby, but anyone can go 20-10 when you are virtually guaranteed 14-15 nonconference wins due to your scheduling. Gophers started this year 15-1 and typically moronic pollsters had Minnesota ranked #8 at one point this year. Its almost counter-productive for Tubby, because then people actually think you have the 8th best team in the nation...so when you are #8 and then lose 10 of your next 15 games, people will question the coaching.

 

[SuperKevin]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...by-smith-contacted-texas-tech-raiders-sources

Texas Tech is interested in Tubby Smith. Enjoy your continued mediocrity in Lubbuck