Tubby GONE

[Handy Johnson]

The worst kept secret in the Twin Cities came to fruition today. Smith out at the U of M after 6 lackluster seasons. Thank God the Huskers are not on the Coaching Merry-Go-Round this season or any time soon for that matter. Could Flip Saunders be in play? 

[Silverbacked1]

Tubby was canned?   

 

That is terrible!!!

[TheGov21]

Don't know if he'll get the job, but a name to watch for openings is Dane Fife.  Did well at IPFW and now is an assistant at Michigan State.

[cozrulz]

Shaka Smart?

[a0t0w0]

Shaka Smart?

 

I'd be surprised since he shot down Illinois last year and VCU gave him that raise. 

[hhcmatt]

Shaka Smart?

 

If you were Shaka Smart, wouldn't you be looking at UCLA if you were looking at anyone?

[Norm Peterson]

Shaka Smart?

 

If you were Shaka Smart, wouldn't you be looking at UCLA if you were looking at anyone?

Yes.  "IF."

[cozrulz]

I say Shaka Smart because the VCU athletic director took the Minnesota job last year.

[HuskerCager]

Press conference link.  It's funny to listen to Sid Hartman's questions (really comments) to the A.D.  He forgot to put his journalist hat on before he came and instead seems to be offering the A.D. his own opinions.

 

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/8706712-web-extra-press-conference-on-tubby-smith-firing/

[Creighton Fan]

Shaka Smart?

 

I'd be surprised since he shot down Illinois last year and VCU gave him that raise. 

Yeah, but the A10 is blowing up.  Xavier and Butler are leaving this summer and St Louis and either Dayton or Richmond could be leaving the next summer.  Maybe the instability of the A10 makes him a little more willing to look around?  What looked like a great long term move last year suddenly seems significantly less secure.

[a0t0w0]

 

Shaka Smart?

 

I'd be surprised since he shot down Illinois last year and VCU gave him that raise. 

Yeah, but the A10 is blowing up.  Xavier and Butler are leaving this summer and St Louis and either Dayton or Richmond could be leaving the next summer.  Maybe the instability of the A10 makes him a little more willing to look around?  What looked like a great long term move last year suddenly seems significantly less secure.

 

Good point.  It's possible he jumps this year, but like someone else said UCLA would be the better gig.  Speaking of Butler, does their coach finally leave this year?

[49r]

 

Shaka Smart?

 

I'd be surprised since he shot down Illinois last year and VCU gave him that raise. 

Yeah, but the A10 is blowing up.  Xavier and Butler are leaving this summer and St Louis and either Dayton or Richmond could be leaving the next summer.  Maybe the instability of the A10 makes him a little more willing to look around?  What looked like a great long term move last year suddenly seems significantly less secure.

 

Could it also be possible that he turned Illinois down last year because he knew Tubby was on the way out and it was just a matter of waiting for the Minnesota job to be open?  I mean, AD Teague could have been in his ear for months on this now...just sayin'

[hhcmatt]

 

 

Shaka Smart?

 

I'd be surprised since he shot down Illinois last year and VCU gave him that raise. 

Yeah, but the A10 is blowing up.  Xavier and Butler are leaving this summer and St Louis and either Dayton or Richmond could be leaving the next summer.  Maybe the instability of the A10 makes him a little more willing to look around?  What looked like a great long term move last year suddenly seems significantly less secure.

 

Good point.  It's possible he jumps this year, but like someone else said UCLA would be the better gig.  Speaking of Butler, does their coach finally leave this year?

 

Butler just moved from the Horizon to the A-10 to the Big East.  Why would he leave now?

[cipsucks]

Any chance Tubby and Ben Howland could be Co-Directors of Basketball Operations at Nebraska? 

[49r]

Any chance Tubby and Ben Howland could be Co-Directors of Basketball Operations at Nebraska? 

 

Heck, why not add Doc and have a tri-DOBO!!!

 

That way we'd have the recruiting AND Diet Mountain Dew angles covered!

[jimmykc]

Don't forget to add Billy Gillespie to the mix. He might prove to be the life of the party.

[hhcscott]

Flip Saunders would be my pick.

[nustudent]

Shaka Smart?

He's gonna be mentioned for almost every major job opening.

 

If he turned down Illinois last year, he's not going to Minnesota now.

[49r]

There are certain compelling reasons to believe that Shaka is not out of the picture for the Gophs.

[Blindcheck]

I think they were nuts to fire tubby.

Who do they think they are?

[AuroranHusker]

There are certain compelling reasons to believe that Shaka is not out of the picture for the Gophs.

 

You mean the new AD for Minny being Shaka's guy... that's intriguing & would definitely add another top-notch coach to the B1G, if it were to occur.

[CardHusker]

VCU may have better facilities than Minnesota. Heck Minnesota still doesnt even have a practice facility, something that was promised to Tubby when he was hired. Have to feel bad for Tubby. Solid coach who nobody wants.

[Lincoln Gopher]

I think they were nuts to fire tubby.

Who do they think they are?

When you hire a big name coach and pay him nearly 3 million a year and you have a very large local talent pool there are expectations regardless of the school and past success.  I really liked Tubby, he is a good coach although very old school, his teams stayed out of trouble for the most part, kids graduated.  He never finished above 6th in the conference or with better than a 9-9 record in conference.  The last 3 years after being ranked in the top 20, as high as 8th this year going into the conference, he finished 9-12, 9-12, 8-11 in conference for 9th, 9th and tie for 7th place.  His overall record in conference was 46-62.  The last three years were almost unbearable to watch the swoon that took place each year.  He had several players transfer for unknown reasons, Colton Iverson, Justin Cobbs starting PG for Cal, and Devoe Joseph.  All very good players that really didn't like playing for Tubby.  A few former players have had negative things to say about Tubby.  I wished it had worked with Tubby, but it clearly didn't for some reason.

[49r]

I think they were nuts to fire tubby.

Who do they think they are?

 

Quicken Loans?

 

 

UP HIGH!!!

[TheGov21]

I don't think you can just dissmiss Shaka to Minnesota just because he turned down Illinois last year.  The AD situation and him being from Wisconisn just has too many connections.  Does that mean he is a lock to go there no, but it's not out of the question. 

 

I don't see Shaka going to UCLA.  Personally I think they might have trouble filling that job because they'll go after a bunch of big names and probably get turned down.  Expectations are too high there.  I could really see them making a NBA hire.  Heard Mike Brown's name getting thrown out.  Bad move IMO, but could see them doing that.