GOPHERS

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I hope you all realize our athletic director now is the man who hired Shaka Smart. They go way back. They fired Tubby because they have a plan, what that plan is none of us know. But I trust they make the right decision.

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Agreed! They will make a splash with the new coach. They have to, otherwise they should have just kept Tubby.

The other draw to MN is the BIG10 network. The most powerful college network with the most powerful collegiate President running it. UCLA is UCLA but for a guy from Madison (Shaka), getting into the BIG10 with a guy he trusts is going to be real attractive.
Tubby didn’t get his facility because of the economy and the fact that the U spent all its dough on the Bank.

Frydog makes some good points that are being thrown around in the media as well, but I gotta think Norwood has a plan!!

ET

Not sure why you guys are so sure Teague has this master plan that will all of a sudden attract a high profile coach to a below average job. As the Gophers previous AD proved that just because you are an AD doesn’t mean you are intelligent. I’m with FryDog on this one. There is only the slightest chance because of the Shaka-Teague relationship he would come to MN, but it would basically be Shaka doing Teague a favor.

Think back 6 yrs, who the heck thought Tubby Smith would ever come to Minnesota!?! I’m trying to remember, but I don’t think his name was ever in the mix of coaching candidates at the time until his hiring was announced…so nothing would surprise me.

Most recently heard the Marquette coach mentioned as a possibility?

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Lots of reasons… first they had to buy our Tubby for $2.5 million, then they would have to buy out Shaka for almost as much. Then, Shaka already makes more than what Tubby did and would want more. So there’s the financial side.

Then, there’s the issue of how realistic it would be for a program like Minnesota’s to land a highly touted coach on the way up (Shaka’s is very high right now). Well, Minnesota lacks a winning tradition, they play in an old dumpy Barn and there is no practice facility. Practice facility was a must have for Tubby to come here and 6 years later, how’s that working out?

Shaka may be on the top of our list, but the rest of the basketball world laughs at that (see Myron Metcalfs articles on ESPN). There are elite programs that would love to have Shaka…UCLA is open tright now and they have him on their short list. If Roy Williams or Rick Pitino decided to retire, Shaka would be at or near the top of their list.

Long and short, Shaka’s stock is very high right now and he would be at the head of the line for any major opening right now – he might be top on our list, but we are probably 45th on his list (or more). Yes, there is the Norwood Teague connection, but Norwood would have a tough time convining the Regents to fork out $5million in buyouts…pay Shaka what.. $3-4 million a year, then convincing Shaka he should take a chance on a mid-tier program that instead of having a winning tradition, has a tradition of scandals, a sub .500 conference record forever, and fair weather fans?

Oh, and speaking of weather…

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Frydog…your money quotes are WAYYYYYYYYYY off…
Shaka’s buyout is $700K, not almost as much as Tubby’s $2.5 MIL plus others making it over $3 MIL.

Shaka already makes more than Tubby? Shaka=$1.3 MIL and Tubby was at $2.2 MIL.

And the power of the Villa 7 has been seen all over college basketball since it started about 11 years ago…I suggest googling it and checking it out. The Gophers Atheltic Dept. now has the man who started it- Mike Ellis.
Plus Teague and Ellis gave Shaka a chance when no one else did…

Not saying Shaka is coming here, but there is no way, in my mind, you can say they have no chance of signing him.

Here’s the numbers on the payout.

If he leaves VCU for another job before April 30, he or the school that hires him owes VCU $800,000. After April 30, his buyout drops to $700,000 (the amount decreases by $100,000 yearly).

There is also this…

A university that hires Smart will have to schedule a two-year home-and-home series with VCU or pay the school $250,000.

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Lots of reasons… first they had to buy our Tubby for $2.5 million, then they would have to buy out Shaka for almost as much. Then, Shaka already makes more than what Tubby did and would want more. So there’s the financial side.

Then, there’s the issue of how realistic it would be for a program like Minnesota’s to land a highly touted coach on the way up (Shaka’s is very high right now). Well, Minnesota lacks a winning tradition, they play in an old dumpy Barn and there is no practice facility. Practice facility was a must have for Tubby to come here and 6 years later, how’s that working out?

Shaka may be on the top of our list, but the rest of the basketball world laughs at that (see Myron Metcalfs articles on ESPN). There are elite programs that would love to have Shaka…UCLA is open tright now and they have him on their short list. If Roy Williams or Rick Pitino decided to retire, Shaka would be at or near the top of their list.

Long and short, Shaka’s stock is very high right now and he would be at the head of the line for any major opening right now – he might be top on our list, but we are probably 45th on his list (or more). Yes, there is the Norwood Teague connection, but Norwood would have a tough time convining the Regents to fork out $5million in buyouts…pay Shaka what.. $3-4 million a year, then convincing Shaka he should take a chance on a mid-tier program that instead of having a winning tradition, has a tradition of scandals, a sub .500 conference record forever, and fair weather fans?

Oh, and speaking of weather…

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Hmmm sounds like the same scenario as when we got Tubby.. He was the hottest ticket out there that would NEVER come to MN.. See Ya soon Shaka

How history has changed. Tubby was not the hottest coach out there. Maybe Gopher fans bought into his name, but pretty tough to get fired from the top BB in country and be a hot coach.
Besides, sounds like you guys need to start figuring out what the next step in Teague ‘plan’ is since it sounds like Shaka will be staying at VCU. So what is the reasoning Brad Stevens will want to come since the theories around Shaka coming don’t seem to be panning out?

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Sorry, UCLA. VCU is working on an contract extension to keep Shaka Smart. Should have an agreement soon.

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I wouldn’t say he was “hot” … he came to a program that was messed up to put it lightly. To think his name did nothing to get some decent recruits and turn the program around and headed the right way… well, if you can’t see that, I don’t know what I can say to convince you. Do people realize 67 coaches end the season with a loss…..

Ummm my point was Tubby is not the same as Shaka. For some reason people seem to be thinking that MN scored the top coach available then and can do it again, when really all MN did was get a highly over-rated coach with a name. I’m sure his name did land some recruits…and I guess he did take a bottom-dwelling team to become a middle-dwelling team. Tubby is great.

I heard that Shaka Smart was in Minnesota last night. Do you think he heard how good the full moon bite is on Pool 4 and had to come check it our himself?

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Ummm my point was Tubby is not the same as Shaka. For some reason people seem to be thinking that MN scored the top coach available then and can do it again, when really all MN did was get a highly over-rated coach with a name. I’m sure his name did land some recruits…and I guess he did take a bottom-dwelling team to become a middle-dwelling team. Tubby is great.

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Yeah we know what we got now, but back then we thought we scored. And we were even more shocked that the U paid him! Openening the wallet far enough can get anybody to talk terms. Shakas at the airport now, must be having easter hear in balmy MN

you do realize that that there is 1 National Champion, there is 1 BIG TEN Champion, per season. Is your yard full of gopher mounds ?? why all the hate ?? are you feeling badgered ???

As a Badger fan I wish MN would have kept Tubby. Less competition at the top of the Big 10.

KFAN reporting Shaka Smart in Mpls to discuss and sign as the new coach of the Gophers BB team. Nice!! if true

I’m surprised there is no mention of this on ESPN or CBS.

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As a Badger fan I wish MN would have kept Tubby. Less competition at the top of the Big 10.

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I KNEW IT !!!

No big surprise if Shaka signs the deal… Norwood gave him a chance at VCU and although unheard of in major college athletics, Shaka showing a little loyalty and commitment to Teague for jump-starting his career.

When you create a artificial market (Hot coaching prospect) and introduce him into a desperate athletic program (Minnesota) with a new administration (Teague) it’s easy to understand the kid being here. Ultimately it’s about the money. It always is.

He will get over paid by 300k a year and get a 5 year deal with a 750k buyout if he decides to pursue a better job. If he lands the hot juniors and goes deep onto the tournament in the next couple of years he will again be the hot coach. And he will move down the road.

Remember the U has those premium seat license they jammed the season ticket holders with. Butts in seats will pay for a new coach.

So much for that Teague connection. I guess Teague’s master plan must have a plan B…. and I don’t think that B is for Brad or Buzz cause why would they want to come to MN?

With all this Villa 7 talk is sure seems like he would be looking for a no-name up-and-comer, which isn’t going to be a big splash for Gopher fans.

Smart used the connection to his advantage… he is getting a raise Dare I say … Smart

Good one G.

I think 80% of college basketball is recruiting. Its amazing how a coach can be perceived as a “great X & 0” guy if he has talented players on the court.

A big name coach might have got the 3 top in-state prospects to stay here. As the list narrows down to a lesser known name, its easy to see that the Gophers won’t get the blue chips and may even have some of the current players transfer.

It was time for Tubby to go, but unless we all get surprised by a top flight coach taking this job, we are now entering a major 3 to 5 year re-building campaign. Could be another Monson-type era coming up. Followed by the next coach that may some day get us back into the NCAA in 7-10 years.

Ski-U-mah…

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It was time for Tubby to go, but unless we all get surprised by a top flight coach taking this job, we are now entering a major 3 to 5 year re-building campaign. Could be another Monson-type era coming up. Followed by the next coach that may some day get us back into the NCAA in 7-10 years.

Ski-U-mah…

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Not directed at any one, but ya should have kept Tubby… 60% wins, decent players, no trouble…

Just sayin’…

Mark

You must not have watched many gophers games. We didnt run an offense, never once did i see a decent inbound play from under our basket, and his substitutions were idiotic. He had to go. He thrived in the first month vs teams like south dakota. Congrats

It will be interesting to see who the Gophers end up with. At this point all their doing is making new contracts for potential candidates. I heard this morning that they were looking at Fred Hoiberg and won’t you know it, he gets a 10 year deal worth 20 million from Iowa State. First Smart and now Hoiberg, the coaches in the NCAA are going to be lining up for consideration and hope they get money thrown at them.

So another top of the line Basketball coach rejects the MN Gophers.

Hardly leaves any doubt as to why the top Mn High School basketball players have no desire to stay here.

So what is with the Gophers obsession with Rick Pitino? First they hire a guy who made his name with Pitino’s players. Now they hire the son hoping he got some coaching genetics from the old man.

Seriously, it looks like a good hire. Seems like he turned FIU around after the Isiah Thomas experiment there. The big question is if he is good then how long will he actually stay?

It’s as good of hire as one could expect. The fact is, the Gophers programs are not top shelf Big 10 contenders. Never will be. The University makes millions of dollars a year off these programs and they are likely happy with the take they get.

2 problems in hiring Richard Pitino:

1) Let’s say he doesn’t do well – people will say he was too young and unproven and he gets fired after a couple years.

2) He does well, starts to build a good program…then he will be gone. Minnesota is not a long term landing spot for someone following in the foot steps of his dad. Its a stepping stone.

Either way, he will not be here long. Teague wants someone to be here long term and build. I think he just swung and missed…

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2 problems in hiring Richard Pitino:

1) Let’s say he doesn’t do well – people will say he was too young and unproven and he gets fired after a couple years.

2) He does well, starts to build a good program…then he will be gone. Minnesota is not a long term landing spot for someone following in the foot steps of his dad. Its a stepping stone.

Either way, he will not be here long. Teague wants someone to be here long term and build. I think he just swung and missed…

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Really????????????????

He hired a coach that will do not one ounce worse then Tubby. He will hustle, he will recruit, he will play fast tempo up the court fun basketball because thats what a person does to BUILD a career. Top that with the fact that he likely costs 50% of what Tubby made whats the downside??

To move on he needs to build and win. How is that bad for the U?

I will bet anybody here that this kid will win more Big 10 games in the next 6 years then Tubby did.

Further more I’d also bet he lands at least one of the big three recruits.

There is alot to be said for hiring young, ambitious people who want to carve their own name in life.