Chip Scoggins: Coaching jobs may be on line for Minnesota's Smith and UCLA's Howland

[BleedGopher]

per Chip:

Their matchup Friday night appears to be a referendum that likely determines whether they get to keep their jobs.

The two coaches own résumés that include both success and longevity. Combined, they’ve coached 41 seasons, won 911 games and made 27 NCAA tournament appearances.

Smith won a national title at Kentucky. Howland took UCLA to three consecutive Final Fours

But therein lies a critical distinction: Howland has achieved a level of success at UCLA that Smith hasn’t come close to matching at Minnesota. The fact that both are coaching for their jobs underscores the wide gap in expectations between those two programs.

Smith has not finished above .500 in the Big Ten or won an NCAA tournament game at Minnesota. Howland has won four conference titles and went to Final Fours from 2006-08.

The Bruins won 97 games in that span, the highest three-year victory total in school history. That made Howland only the third coach in Division I history to win at least 30 games in three consecutive seasons. The other two: Adolph Rupp and John Calipari.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/199461581.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Tom Powers: Gophers-UCLA matchup features cold snow, hot seats

Per Powers:

I don't think Tubby is in any real danger because if he can't do it in Minnesota, then nobody can. Not legally. Not without eventually paying for their victories with NCAA sanctions. That's what history keeps telling us, just like it reminds us of the snowstorm that cost Minnesota John Wooden.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!

 

[Ewert86PC]

Wow. the muck is being raked early this year.

 

[BleedGopher]

PiPress: NCAA tournament: Gophers' Tubby Smith could be in make-or-break situation

"I really don't think he should be fired," former Gophers player Damian Johnson said. "The last couple years have been really tough situations for him. The one year with Al (Nolen) going down and Devoe (Joseph) transferring, we could have probably gone to the Elite Eight, easily. Then last year Trevor (Mbakwe) got hurt.

"So many different things happened since I left. The way this season has ended up going, it's tough for me to hear that he has a chance to get fired. Hopefully, he doesn't get fired and the team does well in the tournament. I think they should give him another shot."

"From the first time I played my first collegiate basketball game until now, I think I've improved every day," Hollins said. "I'm grateful to be here. And I'm grateful for Coach Smith allowing me the opportunity."

Williams said, "When I came in, I definitely didn't rebound or play defense like I can now. My ball handling has gotten better. I've gotten stronger. I've definitely developed under Coach, so I don't get why people say stuff like that."

"They were having a couple fun moments," Tollackson said. "I think in terms of Tubby's energy level and engagement, I would say it is right up there with when I played."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!

 

[Parski1]

Who's Chip Scoggin?

 

[EG#9]

I would hope it would take more than beating this UCLA team for Tubby to keep his job, I hope he's not backtracking on his earlier article. I am kind of disappointed by DJ's comments, but I guess there's really no upside to a former player saying anything else publicly.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

I would hope it would take more than beating this UCLA team for Tubby to keep his job, I hope he's not backtracking on his earlier article. I am kind of disappointed by DJ's comments, but I guess there's really no upside to a former player saying anything else publicly.

Disappointed? What do you want him to do bash the guy he developed under?