Chip Scoggins: With season over, now we wait for word on Tubby

[BleedGopher]

per Chip:

The focus now shifts toward whether Smith’s tenure in Minnesota will continue next season. Athletic Director Norwood Teague has remained in the background in recent weeks, presumably to avoid being approached by reporters in search of answers that he couldn’t provide without knowing how the season would play out. Teague wasn’t even in attendance Sunday night; he returned home to watch the Gophers women’s hockey team win the NCAA title.

I asked Smith if he needs to sit down with Teague to figure out where he stands with his new boss.

“No, I don’t,” he said. “Why would I need [that]? I just need to find out where we’re going with the program, how we’re going to grow the program. We’ll sit down like we normally do with any AD at the end of the season and see what we need to change, see where we need to improve, where we need help.”

Asked if he would consider changes to his coaching staff, Smith said he evaluates every facet of the program after each season, but then he defended his record.

“When I think about what we’ve been able to accomplish in our six years here, it’s nothing to sneeze at,” he said. “We know we had a tough run here. But otherwise we feel pretty good about things. We’ve got to grow the program. We’ve got to do the things you have to do to compete with everybody else. That’s for certain.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/199795911.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!

 

[Johnnyboy18]

For some reason I think Tubby is above Teague and will leave when he wants to.

 

[BleedGopher]

Sandell: Florida drops Smith, Gophers into an offseason of uncertainty

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...ophers_into_an_offseason_of_uncertainty032413

Go Gophers!!

 

[joshvanklomp]

I'm completely torn on this.

On one hand, you can't ignore the fact that we've won our first non-vacated NCAA Tournament game in 23 years. On the other hand, the preseason goals and expectations for this team were higher than just the round of 32.

Then you have to look at who we have a chance at getting as a replacement. The only reason Shaka Smart is even a remote possibility is because of his relationship with AD Norwood Teague at VCU. After that, who else is even in the discussion, and would they be an upgrade over Smith? Is it a scenario where the only way we fire Smith is with an agreement already in place with Smart?

 

[imthewalrus]

Do you really think Shaka Smart and our new norwood were really close? And, how much ability does an AD have to pull too many financial wheelings and dealings without the blessing of his boss? I think that Shaka "connection" stuff is way over-blown. Shaka Smart will be all about MONEY...FACILITIES...ability to compete in which ever conference he may leave the safety of his own fairly recent success for...I would think.

How much autonomy does our new norwood have? What kind of budget is he in charge of that he has free reign over? How much money do boosters have that they are willing to devote to something that they can't put their name on and will be bolted down...staying in one place for the next 50 years for? And, besides that, there is NO guarantee that any replacement coach will pan out big-time either.

We haven't seen much of a track-record for our new norwood or our somewhat new prexy k yet. Sometimes pushing the envelope is not only very costly, but opens a whole can of worms. In this life...and in hiring...firing...buying out...negotiating new contracts with replacements NOTHING is certain and NOTHING is guaranteed...Wish for what ever you may choose...BUT...be very fearful and keep your expectations in check IF you get your wish...just the facts of life, I fear...

; 0 )

 

[imthewalrus]

The holder of the long-term contract really has very little to fear. Let the purchaser of the long-term contract be certain that he/she has deep pockets, much backing from his/her superiors and may the purchaser of the long-term contract have very thick skin and the ability to stick to their plan. And, let the purchaser of the long-term contract be prepared to have his/her own long term contract purchased in the near term future if things don't work out very well...

; 0 )

 

[imthewalrus]

xyz

 

[bga1]

I'm completely torn on this.

On one hand, you can't ignore the fact that we've won our first non-vacated NCAA Tournament game in 23 years. On the other hand, the preseason goals and expectations for this team were higher than just the round of 32.

Then you have to look at who we have a chance at getting as a replacement. The only reason Shaka Smart is even a remote possibility is because of his relationship with AD Norwood Teague at VCU. After that, who else is even in the discussion, and would they be an upgrade over Smith? Is it a scenario where the only way we fire Smith is with an agreement already in place with Smart?

The only things Smith has in his favor are the existing contract with buyout and the 3 NCAA appearances. Beyond that all the other measures are not so good:

Never finished higher than 6th
Never over .500 in the Big Ten
Lots of transfers who left - many who did better elsewhere
Unmet expectations
We have gotten worse during the course of most of his seasons
Recruiting looks to be sliding and we are not in good shape for the biggest recruiting class ever in the state
The fans and boosters have generally had it with Smith and we are headed for problems with fundraising and possibly attendance.
The feel of the program is no longer one of optimism. This has the feeling of a program that is ready to decline if leadership doesn't change.

 

[station19]

For some reason I think Tubby is above Teague and will leave when he wants to.

Are you Serious?

 

[gopher7]

This season... Trevor got a 6th year. We did not lose anyone to injury. There were no freshmen in our 11-man rotation.

We are never going to have a roster come together like it did this year. Despite this, we finished tied for 7th in the Big Ten at 8-10, showed little improvement as the year went on, lost to every team in the conference except Penn State (who we didn't play on the road), didn't win a game in the Big Ten tourney, and exited in the 2nd round of the NCAA. Yet, this will go down as the best season in Tubby's 6 years here. Is this what we should consider successful? This team should have been far better than our final record. I would like to think thigs will go up from here but I just don't see how that will happen.

 

[station19]

This season... Trevor got a 6th year. We did not lose anyone to injury. There were no freshmen in our 11-man rotation.

We are never going to have a roster come together like it did this year. Despite this, we finished tied for 7th in the Big Ten at 8-10, showed little improvement as the year went on, lost to every team in the conference except Penn State (who we didn't play on the road), didn't win a game in the Big Ten tourney, and exited in the 2nd round of the NCAA. Yet, this will go down as the best season in Tubby's 6 years here. Is this what we should consider successful? This team should have been far better than our final record. I would like to think thigs will go up from here but I just don't see how that will happen.

+19