Myron's Blog - Great stuff today. Tubby/Oregon, Mbakwe, Walker

[Blizzard]

Great stuff from Myron today-

Can we please put this Tubby to Oregon sh!t to bed now?

Last week, I reported that Georgia Tech (indirectly) and Oregon (directly) reached out to Gophers coach Tubby Smith.

The Georgia Tech rumors died when Paul Hewitt announced his decision to stay with the Yellow Jackets after reportedly turning down an offer from St. John's.

But the Oregon rumors continue, as some reports suggest that the school has continued to pursue Smith in recent days.

Multiple people close to Smith, however, told me that they believe he will coach the Gophers next season.

"[Smith isn't] going anywhere," one person close to Smith said Tuesday. "Period."

The same person said Smith told him that he has not discussed Oregon's opening with that school's officials.

"I don't know if they've offered," the source said. "Tubby says he hasn't spoken with them. He's happy here."

Another person close to the coach said Smith told his players that he "looks forward to coaching" them next season and emphasized that "he's not going anywhere" during a private meeting last week.

As I reported last week, Oregon super-booster Phil Knight likes Smith. Oregon's in a situation where it just lost its lone minority coach, spurring speculation that the university will seek a minority candidate to replace Ernie Kent. Plus, Oregon has the multimillion-dollar facilities that the Gophers lack.

That said, the people I've talked to believe Smith will stay.

Well, Smith kind of said the same thing a few weeks ago.

"Obviously, it's just talk, because I'm very pleased with what we've accomplished here," Smith said in response to a question about rumors linking him to Auburn following the Gophers' first-round loss in the NCAA tournament. "I'm pleased with where we are in the program. I'm looking forward to coming back to Minnesota."

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said the university is "committed [to] Tubby remaining at Minnesota," when asked about a possible contract extension for Smith, who has four years remaining on his current seven-year deal.

Disclaimer: Smith is a coach. Sometimes, coaches change their minds. Don't take this blog as a guarantee. Smith might leave. But those close to him believe he will stick with his current gig.

Then again, Boston College needs a coach, after parting ways with Al Skinner Tuesday. An ACC school on the East Coast ... Uh oh. ... Here we go, again.

As always, stay tuned.

-The Gophers still believe Trevor Mbakwe is innocent of the felony assault charges he's facing in Miami. A person familiar with the situation said Mbakwe, who missed the entire 2009-10 season due to his legal issues, believes the charges against him will be dropped soon, allowing him to return to the team.

The Gophers haven't had the same patience with Royce White, who withdrew from the university before he ever suited up for the team.

With the spring signing period for the 2010 class starting April 14, the Gophers are looking for more frontcourt options.

Smith is pursuing Maurice Walker, a 6-10, 270-pound center from Canada, and junior college forward Dwight McCombs, as possible additions, while time runs out on White's opportunity to return to the program.

Walker, who played with Gophers guard Devoe Joseph and high-profile recruit Cory Joseph on the Grassroots Canada AAU squad, will take an official visit to Minnesota April 9, according to scout.com. Walker led Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) to the national prep school championship earlier this month.

He has scholarship offers from Virginia, Marquette, Kansas, Seton Hall and Minnesota.

Walker told scout.com that he might commit to the Gophers at the end of his upcoming official visit.

“I’m more leaning toward Minnesota right now," he said during a recent interview with scout.com. "I like Tubby Smith as a coach. I like that I have family out there. It’s an up and coming program. It’s possible I could commit during the visit.

“The other schools have a chance. But if I go to Minnesota and like what they offer, then I'll commit."

The Gophers will host McCombs, a 6-8, 240-pound forward from Moraine Valley (IL) Community College, April 16, according to scout.com. He was a forceful rebounder and shot-blocker in junior college. McCombs started out at Miami (Ohio). He has offers from Arkansas, Missouri, Penn State and Minnesota.

Both guys could help the Gophers in the paint right away.

The Gophers have four scholarships available for their upcoming class, assuming White doesn't come back. Two will be used on 6-4 shooting guard Austin Hollins (Germantown, Tenn.) and 6-11 center Elliott Eliason (Chadron, Neb.). Hollins and Eliason might redshirt next season.

-The No. 1 guy on the Gophers' wish list is still Cory Joseph, one of the top high school players in America. Joseph won the McDonald's All-America three-point shooting contest Monday night.

He's reportedly held his own (no surprise) during practice sessions for Wednesday's All-America game.

"The other observation of note during the West's limited scrimmage time was the defensive prowess of Cory Joseph," said Rivals.com's Jerry Meyer about scrimmage between the game's East and West squads.

-While rumors swirled over the weekend, Smith recruited. Branden Dawson, a 6-6 junior shooting guard from Gary, Ind., had a double-double (22 points, 11 rebounds) in Lew Wallace's loss to Washington in the Indiana state playoffs over the weekend. Smith watched the Gophers recruit from the stands.

 

[97alumni]

Thanks - that was a good read

 

[Holy Man]

Myron as the voice of reason and apparent journalistic intergrity, with at least some references to sources. Now that's a turn of events. Nice going Myron!

 

[BleedGopher]

It's Myron v. Marcus in the "Battle of the Sources"

Marcus' sources say that he has an offer on the table and has a few days to think about it.

Myron's sources say that he told the players last week that he's staying.

Go Myron's Sources!!

 

[MRJ]

Now, there's something I never expected: Myron to be the voice of reason. Whoddathunk?

Anyhow, based on what I've read in regards to Walker, I wouldn't be at all surprised if these quotes were accurate. It certainly seems like the Gophers have made a really strong push recently and if that truly is the case and he likes what he sees, it wouldn't be at all surprising if he's a Gopher after the visit.

As for what overall impact that as on Cory Joseph, I think I'll wait and see.

 

[howeda7]

Myron can do good work now and then. He needs to stick to this type of reporting and less analysis. I hope the BC comment is tongue-in-cheek. I assume it is. BC is an ACC school in name only. It's a moderately better job then Auburn right now, but not by much.

 

[SelectionSunday]

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."

The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

 

[GopherGod]

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (Re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."
The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

Funny how that works isn't it.

 

[MadtownGopher]

Can Walker play PF at all? If EE and Walker are strictly centers it seems like we will still need a PF at some point, maybe next year's class? Otherwise the only PF we have on the roster will be Mbakwe who is still some what of a question mark. I'm still pumped to get Walker though.

 

[MRJ]

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."

The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

I agree. What makes this one different for me is the direct quotes involved. I actually rely a lot on quotes when making an assessment. Not always, but usually. The fact that these sources are directly quoted leads me to believe them more than sources who pull the old "we can't be quoted." Much of the rest of stuff that follows in cases like that counts mostly as speculation.

What I'm most excited about are Walker's quotes. Sounds like if Tubby, the staff and the players take care of business on Walker's visit, he'll be a Gopher. And if that happens, we'll have one of our most physically imposing teams in recent history at the U.

 

[Section201]

ss

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."

The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

I thought the Walker, McCombs, and Cory bits were interesting.

Based on previous "sourced" and tweeted garbage I thought the Tubby bits were reasonably leavened with "but who knows" and I do not believe for one second Tubby is going to Oregon.

 

[Gopher Teeth]

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."

The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

I don't think that has applied to the current situations. The rumors have been silly. If you look at things with any kind of logic they make little sense. My favorites being Izzo to Oregon and the chain of If Donovan to Oregon then Tubby to Florida. . .I mean those were ridiculous on their face. How exactly would someone get the inside information on Donovan to Oregon then Tubby to Florida? Was somebody sitting in on a group meeting between Tubby, Donovan and all the AD's working the deal or maybe there is one common person who knows all involved?

When people are throwing that type of story out, they deserve to be ridiculed, because they are idiots.

 

[rccola889]

I thought the Walker, McCombs, and Cory bits were interesting.

Based on previous "sourced" and tweeted garbage I thought the Tubby bits were reasonably leavened with "but who knows" and I do not believe for one second Tubby is going to Oregon.

Agreed. I liked the stuff on the recruits because they were actually quoted. The stuff on Tubby seems to be the norm nowadays with unnamed "sources close Smith" giving quotes. I'm a bit skeptical on that.

 

[underground629]

I highly doubt we'll start hearing Tubby rumors at BC. It will be interesting to see what happens with Noreen though.

Myron can do good work now and then. He needs to stick to this type of reporting and less analysis. I hope the BC comment is tongue-in-cheek. I assume it is. BC is an ACC school in name only. It's a moderately better job then Auburn right now, but not by much.

 

[underground629]

I'm sure Eliason isn't thrilled about the chance of another center likely being in front of him. Could be a loooong time before he sees significant minutes.

 

[Reserve]

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."

The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

Could be. Truth be told though I'm sick to death of the slant that most of our media takes. Maybe there just wasn't enough good news to report this year. I'd prefer something good over the gloom and doom we've gotten from Myron, Marcus, Souhan, the entire staff at KFAN, and Doogie.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

What I get a hoot out of with all these rumors is that when it's a rumor we don't want to hear (re: Tubby may leave), then it's rip the messenger. But when it's something we do want to hear (re: Tubby likely will stay), then it's "Well, I think in this case so-and-so (re: Myron) knows what he's talking about."

The truth usually lies where it always does. ... somewhere in between.

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