STrib: VCU coach Smart brings Gophers ties to Bahamas

[BleedGopher]

Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart's relationship with current Gophers AD Norwood Teague -- who hired Smart at VCU -- has been well documented, but that isn't the only Minnesota connection for the Rams' leader. Smart also worked with Gophers assistant Ron Jirsa when both were at University of Dayton, and they remain close.

"As much as anyone I've worked with, he's been a mentor for me," Smart said Wednesday in the lead-up to the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, which starts Thursday. "A lot of the things that we still do today in terms of our bigger guys and things that I do just in terms of coaching came from him.

"I ran into those guys this morning and I don't like to play against friends," he said. "Then I [realized] if we both win then we would play, and I guess that would be good."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/180451301.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Stanger86]

Wouldn't they play if they both lose too?!

 

[Spin Your Head]

Not Gopher related but the most striking part of that piece to me was about Paster -

Family priorities
Memphis coach Josh Pastner jokingly said on Wednesday that he refused to bring his wife to the Bahamas, as well as on any of the team's road trips in the immediate future, because the team has struggled when she's been on the road recently.

"The times she's traveled, we're like 1-6," he said. "Until we start winning more with her on the road, she's banned from road trips."

And Pastner's wife, Kerri, has been the victim of bad timing several other times. The pair -- who married two years ago -- have never had a honeymoon because Pastner had to see recruits immediately after their wedding.

While in the delivery room during his first daughter's birth, Pastner was on the phone with Adonis Thomas, now a sophomore. For his second daughter's birth this year, Pastner stranded his wife and new baby at the hospital (he had the only car) because he was courting recruit Kuran Iverson (who signed this month).

"She was so mad at me because she wanted to get out of the hospital," Pastner said grinning. "The bottom line is Kuran Iverson could help us win the championship more than my second daughter, so I had them understand that."

Wow. Seriously man. Spend some time with the fam.