Tubby Smith is a legendary coach, a good recruiter, and a decent person.
But his time in Minnesota should come to an end.
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The results simply prove this.
The Gophers had very high expectations this season. On New Year’s Day, they were ranked eighth nationally, then abruptly dropped four straight. There was also a stretch during early February where Minnesota lost four of five.
And finally, with his team nearing the NCAA Tournament bubble, Smith’s group closed the season falling at bottom-dweller Nebraska and getting mauled by a Purdue squad that won’t qualify for the NIT.
These are signs of a team with no business being rewarded a tourney bid.
Another sign of an underachieving coach is potentially missing the field of 68 for the fourth time in six seasons — and third year in a row – despite talent-laden rosters. Smith has posted nearly 80 losses during six campaigns in the Twin Cities, which is pretty devastating when you consider many top coaches have half as many defeats during that span.
The Gophers finished 8-10 in the 2013 Big Ten, tied for fourth to last, with only two measly conference road wins. The selection committee should be wise enough not to ignore such setbacks.
And if they’re invited for some reason, Minnesota simply can’t be seeded higher than schools that have been solid all season like Colorado, Creighton, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Wichita State and others.
The Golden Gophers are not Duke, Miami, nor Syracuse, i.e. they can’t simply live off home wins forever, especially their Feb. 26 triumph over Indiana.
And Tubby Smith can’t be retained.
About AJ Kaufman
Right on! He fails consistently to inspire very talented young players who come to believe they’re so good they don’t have to work every game if they want to prove they’re “elite”. Only way he goes is if passed over for NCAA tourney and early out at NIT. His coaching career is merely average, at best.
Nice article. I remember reading stories like this in Tubby’s last season at KY. Fans just won’t accept the mediocrity that is Tubby Smith.
Tubby has failed to recruit top level talent and players he does get, do not improve over their 4 years!
Unsure why Shaka Smart would want to go to Minneapolis. For guys like him & Brad Stevens, it’s not all about money. It’s about being in a better place with a better team/group of kids.
well said….tubby smith did a great job w kentucky, so that pedigree probably bought/buys him more time in Minny than he should, rightly or wrongly. they did start w high expectations this year as you opined, so because of the talent level and repeat underacheiving, they might pull the trigger and let him go finally.
Needless to add, Minnesota did get in, as a 10 (seems high) and is being picked by many in the media to beat UCLA. It gets crazier.