Dutcher and others recognize, though, that Smith, 58, has an very good job here and probably could stay until he retires. His annual compensation of nearly $2 million is exceptional among college coaches. In a pro sports town, Smith finds himself under way less pressure from the public than at basketball crazy places like Kentucky and Indiana. His comfort level is enhanced, too, by working for athletic director Joel Maturi, a person anyone would choose for a next door neighbor and a man of integrity.
Dutcher believes Smith has found something else here to his liking. “Another thing Tubby has mentioned is he’s been really surprised at the level of play in the Minnesota high schools,” Dutcher said. “I think he came in thinking he was going to have to recruit 100 percent out of state, and all at once he’s saying, ‘Hey, at least 50 percent of my roster can be right here.’ ”
Smith’s Big Ten records at Minnesota are 8-10, 9-9 and 9-9. The first season the Gophers made the NIT; the last two teams earned NCAA invitations. Dutcher said Smith’s total work here is “solid” and clearly an upgrade over predecessor Dan Monson. Then Dutcher said something surprising about Smith whose teams regularly sellout Williams Arena (capacity 14,625) for Big Ten home games.
“I base a coach’s program on attendance,” Dutcher said. “If the people believe in the program, are filling the arena, they believe that the program is solid and probably on an upswing. When you start losing fans like happened during the Monson years…the attendance dropped, and dropped and dropped, then the AD’s and college presidents are forced to make a change. I don’t think this year (2010) built on the reputation, but I don’t think it lost any ground either. After all, they were an NCAA team.”
Dutcher said there are different ways to consider common criticisms of Smith’s teams including lack of offensive plan, confusing substitutions and poor clock management. Dutcher didn’t offer validity to any of them and said there are always people unhappy about something.
Although not uncommon in the Big Ten, the Gophers did have their struggles on the road. They were 3-6 in conference road games, 3-7 overall. “The Gophers are kind of two teams,” Dutcher said. “They’re one team in Williams Arena, with the… (defensive) pressure and the running up and down the floor, and on the road they’re a much more cautious offensive team and much more cautious defensive team. Maybe you have to do that. It’s not a criticism. It’s an observation.”