The Gophers, 2-0 in the Big Ten after defeating Iowa on Saturday, are certain to see their coach’s name linked through rumors to another basketball program again this winter. Tubby Smith, though, told Sports Headliners he isn’t talking to another school and is happy at Minnesota.
Smith won a national championship at Kentucky and made a habit of taking the Wildcats far into the NCAA tournament. In two plus seasons here he’s had the Minnesota program on the rise and that combined with his past success makes Smith a target for other schools with potential or actual vacancies. There’s a perception, too, that the Minnesota coaching position isn’t attractive enough to hold Smith here for long.
Last year there were rumors of Smith going to such places as Virginia and Arizona. Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi expects more speculation. “Oh, I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” Maturi told Sports Headliners. “That will happen.”
Smith is 58 and has his family here including wife Donna and son Saul who is an assistant coach with the Gophers. “Oh, shoot,” Smith said. “No, nobody is coming after me. Trust me. I am here for good.
“I am enjoying it here. We’re going to be fine. We’re going to continue to grow the program. We’ve got a great situation here so I am very happy and pleased where we are.”
Smith also spoke about freshman forward Royce White and how his players are doing with grades after last semester. White, the high potential recruit who has yet to play because of a suspension involving legal issues, was allowed to watch two practices before the Iowa game but didn’t workout with the other Gophers.
Smith said White came to him last week at a high school game between Hopkins and St. Paul Johnson and asked for permission to watch practice. But nothing has changed regarding White’s suspension and Smith said the “law of justice, they don’t give you timetables.” Smith also indicated White won’t be allowed to routinely come to practice and watch.
Ken Lien, who chaired the Mr. Basketball group that made White the state’s 2009 Mr. Basketball, spoke with White at the Hopkins-Johnson game. In an email to Sports Headliners, Lien wrote that he asked White about speculation he will leave the Minnesota program and that White responded: “No, I’m loyal to Minnesota. If I’m playing college basketball, it will be with the Gophers.”
Smith doesn’t expect to lose any players because of academics. “Everyone seems to be in good status,” he said. “There’s some guys still have incompletes. Things they’ve got to complete or finish up. …”