Gophers Basketball – Page 179 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Tubby Smith: No Contract Extension Now

Posted on November 7, 2011December 21, 2011 by David Shama

Tubby Smith told Sports Headliners talks about a contract extension between himself and the University of Minnesota have ended for now. He wants to focus on the season ahead and pursue a new practice facility.

A possible extension has been public knowledge since the end of last season and even last month Smith told Sports Headliners an extension agreement might be signed within 24 hours. However, representatives involved in negotiations didn’t finalize an agreement, and the coach wasn’t definitive as to why.

Smith said he isn’t upset and is very comfortable with his contract status. “I’ve got three years on my contract,” Smith said. “It’s nothing I am concerned about. …I know coming off the year we had last year ─ hell ─ I wasn’t expecting to get any extension anyway. That was something that was talked about. It wasn’t me bringing it up.”

Smith, who with base salary and incentives can potentially earn over $2 million this season, said money wasn’t the issue with the extension. So what was?

What likely is a factor from Smith’s perspective is whether the University is going to build a $20-plus million practice facility to match what other major college basketball programs have. It’s probable, too, that Eric Kaler, the new University president who began work on July 1, needs more time to assess the athletic department, including the basketball program, before making long term commitments.

Smith certainly wants to see the Gophers athletic department and University make a “commitment” to the practice building. The lack of a facility is limiting the “progression and development” of the basketball program, according to Smith.

State-of-the-art practice facilities have become major assets in the recruiting pitch of college coaches. The need for such a facility is probably even greater at Minnesota than at most schools because the Gophers both practice and play at 83-year-old Williams Arena. While it’s an exciting place on game day, the arena is a drab looking facility when empty.

Smith, the former Kentucky national championship coach, came to Minnesota in 2007 and said he’s “pretty comfortable” with his situation here, but it’s imperative that the program have what’s needed to be competitive. “The one thing I saw when I first got here was that we lacked the facilities that other major programs had to be successful,” he said.

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ESPN Filming Segment on U Legend

Posted on October 14, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Gophers football and basketball notes:

An ESPN producer was in Minnesota this week working on a story about 1941 Gophers Heisman Trophy winner Bruce Smith, according to Bruce Krinke. The story will be an eight minute segment that will air beginning on November 6 as part of the network’s “Outside the Lines” programming.

“Outside the Lines,” hosted by Bob Ley, is producing segments like the Smith story that ties together sports and Veterans Day on November 11, according to Krinke who is a Smith family friend and was instrumental in giving a bust of the deceased Gophers football hero to the University last month. Smith was presented with the Heisman only two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and he later served in the U.S. Navy.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that he has been “seizure free” for awhile. “I don’t know the exact time, but it’s been 10 days anyway,” he said.

The progress has come with effective control of his medications and having the “right amount of sleep” as he settles into a routine. “We feel very comfortable where we’re at,” Kill said. “I just gotta take care of myself and make sure I do all the things they (doctors) tell me.”

It’s almost one year ago (October 17, 2010) that athletic director Joel Maturi announced the dismissal of Gophers football coach Tim Brewster. “You know, Minnesota can and should be competitive in the Big Ten,” Maturi said at the news conference announcing the change.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith raved about incoming freshmen players Joe Coleman and Andre Hollins yesterday at media day. Smith, now in his 39^th year of coaching, praised the two for their work ethics and maturity. “I don’t think maybe we’ve ever recruited two better people in my career,” he said.

Hollins will be in competition with sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi and junior college transfer Julian Welch for the starting point guard position. Coleman could push junior small forward Rodney Williams for the starting job.

Smith said an announcement on his contract extension could come soon. He also said there’s nothing to report on funding for a new practice facility.

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Tyus Jones: No College Favorites, or Decision for Awhile

Posted on August 2, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Despite national attention, don’t expect 15-year-old Apple Valley High School point guard Tyus Jones to announce his college choice soon.

Local basketball authority Rene Pulley and others rate Jones the No. 1 point guard in America for the class of 2014. Pulley, who is CEO of Howard Pulley Basketball, has been involved with local basketball for years, but thinks Jones could be considered the greatest Minnesota prep ever by 2014.

Jones told Sports Headliners he has college scholarship offers from nine schools but is in no hurry to choose a college and might wait until his senior season at Apple Valley. “I don’t think I’ll make an early commitment, probably (decide) later in my high school career,” he said.

The offers are from Arizona, Baylor, Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Providence. “I don’t think I have any favorites,” Jones said.

While some local preps might be overly dazzled about leaving the state, expect Jones to give the Gophers fair consideration. He’s an intelligent and mature young man who values classroom work, staying modest and treating others with respect.

Jones has a family connection to former Gophers captain Al Nuness. Jones’ dad, Robert, is Nuness’ nephew. Jared Nuness, Al’s son, is part of the basketball support staff at Baylor.

Al Nuness told Sports Headliners almost two years ago that Jones was better as an eighth grader than former North High and 1997 Minnesota Mr. Basketball Khalid El–Amin. Pulley said last week that Jones, already 6-foot-1 compared with El-Amin at 5-6 as a 15-year-old, is the better player at that age.

Jones, who admires New Orleans’ point guard Chris Paul’s “pass first, score second” approach, likely will be taller than 6-1 when he arrives on a college campus. “My dad is 6-7, so hopefully I will still have a growth spurt and get a few inches…in the years to come,” he said.

Jones said he won’t play football this year for Apple Valley, but might go out for baseball in 2012. He has experienced a busy spring and summer of basketball including being named the youngest player for the USA development team for players 16 and under.

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