After yesterday’s embarrassing 72-51 loss to Iowa, there’s no doubt Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague is receiving more intense criticism about Minnesota coach Tubby Smith.
After a 15-1 start, the Gophers are 18-8 overall, 6-7 in the Big Ten, and losers in three of the last four games. The conference losses include a defeat against vastly inferior Northwestern and to an Iowa team that is not 21 points better than Minnesota.
Fans are so worked up there are even messages on the Gophers own website suggesting a coaching change should be made. In recent weeks I haven’t heard from a single fan who is supportive of Smith, and that includes boosters with influence in Gophers sports who are very upset with University of Minnesota men’s basketball.
Teague has known since taking over as athletic director last summer that there has been a lot of criticism directed at Smith during his tenure at Minnesota. Now Teague may have to decide if he wants the University to pay $2.5 million to buy out Smith’s contract.
And he might because this is a very negative and festering situation. Hardcore fans are tuning out this team, and that’s a way of saying supporters have lost hope in the program. Yes, $2.5 million is a lot of money, but how much momentum for generating revenues does a Smith-led program carry into the offseason and next year when much of the public and some media have soured on Gophers basketball? Hire the right coach and revenues from tickets, corporate partnerships and donations will increase significantly within six to 24 months.
The athletic department has invested millions of dollars in Smith for almost six years, making him one of the better paid college coaches in the country. The results? Not a single season finishing higher than sixth in the Big Ten. A regular season conference record of 44 wins and 59 losses. No wins in two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Complaints from fans this winter go beyond Smith’s illogical platoon substitutions and often ineffective offense. The barbs are targeted at the players, too. “They aren’t good enough fundamentally. They can’t shoot consistently, and make too many ball handling mistakes.”
Okay, the Gophers have their weaknesses even among the athletic and experienced starting five of Trevor Mbakwe, Rodney Williams, Joe Coleman, Austin Hollins and Andre Hollins. But after six seasons who is responsible for the personnel including a subpar bench?
Hint: it’s not Norwood Teague.