TC and Mark Few mentioned as primary candidates as per Andy Katz
Tubby Smith will leave Kentucky to take over the head coaching job at Minnesota, multiple sources told ESPN.com's Andy Katz.
Smith had four year remaining on his Kentucky contract.
Smith met with Kentucky players and Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart. Smith is expected to fly to Minnesota later Thursday afternoon.
Smith called former Minnesota coach Dan Monson early Thursday and told him he was accepting the job. Minnesota is expected to pay Smith $1.8 million per year.
Whatdya know, Andy Katz said TC to ________... :-\
Things are about to get pretty interesting.....
Some people may finally get their wish. :'(
On the Kentucky Rivals board , it's up to about 5000 users and most don't want TC . They expect maybe 10,000 users real soon . Wow
Crean isn't going anywhere.
To be honest - I would think Gillespe would be on the top of the list.
Hmmmm, it appears that it's "Crean to...." season again. ::)
Wake me up when something actually happens (yawn).
Crean has not demonstrated the ability to recruit at a high enough level to get the UK job IMHO. UK opens doors with recruits and despite that recruiting killed Tubby there.
Gillispie or Jay Wright.
Isn't this about the time when Larry Brown's name will pop up again at what he promises will be his last job.... ever?
$1.8 mil a year for Tubby? At Minnesota? Seems a bit much for a guy who can't recruit. However, while he underachieved recruiting wise at UK, his name value will probably allow him to overachieve at Minn. Good thing we already have Mbakwe.
For what it's worth, WFAN's Mike & The Mad Dog think Gillespie from Texas A&M is the probable. They also felt Majerus, if his doctor's cleared him, could be another choice.
I agree, some people may get their wish indeed, then if Crean leaves we can see all the big-time coaches who will line up for the Marquette job..... :-\
We'd also see if the donor(s) would be willing to pay $1.8 million to some other coach, as intimated by some on this board.
I don't know if I see him leaving...Crean has no ties to UK, I doubt that UK would be able to afford the buyout and his salary, and honestly, I don't know if UK would think that Crean is up to their pedigree.
But, if he leaves, I would understand as UK is one of the Top 5 jobs in college basketball.
I haven't seen anybody claim MU will offer $1.8 to a new coach. But they'll offer a competitive wage.
For what it's worth, the Kentucky Rivals board seems more than a little sour on rumors of Crean to Kentucky. It should be interesting to see how it pans out.
That's insane.
Question is, was the a preemptive move on Tubby's part? I think it may have been. If not, I would have to say it is proof to most of us who think Tom Crean won't leave anytime soon, that anything can happen. Seriously, who leaves Mighty Kentuck for Minnesota? Obviously there are a number of compelling arguments as to why it was a good move (not the least of which is that he may well have been fired), but who in a million years would have predicted this move?
Gotta believe Gillespie and Calipari will be at the very top of the list. In fact, I'll predict Calipari right now.
If it's offered to him, I think Crean will take the job.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on March 22, 2007, 03:48:18 PM
Question is, was the a preemptive move on Tubby's part? I think it may have been. If not, I would have to say it is proof to most of us who think Tom Crean won't leave anytime soon, that anything can happen. Seriously, who leaves Mighty Kentuck for Minnesota? Obviously there are a number of compelling arguments as to why it was a good move (not the least of which is that he may well have been fired), but who in a million years would have predicted this move?
Tubby leaving is not a shock.....the pressure has been building for years -- frustration with recruiting, player development and losing the mantle of SEC leadership.
The MN job might be a sleeping giant.
Traditionally it has been a pretty good program and the right coach in there might be able to do some serious damage.
MN isn't exaclty a hotbed for hoops... but there is only 1 D1 school in the state, and the next closest ones are Madison, Iowa City and Ames. Those aren't exactly next door.
If he could get the 2 best players from MN every year and sprinkle in some talent from around the country, Tubby would turn the program around within 3 years.
I'm sorry but TC won't even get a phone call from UK.
It'll be Pitino, or Calipari. Maybe Few... he hasn't wanted to leave Spokane yet but if the wildcats come calling...
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on March 22, 2007, 03:48:18 PM
Question is, was the a preemptive move on Tubby's part? I think it may have been. If not, I would have to say it is proof to most of us who think Tom Crean won't leave anytime soon, that anything can happen. Seriously, who leaves Mighty Kentuck for Minnesota? Obviously there are a number of compelling arguments as to why it was a good move (not the least of which is that he may well have been fired), but who in a million years would have predicted this move?
Gotta believe Gillespie and Calipari will be at the very top of the list. In fact, I'll predict Calipari right now.
No different then when Gene Bartow left UCLA. The pressure is so enormous that anything short of a championship is tolerated. Bartow went to the Final Four and UCLAns nearly killed him for not winning the whole thing.
I also believe it's Gillespie and Calipari at this point.....A&M better hope it's not Gillespie because I don't think A&M can recover. A program that has been a graveyard for much of it's history. But Gillespie is a Texas native so he may not want to leave.
My money is on Calipari.
don't know if I see him leaving...Crean has no ties to UK, I doubt that UK would be able to afford the buyout and his salary, and honestly, I don't know if UK would think that Crean is up to their pedigree.
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You must be joking ,if you think UK can't afford the salary and the buyout.
My money's on Calipari.
Wow .. aren't you just rooting for UK to have every coach turn them down?
Majerus will not coach anywhere in the near future. I heard say that b/c of his mother's illness he will stay put in Milwaukee and continue working for ESPN. He has been living in Pfister, but bought one of the new fancy condos on the lake.