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Keep dreaming.

Tubby Smith is a good coach, might be one of the top 30 college coaches out there. Unfortunately:

1. He coaches in the conference that might have the best overall coaching (the PAC 10 would be right there as well). In the Big 10 you have Bo Ryan, Tom Izzo, Todd Lickliter, Tom Cream, Bill Carmody, Jim Beilein, it's almost a who's who of X&O basketball, which serves to mitigate the Tubby Smith advantage. The conference is a coaches nightmare in terms of trying to outcoach someone.
2. Minnesota's basketball facilities leave A LOT to be desired compared to the Big 10's best facilities, and all of the teams at the top of the conference have better facilities than Minnesota.
3. Minnesota will clearly be behind conference powers such as Michigan St. and Indiana in recruiting, has lost out bigtime to Wisconsin who traditionally was a place Minnesota got some recruits, in the past 10 years Wisconsin has now garnered better tradition and facilities than Minnesota, and has a better campus environment than Minnesota.

Tubby is never going to take Minnesota to bigtime success, what can be hoped for is a couple tournament berths which might get the university to pony up the dough for a decent arena, which should help them recruit.

Tubby was a good fit for this job I think, but maybe it's a little too lower-tier. It was good for him to get away from the insanity that is Kentucky hoops (by the way, good luck Gillipsie if you don't turn it around quick) and settle down somewheres he will most likely spend the rest of his career.

But yeah, he's not going to make much noise in the power-conference that is the Big-10, but that's not his fault. If i were Tubby, I would embrace the challenge and try to make it to the NCAA tournament a few times, as well as shake up the recruiting in that area. If he steals a couple then things really get interesting. There's just too much for him to overcome I think, but he is a great coach and I wish him the best in Minnesota.

Tubby already had a top 10 recruiting class last year for those of you who really follow recruiting and has early letters of intent for next year to make a push for another top 10 recruiting class. The Barn will not be replaced anytime soon. It is one of the few legendary arenas left in college hoops. Tubby took a 9 win team and turned it into a 20 win team last year and is already 10-0 this year. He is a true players coach just like Clem Haskins was. Players will follow him there.

madtownmatt -
1. out of those coaches you named, Tubby is up there with Izzo, then after those 2, comes Ryan, Lickliter,Cream, Carmody, Beilein.
2. One of the dumbest arguments i have ever heard. Have you ever been to the Barn? One of the best basketball arenas in the country.
3. Wisconsin got Minnesota boys over the last 10 years, yes, during the Munson era. Tubby is getting whoever he wants right now. 2009 - the 2 top and only 2 MN recruits he wanted are staying in state.

Just wait til next year or the year after when these kids get a little experience and another top 20 recruiting class comes in. These Gophers are back bud! Tubby is shutting down the boarder, sconnie will not be getting the top MN recruits! See how good they are without them!

lpc,
I am kind of disappointed that you mentioned Izzo and Tubby in the same breath. Lets be honest any four year player for Izzo, has reached a final four at least once, tubby can't say that. Izzo has been to 3 straight final fours tubby has not. Head to head Izzo dominates him, Izzo is obviously the class of the big ten. The only person i think can challenge Izzo for the best coach is Tom Creen, because he was the best recruiter at MSU and went to the final four at Marquette(Not a premier team)..

The Boilers will be using the Gophers as a doormat for a few years to come. Sorry, Minny won't have the guns to run with what is turning into a three team conference (OSU, MSU and Purdue)

Minnesota 68

OSU 59

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what you mean about The Barn being a crappy facility. Honestly, the building is among the top in the country when you talk about tradition and history. Not to mention, now that the team is back to its winning ways in a powerful Big Ten, the arena gives the Gophers a huge homecourt advantage with the sellout crowds...not to mention the acoustics in there make it incredibly loud in there...even louder than many Big Ten arenas...you ever wonder why they call it the Barn?

I am from Kentucky and I love Tubby and Donna. I wish they were still here, but I think the fans there appreciate what a good man they have.Tubby will always be MY COACH!!!The cats are not as good without him. He gave our team a lot of pure class. I miss you. Mary Miller. the bithday card lady

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 04:55 PM ET  09.26 by mzip

Mary Miller. the bithday card lady

bithday card lady...I think they need one in Minn!