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Will Gamecocks chase Tubby?

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08:37 AM ET 01.22 | Insiders say Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, who was an assistant at South Carolina, was on the Gamecocks' radar before the Gophers hired him. It would seem highly unlikely that South Carolina, with coach Dave Odom stepping down at season's end, would even inquire about Smith's availability. But the school is willing to pay what it takes to get the right coach, and Smith is guaranteed $1.75 million annually for seven years at Minnesota. Smith has a $3 million buyout if he were to leave Minnesota after one season, $2 million after two seasons and $1 million after three seasons. The coach South Carolina is expected to pursue is Virginia Commonwealth's Anthony Grant.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Tubby Smith, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Tubby Smith, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
January 22, 2008  08:42 AM ET

Already Tubby? But seriously, Kentucky should be chasing him.

January 22, 2008  08:53 AM ET

Anthony Grant!
USC needs a proven Division One Head Coach from a major college and more importantly a major recruiter! VCU hardly qualifies as major despite a few winning seasons on a less than major college level.

January 22, 2008  08:54 AM ET

Forget it. No WAY anyone is taking Tubby from the Gophers. He has completely revitalized this program overnight and has a great recruiting class coming in. Minnesota will pay him whatever he wants.

Comment has been removed
January 22, 2008  09:20 AM ET

I wouldn't get too attached to Tubby KCMAC929, he is a journeyman coach who doesn't allow too much grass to grow under his feet for too long! It seems he's always looking for new challenges........or something!

January 22, 2008  09:36 AM ET

Why would he want to coach for the Gamecocks? He is doing a pretty good job with the Gophers and in 2 or 3 years they should be a sweet sixteen team if not an elite eight team. I might be stretching it there!!!

January 22, 2008  10:17 AM ET

What has SC done since that great regular season when they choked against Coppin St? They'd be lucky to get Grant - a real up +comer. Second the guy who says Kentucky should be chasing him.

January 22, 2008  12:12 PM ET

I agree with timewalker...the Big-10 will be basketball interesting over the next couple, three years....

January 22, 2008  12:28 PM ET

What has SC done since that great regular season when they choked against Coppin St? They'd be lucky to get Grant - a real up +comer. Second the guy who says Kentucky should be chasing him.

duany | 01/22/08

To answer your question, not a damn thing! That's why they need a coach of a caliber greater than Grant! As for Tubby and Kentucky, their demand for excellence while exhibiting little in terms of loyalty ran Tubby away! Kentucky fans deserve whatever fate they received as a result of their outdated holier than thou attitude with regards to the demands they place on their coaches to win NOW! Ironically that is exactly what the Gamecocks need, someone to win NOW, not another 8-10 year coaching project! Few coaches can deliver that, count Grant in that number!

January 22, 2008  01:13 PM ET

Give Grant his props and stop hating. South Carolina University wouldn't be a good fit for him anyway. It's better to go to a program that's down and the expectations aren't as high, therefore less pressure to win immediately. Stan Heath found out the hard way. Lowery was smart and stayed at So. Illinois. The SEC is too tough a conference for a young coach because you're set up for failure. The Floridas, Kentuckys, Arkansas', Tennessees, Georgias, Vanderbilts, Mississippis aren't going anywhere. Heck, South Carolina can't win the recruiting war with in-state rival Clemson. Tubby has better chances of winning in the Big 10 Grant would be better off staying where he is for now.

January 22, 2008  03:53 PM ET

If they offer enough money he'd leave. Better weather and a better conference with more presitge.

January 22, 2008  04:09 PM ET

Tuuby ain't leaving. Period.

January 22, 2008  04:48 PM ET

kspice, I agree about if the money was right. Plus he'd get to return to KY and kick some butt.

January 23, 2008  12:49 AM ET

tubby isn't going anywhere......why would he want to go to a losing school.....the U of M will be a contender soon

January 23, 2008  07:48 AM ET

tubby isn't going anywhere......why would he want to go to a losing school.....the U of M will be a contender soon

wedumpourgarbgeinNY

Trust me, Tubby does not stay any place too long if you've followed his career! He is a college journeyman akin to one Larry Brown of NBA fame! Sooner or later Tubby is going somewhere! My money is on the former, not the latter!

January 23, 2008  10:30 AM ET

This came from the Pioneer Press. I didnt even think they had sports writers anymore. Thanks for giving the Pi Press the attantion they were begging for SI. This story has no Merit.

January 23, 2008  10:53 AM ET

Grant is a heck of a coach and USC would be lucky to get him. Remember Florida was chasing him hardcore last year during the Donovan debacle. He also lead VCU to win againest Duke in the tourny last year. When was the last time USC had a win like that???

January 23, 2008  11:32 PM ET

Really stupid article. No one jumps in one year unless they are about to be fired. Why move to a town with no culture when he has everything he wants here. College basketball ranks #6 in interest level in the Twin Cities. That is the way he likes it. NO PRESSURE. South Carolina would be like Kentucky. Nothing to do but college sports and therefore a lot more pressure. Tubby doesnt strike me as a guy who would sign a seven year contract and run off. Not to mention he doesnt seem like a puss when it comes to the weather. If you cant handle a little cold you are not too tough.

I thought Eli Manning would fold like a cheap suit on Sunday and I now have a great respect to see how he handled the cold in Green Bay.

Columbia South Carolina might be a great little town but I think Tubby likes being a part of the Big Ten and a Major metropolitan area and all that it offers. Especially the lack of pressure for college basketball is just another entertainment option.

January 24, 2008  02:29 AM ET

TTT, Bob Huggins left Kansas State after one rather successful year. Dave Odom has done an at-best average job at South Carolina -- a pair of NIT titles and a couple of NCAA Tournament appearances but other than that the Gamecocks have been also rans in the SEC. But he's leaving under his own terms, not being fired for mediocrity. Going to South Carolina from Minnesota would be a lateral move in terms of potential for success and pressure.

And Cowboystar, Tubby was at Kentucky for 10 years; that already qualifies him as a journeyman.

 
January 24, 2008  02:29 AM ET

Sorry, I meant "that HARDLY qualifies [Tubby] as a journeyman."

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