Along with the NCAA Tournament, apparently the College Basketball Coaching Carousel is beginning to spin a little bit faster today.
The OSG reported earlier about a report from Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com stating that Auburn is seriously considering hiring one Tubby Smith, currently coach at Minnesota and formerly coach at Kentucky and Georgia. We've been doing some homework on this story and while we think Auburn is seriously interested, it is still to be determined if Tubby is.
Check out this story in the Columbus Star-Ledger RIGHT HERE.
According to CBS/Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis on Twitter "Per source close to Tubby...Auburn believed to be interested but there have been no substantive conversations, even indirectly"
((Tubby Smith//Courtesy:Chicagonow.com))
We may be wrong, but it sounds an awful lot like Minnesota AD Joel Maturi expects someone to make an offer to Tubby that he won't be able to refuse and Maturi won't be able to match. The OSG also knows that Smith's name has been dropped in regards to the Oregon job, but we think that his heart will keep him from heading to the great Northwest. We also take Davis' comment to mean that Auburn has talked about it internally, but maybe not externally...yet. Now that Minnesota has lost their NCAA game...all bets are off.
OSG sources say that the Auburn Board of Trustees would have to sign off on any coach, but they are fully aware that in order to get a "Big Name" to help open up their new arena, it is going to cost them some money. Smith, who is being paid $3 million a year at Minnesota, will not be able to get a raise due to a state pay freeze. Auburn, who paid Jeff Lebo $750,000 a year is looking at any and all options to increase their visibility in hoops. While the $3 million a year figure would make Tubby one of the highest paid coaches in the SEC, if you consider his track record it may be worth it for the War Eagles/Tigers.
As for the other Carousel tidbits. We reported yesterday on Bobby Gonzalez and earlier today on Norm Roberts being fired. There is a lot of speculation there as well. We mentioned that Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt, barring a deep NCAA run, will at least check out his options in light of the heat he is getting in Atlanta. We also have read that former St.John's Point Guard and current NBA Analyst Mark Jackson has expressed some interest. Stay tuned.
And finally, Oregon after jettisoning Ernie Kent, the joke/rumors are that they will pursue a big name coach already sponsored by supporter/program runner Nike. That doesn't narrow things a lot, but makes for a good punchline.
For those who get the Carousel references...it has to do with a cheesy movie from the 1970's...Logan's Run. It would take too long to set up, so here is a clip. Thanks You Tube:
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