DEVELOPING: No Brey, No Miller, Now Who...?

Arizona's Sean Miller signed an extension with his school.

"Sean and I have had many positive conversations and have been working on a revised contract for some time," Arizona AD Greg Byrne said in a statement. "I'm pleased to confirm that we have agreed to an amendment to Sean's contract that we hope will keep him in Tucson for many years to come."

Notre Dame's Mike Brey sent a four word text message to anyone willing to open up their phones this afternoon...

"No meetings. Go Irish!"

So, now who...???

Looks like Dickie V's favorite, Minnesota's Tubby Smith ((a Maryland native)), and Texas A&M's Mark Turgeon are out there now. Pitt's Jamie Dixon took his name out of the listing at the Las Vegas-run Nike clinic.

The HQ doesn't know if you can apply for the job on-line through the school's website, but AD Kevin Anderson might be interested.

If you hurry...

Tubby Smith Not Going To Arkansas, At Least Not Yet...

((HT: KFSM-TV Fort Smith/Fayetteville))

Tubby Smith addresses the idea of not going to Arkansas...

For now...

 

DEVELOPING STORY: Ex-Coach Awarded $1.2M In Tubby Smith Case

((HT: WCCO-TV Minneapolis-St. Paul))

A man Tubby Smith once considered hiring as an assistant coach has won a lawsuit against Smith and the University of Minnesota after he claimed he was offered a job but ultimately was never hired.

Jimmy Williams has been awarded ((officially)) $1,247,293 by a Hennepin County ((MN)) judge. Williams was suing Smith and the University of Minnesota after he said Smith offered him a $200,000 a year job as an assistant coach and then, under pressure from the University's athletic director, changed his mind.

Williams, according to Rochelle Olsen's piece in the Star-Tribune, says WIlliams was chasing $1.7-million.

The judge determined that Smith did not use "reasonable care" when offering Williams the job and that he was relying on the representation of Smith as a head coach.

Smith testified on Monday ((video below)) that said the job offer was never final and that Athletic Director Joel Maturi vetoed Williams because Williams had been guilty of NCAA infractions 30 years earlier when he worked at the University. Williams was actually guilty on two separate occasions...

Williams maintains Smith offered the job and that's why he quit his job at Oklahoma State.

The judge did said Williams was "harmed by the actions of the University of Minnesota and Smith."

Esme Murphy was in the newsroom for Tubby's testimony...


Look for the university to appeal... post haste...

What About Tubby To Oregon...? Maybe Not...

As of now, anyway...

All of the "Izzo To Eugene" talk has died down for now...
Until the end of the tournament in Indianapolis...

So, Minnesota's Tubby Smith was floated as a possible replacement for Ernie Kent...
Others think not so fast...
((HT: KVAL-TV Eugene))

According to a published report, the University of Oregon has offered Smith their coaching job. The offer was a $2 million a year one that according to the report, Smith has yet to accept.

The story from the St. Paul Pioneer Press is RIGHT HERE

Apparently, Oregon had contacted Smith...or at least his representatives on Friday, but have continued their search. Yesterday, we reported on KEZI-TV in Eugene speculating that Tom Izzo was going to be the target of choice...at a much higher pay scale.

The story of Oregon's desperate search for a new head coach is getting more bizarre by the day. Each day there is more speculation on "Who's it going to be?". Much like Izzo yesterday, we highly...highly doubt that Smith would head to Eugene. Yes, Minnesota is not the grandest of jobs in college hoops today, but neither is Oregon.

We also might add that the local newspaper...the Register Guard, is poo-pooing the KEZI story yesterday on Tom Izzo.

You can read that one RIGHT HERE

We really wonder what the H E-Double Hockey sticks is going on out in Oregon. Is it the competition to get the "Scoop"? Are the University of Oregon people that incompetent? Does nobody want the Duck job or Phil Knight's money? It makes no sense...we'll I guess see how it plays out.

More on Tubby Smith...the College Carousel begins...

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:

Tubby to Auburn?

We came across an interesting tidbit while scanning the Internets for news this morning. Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com is reporting that Auburn is "Close to hiring" current Minnesota Basketball Coach Tubby Smith. This should be interesting as Smith prepares his Gophers to play in the NCAA Tournament.

Dodd's story on cbssports.com is RIGHT HERE

((Tubby says "Whoa!"//Courtesy: drugcalledtradition.com))

If this is true, it would be "Interesting". The Tigers, who fired coach Jeff Lebo after their season ended may be looking to make a splash to open up their new arena. Smith, who has plenty of history in the SEC at Georgia and Kentucky would probably be a good fit in an SEC that ain't what it used to be in Basketball.

Normally, we try to avoid rumors but this one is pretty intriguing. The OSG will be canvassing our sources down on the Plains to see if there really is something to this and let yet know when we do.

Here is some video of Tubby at the beginning of his current job in Minnesota. Thanks mndailyonline/You Tube:

Hoops Silly Season: Monday Update

With most of the teams out of any kind of title contention, it's time ((for those who want)) to look at hiring new head coaches for your college basketball teams.

Here's what we have so far...

Virginia- VCU's Anthony Grant is not in their picture at present.
Those of us at OSG HQ think that there is some ACC snobbery in play...
Tubby Smith is being considered heavily since he's turned Minnesota around. If Smith says no, then they wait for Oklahoma's Jeff Capel's tournament to finish.
The wild card at Virginia is UK's Billy Gillispie- if he is forced out, or if he leaves on his own.

Alabama- VCU has given permission for Bama to speak to Grant. Georgia has not, as of yet, but it is expected that UGA will get in the queue.

But be forewarned, contrary to current publishing, Grant is NOT the first choice of Georgia.
We figure AD Damon Evans is in the mood to make a big-money splash, but whoever the coach is will be fighting the football team for attention. Don't be surprised if they make a play for Capel as well, but we question why Capel would want to walk away from OU and head to Georgia in the first place.

The Grant issue will not come down to money. He makes $900K at VCU right now, and has some parts of a Top-20 recruting class headed his way. Don't be surprised if Grant stays where he is before all is said and done.

Good luck with that one...