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Smith leaving Kentucky for Minnesota
ST. LOUIS -- Tubby Smith, his job scrutinized over the past few years, is leaving Kentucky to take over at Minnesota, a source close to the Minnesota program told CBS SportsLine.com on Thursday. A formal announcement could come as early as Thursday night, though Friday afternoon is more likely.
Smith, who won the 1998 NCAA Tournament, just completed his 10th year at UK with a loss to Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the end of a tumultuous season in which a severe lack of recruiting success relative to previous standards led UK to a fourth-place finish in the SEC's Eastern Division. He leaves with four years left on his contract.
Now UK's search will begin, and it's certain to be a crazy process. Names that will surface as possible replacements are Florida's Billy Donovan, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie, Memphis' John Calipari, Marquette's Tom Crean, Villanova's Jay Wright, Ohio State's Thad Matta, Gonzaga's Mark Few, Texas' Rick Barnes and countless others. Also, don't be surprised if the interest of Louisville's Rick Pitino is gauged. He preceded Tubbs at Kentucky before leaving for the NBA.
Smith leaving Kentucky for Minnesota
ST. LOUIS -- Tubby Smith, his job scrutinized over the past few years, is leaving Kentucky to take over at Minnesota, a source close to the Minnesota program told CBS SportsLine.com on Thursday. A formal announcement could come as early as Thursday night, though Friday afternoon is more likely.
Smith, who won the 1998 NCAA Tournament, just completed his 10th year at UK with a loss to Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the end of a tumultuous season in which a severe lack of recruiting success relative to previous standards led UK to a fourth-place finish in the SEC's Eastern Division. He leaves with four years left on his contract.
Now UK's search will begin, and it's certain to be a crazy process. Names that will surface as possible replacements are Florida's Billy Donovan, Texas A&M's Billy Gillispie, Memphis' John Calipari, Marquette's Tom Crean, Villanova's Jay Wright, Ohio State's Thad Matta, Gonzaga's Mark Few, Texas' Rick Barnes and countless others. Also, don't be surprised if the interest of Louisville's Rick Pitino is gauged. He preceded Tubbs at Kentucky before leaving for the NBA.