The rumor mill was running rampant a day after Tubby Smith was fired as head coach of the Gophers men’s basketball team.
The top names being featured in the rumor mill are Virginia Commonwealth’s Shaka Smart and ex-Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders.
Sports Illustrated reports that Smart is close to signing an extension to stay at VCU. However, former Delaware player and assistant coach Ryan Iversen — an Eden Prairie native — believes Smart will be the guy hired by U of M athletics director Norwood Teague.
Charley Walters writes that the Gophers have a decent shot at Saunders, but does he want the job? Flip will be covering the NBA for ESPN on Wednesday.
@sagesteele on my way to join @sagesteele for #miami and #bulls game wednesday. R the Bulls the #streakbusters.
— Flip Saunders (@Flip_Saunders) March 26, 2013
A.J. Mansour of KFAN.com, who also provided the photo, has a list of potential candidates for the job.
With Smith out, there is a big question surrounding Minnesota’s three highly regarded class of 2014 recruits — Tyus Jones, Rashad Vaughn and Reid Travis: Will they entertain the Gophers now that Tubby is out?
Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press thinks that no matter who is hired, the U of M will still have trouble recruiting the best high school players in the country.
Stay tuned for the latest coaching rumors … we’ll be sure to have it covered.
