The next Golden Gophers men’s basketball coach will not be Shaka Smart.
Smart, according to Sports Illustrated, has turned down an offer from UCLA and signed an extension to stay at Virginia Commonwealth University. Nowhere in the report does it say Smart was offered a job from the University of Minnesota.
Smart’s name was tossed around frequently on Wednesday. The day started with reports that Smart was in Minneapolis, and had already agreed to a deal with the Gophers.
A close source said Shaka Smart is in Minneapolis, my hometown & I love it! 3.3 & 7 Guaranteed 21+million
— AreaCodes Basketball (@areacodes) March 27, 2013
That report was quickly crushed when someone tweeted a picture of Smart eating in a Virginia Commonwealth University cafeteria.
@bmonahan512 @akmoeller tried without looking like a creep lol. pic.twitter.com/S7HLOFUY13
— ßrandon Thomas (@BTDooD) March 27, 2013
With Smart’s name out of the mix, expect a fresh onslaught of names to hit the rumor mill very soon.
