Tubby says he is staying at Minnesota

ACC & Other30

A few quick hits this morning:

–Tubby says he is staying at Minnesota. But then what do you expect him to say publicly at this point?

And Smith rejected the ESPN rumor that Georgia Tech was going to buy out coach Paul Hewitt’s contract and hire Smith by saying: “Why would I be interested in that job? I’m not going anywhere. My wife likes it here, I like it here, and I’m going to finish my career here.”

A year ago the Gophers were slumping at the end of the season, going 4-4 in their final eight Big Ten conference games, but Smith points out they went to the finals of the Big Ten tournament before losing to Ohio State, which helped them secure a berth in the NCAA tournament.

And Smith is confident about the future of his team. The Gophers will lose only two seniors after this season, Blake Hoffarber and Al Nolen. They have two good redshirt freshmen in Elliott Eliason and Oto Osenieks. Maurice Walker will return after knee surgery this past season, and so will three freshmen who got good experience this year — Maverick Anhanmisi, Chip Armelin and Austin Hollins. And a good recruiting class is expected with the already signed Joe Coleman and Andre Hollins and two scholarships still available.

-GT may keep Paul Hewitt?

It must be noted, Tech officials have not said one way or another whether they plan to make a coaching move in the coming weeks or not. As has been his stance since last March, Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has been sticking by Hewitt, affording him every opportunity to succeed. At season’s end — after the ACC, or possibly, NCAA tournament — the pair will sit down and discuss the future.
The Jackets are 13-17 overall following a 66-57 win over Miami on Sunday. The game was the last at Alexander Memorial Coliseum before a renovation project kicks off in the next 18 months. When the space reopens, it will have a new look and new name.

Because Tech will be forced to play at either the Gwinnett Center — 26 miles northeast of Tech’s midtown Atlanta campus — or Phillips Arena next season, some believe Radakovich may retain Hewitt’s services for one final season. It would be to avoid paying an approximately $7 million buyout to Hewitt, as well as allowing the program to wait on bringing in a new coach for when the Jackets open a new arena. For what has become an edgy fan, it could be a case of two splash hits at once.

For another reason Hewitt could survive, look no further than the team’s personnel. If junior guard Iman Shumpert decides to return next season instead of going pro, the Jackets would have an older, more experienced team full of battle-tested guards coming back. They could be a much better team

-Also, in case you missed it on Friday afternoon, then please take the time to read this entry and the linked article on Billy Donovan.

ACC & Other

30 Responses to Tubby says he is staying at Minnesota

  1. 61Packer 03/07/2011 at 7:26 PM #

    It does sound like Sid is history. On WRAL’s 6pm sports, Jeff Gravley said multiple sources have told him that Low is out at State, regardless of what they do in the ACCT. The announcement won’t come until after the ACCT concludes Sunday.

    If Pat Knight is available, maybe he’d come and bring his dad. Just kiddin’……

  2. eas 03/07/2011 at 9:55 PM #

    I’ll take ol Bobby Knight any day BUT Unfortunately we would loose the whole roster minus Mr. Indiana (he would stay) to transfers. The guy can coach but it takes a special player to deal with him and those players are long gone or already playing for Duke…..

    I got a crazy feeling we have a big name on the way for a change. The new administration seems to be hired for big changes. I think something is already brewed and we are just waiting until it can be done in a professional/ classy manor. I don’t think it will slip away this time.

  3. wolfpack4ever 03/07/2011 at 10:04 PM #

    “All I know is its about damn time. Sidny Lowe has sucked the life out of NCSU basketball and the fan base at the same time. Not one quality win this year. 7 wins on the road in the ACC in 5 years. A 39 point humiliation on National TV. Total irreverence in ACC and national basketball.”

    With all due respect, I will have to disagree. From my standpoint, HWSNBN and Lee Foulup “sucked the life out of NCSU basketball”. The famous “weave and heave” amd Lee Fowler’s incompetence completed this task for me.

    The Sidney Lowe hiring was an absolute failure by LF. The “I know basketball” coaching search was a total fiasco. College coaches were stating that they were not candidates just so they would not be in the next rumor. Sidney was put in a position that virtually assured failure. LF just thought he could buy enough time to make it to retirement by hiring a popular former player.

    I do not have any problem at all with agreeing to disagree on this one. Go Pack!!

  4. ADVENTUROO 03/08/2011 at 6:38 AM #

    Sidney Lowe did NOT suck the life out of our program. The witch hunting administration in 1990 did it. It has been on life support since then and given just enough food and water to keep it in a vegatative state. THAT is what the PAST ADMINISTRATION and the PRESENT Faculty Senate WANTED.

    As for the Coach Lowe hire, it was the very BEST outcome from a horrendous situation that Lee Fowler created……but we the Lunatic Fringe also had a major hand in “outing” Herb Sendek.

    Coach Lowe had absolutely NO talent when he came here and lost a full year’s recruiting thanks to LF’s FU. Then, only ONE of HS’s recruits kept their committment….Dennis Horner.

    Couple that with Coach Lowe’s personal issues, the JJ Hickson FIASCO ( and THAT is why Coach Lowe did NOT start the Fab Frosh in Game 1). Also factor in the chemistry issues with having two players share a girl friend.

    It takes, as MOST of you know, 4 or 5 years to establish recruiting….and OUR credentials are NOT the best in the world. Forget all this hype about HOW GREAT A BASKEBALL SCHOOL NCSU IS. That is HISTORY and the Re-Writers of History would like to take down our TWO NCAA Banners.

    Now, SOME of you I KNOW, are aware that our current AD, Ms. Yow, does NOT have the best reputation in the Coaching Fraternity. Her little conflict with Gary Williams (who kept her AD Cup stats HIGH) has left a bad taste in a LOT of coach’s mouths. SO, don’t expect a big time hire. That, I doubt, will happen. There will be an outcry as to “WHO THE H is THIS GUY and WHY DID SHE HIRE HIM?” once a decision is made. I could be wrong, but the general consensus is just that…..

    NOW, if the WPC and the FC Donors kick in a LOT of bread, then that might just be the “$ugar” to help the medicine go down that AD Yow needs. Not that she is out of touch with the BB program, but the FSU game was the FIRST time she has been in the Champions Club area out “greeting” folks and was surprised to find out that the food is included in the ticket cost….

    There is also the little rub about how the Fab Frosh will react to the new coach and whether THEY jump ship. If THEY jump, then forget all the hype and glory….it will be BAD.

    While I’m venting, I DO expect a MORE PROFESSIONAL approach to the Coach Lowe termination. It is totally UNCALLED FOR to “leak” information this early in the week. Folks should have kept their mouths shut and NOT divulged what is going on.

    Think about this from a PLAYER’s Perspective. The team generally likes and respects Coach Lowe. They are as disappointed as he is. In some cases, THEY feel as much responsibility for the season as he does. He has NOT hung them out to dry….he has shown MORE class in our defeats that a certain local coach did last year when he had the SAME issues with a young squad. SO, WHY would you make the announcements and leak the info? What purpose does it serve except to demoralize the RETURNING TEAM? The events of the last 12 – 24 hours are VERY disturbing. This could have a MAJOR IMPACT on their decision to stay with the NEW HIRE or sit out a year and then keep their 3 years of eligibility left with a REAL BB SCHOOL. As it it playing out, THIS is NOT how you manage a big time program.

    SO, I admit to being a Coach Lowe supporter. I also admit that he is gone. I am very skeptical of what is transpiring and I HOPE that our new coach and the hiring process will be an improvement…..

    BUT, if I had to issue a preliminary grade now, it would be only SLIGHTLY better than what I gave LF when Herbie departed….

    Given the history of the RBC and the Canes…..could Herbie be coming back? Just kidding…..but I do NOT know WHAT the future holds…

    I am optimistic, but so far, the tea leaves look pretty bleak.

    GO PACK. Go Coach Lowe….whatever your future is. Good luck from MANY NCSU’er who welcomed you back in 2006 and mourn your departure in 2011. We still admire you for what you and Valvano did in 1983 and for what you accomplished, given the circumstances, while you were our Head Coach.

  5. bradleyb123 03/08/2011 at 10:04 AM #

    ^^ Sour grapes from someone who only remembers what Sidney did as a player, and has turned a blind eye to what he has done as a coach. Which is absolutely NOTHING.

    BUT, if I had to issue a preliminary grade now, it would be only SLIGHTLY better than what I gave LF when Herbie departed…

    You’re giving DY a “slightly better grade” than you gave LF? What has she done? Do you know for a fact that SHE leaked something? She has said nothing except that she will wait until season’s end to make a decision. Nothing formal has been announced. Multiple sources have made statements to the media. I contend that none of those sources was Debbie Yow. But when a major college coaching change is taking place, it’s nearly impossible to keep it under wraps. Especially when everyone already knows in their hearts that it’s coming.

    But if you only give Debbie a “slightly better grade” than Fowler, then you obviously don’t remember the excruciatingly bad job he did in that coaching search.

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