Source Says Tubby Smith Has Not Talked To Oregon

While everyone is directing their attention to the Northeastern part of the country, following the now-completed-St. John’s and just-beginning-Boston College coaching searches, Oregon has (reportedly) been busy throwing around million-dollar contract offers to replace Ernie Kent. First, it was rumored Tom Izzo would be their target after the Final Four, and then Monday night, the Ducks apparently made an offer to Minnesota’s Tubby Smith. If that’s news to you, don’t worry -- it’s also news to Tubby Smith, apparently, because he has not talked to Oregon.

“[Smith isn’t] going anywhere,” one person close to Smith said Tuesday. “Period.”

The same person said Smith told him that he has not discussed Oregon’s opening with that school’s officials.

“I don’t know if they’ve offered,” the source said. “Tubby says he hasn’t spoken with them. He’s happy here.”

Another person close to the coach said Smith told his players that he “looks forward to coaching” them next season and emphasized that “he’s not going anywhere” during a private meeting last week.

Sources close to Smith are insisting that the coach will stay at Minnesota. He even said so himself, after the Gophers’ first-round loss in the NCAA tournament, when his name was rumored in the Auburn search: “I’m pleased with where we are in the program. I’m looking forward to coming back to Minnesota.”

But.

This is Oregon. They write big checks -- Niketown, checks.

... Oregon super-booster Phil Knight [*ahem* and the founder of Nike] likes Smith. Oregon’s in a situation where it just lost its lone minority coach, spurring speculation that the university will seek a minority candidate to replace Ernie Kent. Plus, Oregon has the multimillion-dollar facilities that the Gophers lack.

So, in other words, maybe don’t put all your stock in those sources close to Smith.