Minnesota hires Richard Pitino

Update: Richard Pitino has verbally agreed to become Minnesota’s new basketball coach, according to a report from Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports.

A surprising name came up on Wednesday when reports surfaced that the University of Minnesota is “in negotiations” with Richard Pitino to become its next men’s basketball coach. He is the son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

Flip Saunders has emerged as the leading candidate to land the Minnesota Gophers head coaching job, according to reports.

WCCO Radio in Minneapolis tweeted the news on Friday afternoon that Saunders had emerged as the top target in the coaching search. Other sources have released similar reports, although nothing has been confirmed by Saunders or the University of Minnesota.

After firing Tubby Smith on Monday, Minnesota could be interested in hiring Duke assistant Chris Collins for the Gophers’ vacant head coaching position, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein.

On Tuesday afternoon, Greenstein tweeted the following:

On Friday, Minnesota and UCLA met in their first NCAA Tournament game, with both coaches seemingly needing a win to keep their jobs. Ben Howland had underperformed at UCLA, and after losing Friday, was fired Saturday. Tubby Smith’s squad, on the other hand, came to play, and beat down UCLA 83-63.

But apparently, he needed to do more. Smith was fired Monday, once again accused of underperforming at a school where he raised the bar.

Tubby Smith won Minnesota’s first NCAA Tournament game in 16 years, but it wasn’t enough to convince athletic director Norwood Teague to keep him around: the former Kentucky coach has been fired after six seasons in charge at Minnesota.

Smith had four years left on his contract after signing a three-year extension in July. However, that extension capped a potential buyout at $2.5 million, which is what Smith will reportedly receive per ESPN.