There might be no better evidence of the way the Gophers have turned around their season than fans' reactions – fading from frustrated to gleeful.

Unless, of course, you count the coach's own reaction to the reaction.

Sunday, as the Gophers were leaving the Minnesota airport, headed to New York, a man pointed out Tubby Smith as the Minnesota basketball coach to an airline worker at the check-in desk.

"Do you know who that is?" he asked her, according to Smith. "That's Tubby Smith."

But six games ago, Smith jokes it would have been a different story.

"I said 'Yeah!' But three weeks ago, I would have said, 'I don't know WHERE that sorry guy is. Where is he? I'd like to see him right now. I'd like to talk to that guy."'

--

Other notes:

  • Smith reiterated that he's not a candidate for any job – in fact, reports surfaced Monday that Kansas State coach Frank Martin is on the verge of taking the South Carolina job Smith was reportedly linked to – but he doesn't hate hearing he's wanted in the basketball world.


"I certainly always take it as a compliment," he said. "I think it tells us the respect that people have for what we do. I don't put them out there. I'm happy where I am and I think we've got a great program going. Obviously we know there's a lot of things we need to continue to improve on to keep building the program. But no, I'm not a candidate for any place. We're very comfortable where we are."

The schools linked with his name this season – South Carolina and Tulsa – were probably not enough to tempt him, but the wave of rumors could be helpful in nudging the University of Minnesota toward a contract extension. Talk has essentially been tabled since athletic director Joel Maturi -- a major catalyst in the conversation -- announced his retirement. But Smith says with two years left on his remaining deal, he's not concerned and sounds as though he is confident an extension will happen.

"We'll deal with it whenever we've got to. We're in the market for a new AD," he said. "We'll sit down at some point and talk about it with Dr. Kaler and whoever else is involved … I don't think it's going to affect recruiting or anything else – that's the only thing I'm worried about at this point in time."

Smith seems to be in a much safer place job-wise now that he has notched three NIT wins -- his first three NIT or NCAA wins as a coach at Minnesota -- and that success could factor into negotiations as well.

  • Smith said he encouraged Ralph Sampson III to play in the NIT quarterfinals against Middle Tennesee State, but that the senior is having trouble trusting his tweaked knee, and declined. "I just ask him how he feels. And then if he doesn't have that, 'Coach, I'm ready,' Smith said, punching the air for effect, "then there's no sense in even considering playing him. I did the other night, I had everybody go down and we said 'Ralph, maybe this is the time. We need some free throw shooting; you're an excellent free-throw shooter.' But at the time, he hadn't played at all, so I didn't think it was a good time."
  • Smith also said he has taken into account that playing Sampson could pose a risk of reinjuring his knee, and jeopardizing future NBA workouts. "That's part of it. That's why I've felt like, "You know, Ralph, you've done your part, I appreciate everything you've done and now I've got to be protective of you as well, and make sure you don't do any more damage."
  • Oto Osenieks (concussion) had a symptom-free day on Sunday, and was being evaluated Monday to determine his status for Tuesday's game against Washington.
  • Smith on how greatly injuries have ravaged the team this season: "That's what's happening, so that people know. There's nothing you can do about injuries. People say things, 'That's not working, so why can't he figure out something else?' Why didn't the Twins figure it out? Why didn't the Wild figure it out? Because they're hurt. It's part of the game. All the sudden Tubby Smith didn't forget how to coach. We've had a tough two years with injuries. I would have loved to have Al Nolen finish the season last year. I would love to have Mo Walker back. I would love to have Trevor Mbakwe back. I would love to have Ralph healthy. I would love to have Oto not have a concussion. I would love to not have Julian Welch go down with a ankle injury and with a hip flexor. I pray that no one ever gets hurt, but we've had more than our fair share of it. So that's why we're playing better now."
  • Austin Hollins on the news of Trevor Mbakwe's sixth year: "It was definitely a shock to everyone. We had our hopes up, but when we actually got the finalized news, it was definitely a shock."
  • Rodney Williams on his first time in NYC: "It's been pretty crazy. Me, growing up, I never thought that I'd come here and be a part of something like this. So this is really a crazy experience for me, seeing all the big buildings, Times Square and all that. It's definitely been an exciting experience so far."
  • Williams said since the team has been playing better – and having really intense practices – Smith has eased up on the team some. "He kind of just let us go a little bit," Williams said. "I think he sees that a lot of young guys are growing up right now and it's happening really fast. I think before, because we are so young, he felt like he needed to say more. But I don't know, I think Andre Hollins, he's making everything a lot easier on everybody. Because ever since that Big Ten tournament game, he's come out and he's calling all the shots and he's been producing for us, real well."