new gopher's mens basketball coach

[JohnWester]

Tubby Smith is new U men's basketball coach.

Tubby Smith will be named Gophers men?s basketball coach, according to people close to the program. The university said this afternoon that it has called a news conference to announce the new coach Friday at noon.

Smith is expected to arrive in the Twin Cities later today.

Smith won the NCAA title in his first season at Kentucky in 1997-98 and made six Sweet 16 appearances. Smith coached at Tulsa and Georgia before Kentucky. Jim Molinari has been the Gophers? interim coach since Dan Monson was fired in late November, seven games into the 2006-07 season.

Smith, 55, directed Kentucky to a 22-12 record this season and a second-round defeat to Kansas in the NCAA tournament. Smith has had 14 consecutive 20-win seasons spanning Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky.

[Spinach]

That is great news. I like Tubby, he has a great resume.

[Ryan]

This is much better than I thought they would do.